MEET THE MAKER

EMILY J KEENER

Hello friend! I'm glad you're here.

I’m Emily Keener, the founder, owner, and designer behind This Is Happiness Studio. 

In my art practice I use varied techniques, allowing myself to play in each moment. My playful creative process is highly influenced by my children. My work is full of exploration and reflection, of lingering moments, and little magic. 

As I started to play in my creative practice again, my children would pull up a chair a join me. A song that cycled through the studio during our time of creative play, was “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. As Pharrell belted out the lyrics, my boys would shout: “What is happiness?!” … and respond to their own question … “THIS is happiness!” And This Is Happiness Studio was born.

My mission is to keep playfulness alive in my own creative practice and to share the joy that comes from creativity with others. 

 I hope that my playful artwork sparks a bit of joy, helps you look for the simple pleasures in life, the little treasures, and encourages you to Linger in moments that make you feel the most alive!

My Story

I’ve been a maker since I was a child, always experimenting with new creative outlets. As I got older my love for art grew.  I studied  art education in college and continued on to teach elementary art.  I got to spend several years playing creatively with children, and boy did they teach me a lot! Children have a beautiful way of looking at the world. Everything is new, there is a great big magical world to discover. They soak up everything! I loved this energy that I got from the kids I taught, they sparked a lot of playfulness in my art practice.  

I set aside teaching for a while when we moved back to Pennsylvania and welcomed our first son into the world.

During the early years of motherhood I focused on my own artwork while staying home with my boys and wor nap time hours. I set up a little pottery studio in my basement and started taking orders. This gave me the daily practice I needed to develop my skills as an artist. However, After several years, even though I was creating from my hands everyday, I found that my creative practice had lost its playfulness and the heart behind it.

I needed a change. I took some time to play and let loose again. I experimented with new techniques and explored different materials. I let myself become curious again. I gave myself freedom to try something new and be ok if I messed it up.

And you know what? As I began to play again, my family started to join me. My boys would pull up a chair next to me, spread out their art materials, turn up the music, and become fully immersed in their own creative process. I was so inspired by my children’s playfulness and found so much joy playfully creating alongside them. 

A song that cycled through the studio during our time of creative play, was “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. As Pharrell belted out the lyrics, my boys would shout: “What is happiness?!” … and respond to their own question … “THIS is happiness!” And This Is Happiness Studio was born.