Emily Salazar

Artist Statement

Emily Salazar is an emerging pastel artist based in New Mexico. After retiring from a career
as a psychologist, she turned to art as a new creative outlet, exploring various mediums,
sculpture, silkscreen, colored pencil, acrylic, watercolor pencil, even jewelry-making—but
nothing felt as vital or immediate as pastels where she found her passion. Her work is
inspired by her own travel, photographs and the vibrant sights that surround her, which she
translates into expressive pastel impressions.
Rooted in Spanish heritage, Emily cherishes fine art, music, food, wine, and the company
of family and friends. Her artistic practice is deeply enriched by sharing this journey with
fellow pastel artists, sharing ideas, techniques, and mutual support in their ongoing artistic
growth.
Emily’s artistic journey is shaped by her family’s creative legacy, including her son Ehren,
who was an award-winning silkscreen artist, and her late husband Fermin Hernandez, who
inspired her to see color, light and shadows in new ways. For Emily, pastel painting is both
reflection and revelation—a way to layer light, evoke emotion, and honor vision as a living,
evolving force. When a painting comes together, it leaves her with a quiet sense of wonder
and gratitude. That mystery fuels her return to the easel, always eager for the next surprise,
always becoming. Art is a lifelong journey of vision, memory, and self-discovery, expressed
through the tactile and vibrant