I’m Emma Freeman, a contemplative, joyful Mixed Media Artist, Textile Artist, Writer and Teaching Artist living in Wisconsin.

I love to listen…to heartfelt stories people have lived through, to physical materials with my hands, to how people express themselves and the words they spontaneously choose, to nature, to music, to the stories and thoughts in my own mind to understand myself more deeply…listening is at the core of who I am. 

And the listening always leads to questions. I love questions. 

I also love moments and the meaning that is created within them.  

And I love taking things slowly, savoring moments and connections, slowly creating something, having a slow conversation with someone, slowly walking around the world and noticing small details. 

Right now in my art and writing practice, I am inspired by textiles that carry stories, slow stitching done by human hands, the rich emotional delight that color brings me, the power of human touch to create, to care and to express, poetry from the heart, expressive painting and drawing that shows the unique marks of being a human in a fleeting moment, and art journaling to play with colors, patterns, evocative words and images connected to memories. 

I find making art to be an incredible adventure and a journey of self-discovery, learning and healing that awakens possibilities, hope, wonder, happiness and joy within me. Creating art is also such a beautiful bridge to connect with other people, nature and the world that I love. 

Writing pours out of me everyday through journaling. I have journaled since I was a kid and love to write poems, gather quotes, write reflections on my life and my creative process and teaching ideas. I come from a family who loves words.

I have been a professional visual artist for 25 years and have taught art classes to adults and kids for over 10 years through wonderful collaborations with art centers, museums, schools, non-profits, fellow artists and through my own business. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art, Philosophy and Visual Studies from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Creativity has supported my well-being and mental health in many ways throughout my life. The process and practice of making art and writing have helped me process difficult emotions and experiences, navigate transitions, and heal from addiction, trauma and intense anxiety. I’m fascinated by how art making affects our brains and overall health in positive ways.

A few more things to know about me are that I am a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), I’m sober, I love to read, I am a twin, I love animals and have worked with animal rescues, I love to dance and sing, I have a very playful, silly and sarcastic side and I trained as a massage therapist but don’t practice currently. Those are just a few things that might help you get to know me a little!

Thank you for being here, I hope you find something that inspires you on your creative journey through life. 

Teaching Experience

I have taught many workshops, classes and retreats over the years.

Some highlights include:

-Make Joyful Art Flags, Sacred Makers Retreat, Holderness, New Hampshire, 2026

-Make a Slow Stitched Peace Scroll, Peaceful Online Art Retreat, hosted by my company, 2026

-Cultivating a Contemplative Path to Creative Expression, Free Your Inner Artist Online Retreat, 2026

-Make Mini Prayer Flags, Peaceful Online Art Retreat, hosted by my company, 2026

-Make a Slow Stitched Peace Jacket, Peaceful Online Art Retreat, hosted by my company, 2026

-Ensō Meditative Calming Paintings, Peaceful Online Art Retreat, hosted by my company, 2026

-Make a Peace Altar with Air Dry Clay Alcoves, Peaceful Online Art Retreat, hosted by my company, 2026

-Make a Slow Stitched Dish Towel Wall Hanging, Making Zen Online Retreat, 2026

-Adorn Your Body Like an Altar: Create a Sacred Amulet Necklace, Free Your Inner Artist Online Retreat, 2025

-Make Buried Fabric Meditation Books, Books in the Woods Retreat with The Handmade Book Club, Snowfarm Art Center, Massachusetts, 2024

-Slow Stitched Sacred Scrolls Workshop, Wisdom and Wonder Retreat with Minette Riordan, Estes Park, Colorado, 2024

-Soul Writing Sanctuary: Feeling Our Way Through Grief and Loss, On-Demand Class, created through my company, 2024

-Ensō Meditative Painting, Unlock Your Artist Online Challenge with Elizabeth Foley from Radiant Earth Studios, 2023

-Wabi Sabi Scrolls, Sketchbook Revival Online Summit, 2023

-Make Fabric Meditation Books, Sacred Makers Retreat, Holderness, New Hampshire, 2022

-Make Fabric Meditation Books, Milwaukee Art Therapy Collective, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2022

-Wabi Sabi Mixed Media Books, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, taught online, 2022

-Make Fabric Meditation Books, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, taught online, 2022

-Written from the Body: A Somatic Writing Workshop, taught online through my company, 2022

-Stitching as Poetry Workshop, The Nook Online Community hosted by Zak Foster, 2022

-Stitching as Poetry, Weaving as Meditation, a collaborative online workshop with Kate Kilmurray in partnernship with the Making App, 2022

-Nature Printed Books, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, online class, 2022

-By the Light of a Poem: A Solstice Writing Circle, hosted through my company online, 2021

-Wabi Sabi Mixed Media Books, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, online class, 2022

-Wabi Sabi Scrolls, The Nook Online Community Hosted by Zak Foster, 2022

-Zen Peacemaking and Art Making, taught online through my company, 2022

-Fabric Meditation Books, White Bear Center for the Arts, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, online class, 2021

-Painting with Raindrops: Mixed Media Art Workshop, White Bear Center for the Arts, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, online class, 2021

