Go backstage with Jared Emerson, Greenville’s sought-after live performance speed painter.
When you look at the art of Jared Emerson, the joy you feel radiating off of the canvas is undeniable. What makes that joy so remarkable is the rocky road this celebrated artist walked before landing in the Upstate—and inspiring audiences all across the globe.
“My whole life, sports was what I wanted to do. Basketball was a passion and a dream of mine,” reflects Emerson from his vibrant Art Crossing studio at RiverPlace in Falls Park. “I ended up blowing my knee out and realizing that my dream of playing basketball on the professional level was never going to happen. So I ended up trying to figure out my life over a period of a few years.”
The journey took Emerson from Michigan to New York to Florida, from one odd job to another. His family had moved to China, but his mother had always recognized his artistic talent, and his friends insisted he had a future in the arts. “I feel like people believed in me more than I believed in myself,” says Emerson. “Although I was technically without a house, I lived in mansions with people that took me in to uplift and encourage me.”
Bolstered by his unshakable faith in God, Emerson dove into his work, and the community noticed. Commissions and signage projects led to an unusual request: the pastor at Emerson’s church asked if he’d paint live onstage during service in front of thousands of people. “That was my first performance, and I was scared to death,” says the artist, who was already grappling with another knee injury and surgery. “As I walked off stage, I was embarrassed. I told myself, ‘I’m never doing this again.’”
A beautiful thing happened in the green room that day. After sitting dejected with his face in his hands, Emerson looked up to see the portrait of Jesus he’d painted behind the praying pastor, and it was like seeing the gift he’d been given for the first time. “In that moment, I knew God was telling me that if I can be a part of something like this when I’m literally broken, imagine the possibilities when I’m 100 percent. I took that to heart, and it changed my life.”
Emerson began traveling the world as a live performance speed painter and became known for his rare ability to awe audiences by painting “in reverse”—where the final image isn’t revealed until the end. “Like anything, it requires practice and preparation. I’ve worked with a lot of pro and collegiate athletes [at events], and seeing the tough workouts, the discipline it takes—I’ve put that into my craft as an artist,” adds Emerson. “If I’m going to get up onstage, I’m prepared for that moment . . . And that’s the moment that I love.”
When not traveling to perform or painting in his studio, Emerson uses his influence to make an impact for good. “My faith is a big part of my life. When I meet people, I tell them to do what they love, what they’re passionate about. And if you can have purpose in it and touch people in the process, then you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing. I believe that’s what I’ve been able to do, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Fast Facts: Jared Emerson
Style: Impressionist onstage, realism in the studio
Biggest in-person crowd: 80,000+
Athletes he’s worked with who inspire him:
- Jack Nicklaus
- Jerry Rice