-By the Light of a Poem: A Writing Workshop, Saint Paul Community Education, Minnesota, 2021

-Weaving with Nature, White Bear Center for the Arts, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, 2021

-Zen and the Art of Slow Stitching, White Bear Center for the Arts, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, 2021

-Printing with the Sun: Make Nature Cyanotypes, University of Wisconsin-Waukesha, taught online, 2020

-Ice Dyeing, Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2019

-Explore Painting with Ink, Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2019

-Make an Art Journal, Polka Dot Shop (which I owned), Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019

-Printmaking with Found Objects, Polka Dot Shop (which I owned), Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019

-Make Block Printed Dish Towels, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019

-Make Fabric Covered Earrings and Magnets, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019

-Art Making for Anxiety and Stress Relief, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019

-Printmaking for Apparel, Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2019

-Painting with Feathers, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019

-Make Tiny Nature Prints, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019

-Make Upcycled Painted Napkins, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019

-Mural Painting for Teens, Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2018

-Printmaking with Nature, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2018

-Meditative Nature Drawing Class, Minnetonka Community Education, Minnesota, 2018

-Art in Our Neighborhood: Summer Art Camp for Kids, Urban Arts Academy, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2018

-Reduce, Reuse, Recreate: Art Summer Camp for Kids, Urban Arts Academy, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2018

-Teen Textile and Dye Camp, Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2018

-Art Camp for Teens, Urban Arts Academy, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2018

-Introduction to Sun Printing, Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2017

-Printing with Plants, Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2017

-Family Day Sun Print Workshop, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2016

Community, Groups and Support Circles I’ve Created and Facilitated:

  • Peaceful Writing Circle, Peaceful Online Art Retreat, hosted through my company, 2026

  • By the Light of a Poem: A Solstice Writing Circle, hosted through my company, 2022

  • Creative Unearthing Community, online, 2022

  • Zen Peacemaking and Art Making Discussion Circle, Creative Unearthing Community, 2022

  • Sober Stitching Circle, 6 week gathering online, hosted through my company, 2021-2022

  • The Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path and Art Making, Creative Unearthing Online Community, 2022

  • Highly Sensitive Artist Circle, 6 week gathering online hosted through my company, 2021-2022

  • Stitching Sangha Circle, weekly gatherings for 8 months hosted through my company, 2022

  • Quiet Writing Circles, Creative Unearthing Online Community, 2022

  • Stitching Meditation Circles, Creative Unearthing Online Community, 2022

Here are some photos of me teaching and making art over the years:

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A hand touching a piece of textured fabric with stitched designs and a circular embroidery, next to a skein of blue yarn and a paper with the text 'Return to FINGERTIPS'.
A group of artists sitting around a wooden table engaged in a buried book making workshop taught by Emma Freeman at the Books in the Woods retreat hosted by Ali Manning and The Handmade Book Club.
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Stones and seashells arranged on a white surface, accompanied by a note reading "yutori: living with spaciousness." A glowing orange salt lamp and a card with flying birds silhouetted against a sun complete the scene.
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Emma Freeman from Deep Rooted Healing wearing overalls kneeling in a forest, burying art, a fabric meditation book, in the ground near a large tree during an art retreat with Ali Manning and the Handmade Book Club.
A tabletop with various textiles and sewing materials. There are different colored fabric swatches, a ball of dark blue yarn, a blue spool of thread, and a needle. The swatches include indigo-dyed and patterned pieces.
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Spiritual altar setup with owl image, sage bundle, crystals, feathers, stones, birch logs, and inspirational quotes.
Person's feet dipped in clear water from dock, wearing black pants at Squam Lake at Sacred Makers retreat.
Open notebook with writing and a black pen on a white desk, surrounded by art supplies like paintbrushes in jars, fabric samples, and a bowl of beans.
A decorative hand sculpture holding a small lit candle sits on a table next to a piece of paper with the text "Kotodama: word spirit, the mystical force inherent in language." Nearby, there is a small bowl and some crystals on a fabric.
A piece of paper with Japanese kanji "Ma" meaning pause, gap, or breathing room, with a description in English, is taped to a green wall. Dry lavender is pinned next to it.
Corner of a room with spiritual decor featuring dried lavender, crystals, a sage bundle, a carved hand lamp with a candle, artwork of an owl, and a pyramid ornament. There is also a framed picture of a person with the text 'full of light,' mala beads
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A white desk with assorted items, including a book titled "The Wakeful Body" by Willa Blythe Baker, hand-dyed fabrics, a spool of thread, a mug with floral patterns, and natural objects like stones, beads, and candles.
A hand holding a small rolled-up linen scroll tied with twine.
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Hand holding a decaying piece of fabric covered in soil, surrounded by green foliage in a garden setting.
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Hand holding a black and white feather over grassy ground with visible bare feet.
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Person holding a red admiral butterfly with orange and black wings featuring white spots.
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A rustic altar includes a stone Buddha head, a decorative elephant figurine, a butterfly, a small wooden bead necklace, a bird's nest with an egg, and lavender on a blue cloth. A sign reads "SANCTUARY."
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