Emma Nielsen
San Marcos,TX
Summary
Emma Nielsen is a multidisciplinary artist based in San Marcos, Texas. She is a recent graduate of Texas State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Art in Studio Art with a minor in Art History. Through an ongoing exploration of self, Nielsen seeks to cultivate work that is both introspective and culturally grounded. Her practice reflects her perspective on U.S. Southern culture, informed by a youth shaped by local travel and lived experience. Central to her work are themes of interpersonal relationships and religion, which serve as recurring points of inquiry and reflection. Nielsen works from personal photographic references to create drawings, paintings, and mixed-media pieces. Her process incorporates both dry media- such as colored pencil, graphite, and charcoal- and wet media, including watercolor, oil paint, and ink. This range of materials highlights her versatile and intuitive approach to art-making.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Owner/Curator
Scorpion Sun
06.2025 - Current
- Source, authenticate, and expertly restore vintage cowboy hats, increasing resale value by 100-150%.
- Develop and manage brand identity through carefully curated merchandise selection, professional photography, creative branding marketing collateral, and engaging social media content on platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
- Drive social media engagement, leading to a significant increase in customer inquiries and direct messages regarding product purchasing.
- Develops and implements operational strategies to optimize service delivery and enhance customer satisfaction.
- Handle all customer correspondences, ensuring timely pick-up, accurate order processing, packaging, and shipping of cowboy hats, with consistent attention to brand quality.
- Oversees day-to-day business operations including marketing strategy, inventory management, and customer service to support business growth and customer satisfaction.
- Grows brand visibility and build community, by selling at local markets through visual merchandising.
Social Media/Marketing Assistant
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
01.2025 - Current
- Brainstorms, pitches and executes, engaging digital marketing campaigns, succeeding in reaching selected target audiences.
- Collaborate with marketing and education teams to align creative content and events with the organization's environmental mission, ensuring consistent, narrative branding, promoting community and conservational responsibilities.
- Creates media-kits, digital advertising materials and creates call-to-actions for upcoming events such as the annual Earth Day San Marcos Festival, ensuring sponsor recognition.
- Participates in marketing team meetings to brainstorm campaign concepts, social media content ideas, marketing goals and provide feedback on graphic design projects.
- Develops and manages social media content calendars to ensure consistent brand messaging.
- Conceptualized, produced promotional materials, marketed, and taught community two themed watercolor workshops, centered around the local Spring Lake environment, creative practice, and hands-on instruction fostering community, while overseeing all administrative and logistical functions, including scheduling, guest correspondence, bookings, and invoicing.
- Drives online-to-offline marketing through creating social media campaigns that lead to real-world events or interactions.
- Curates Instagram and Facebook posts that combine artistic storytelling with environmental education, using AP Style to craft clear, engaging captions that deepen audience connection.
- Produce, capture, and edit original photography and video, using creative composition techniques to showcase Spring Lake’s natural beauty and program highlights, enriching the organization's digital media server.
- Engages in real-time content marketing, actively photographing and videoing events and speaking to guests.
Art Instructor/Event Facilitator
Painting With A Twist
01.2021 - Current
- Leads engaging, step-by-step acrylic painting classes for beginner participants, delivering foundational instruction on technique, guiding groups from blank canvas to completed artwork and ensuring seamless execution and guest satisfaction, for social and team-building events.
- Deliver engaging and entertaining experiences through conversation, music, games, and interactive instruction to maintain a fun and lively environment.
- Maintains flexible while functioning as an independent contractor, managing multiple pop-up private event reservations, including birthday parties, family reunions, and corporate team-building sessions.
- Prepares studio for events by maintaining the cleanliness of the studio and prepping materials prior to classes, including pre-painting examples, setting up canvases, paints and supplies.
- Provides excellent customer service by handling bookings, check-ins and addressing guest questions.
- Promotes future classes with instructor, private parties and themed painting events, to ensure returning guests.
- Markets, sells and assembles take-home painting kits.
- Adapts teaching and entertaining style to connect with diverse groups, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment.
- Implements differentiated instruction strategies throughout the painting classes, catering to various skill levels and interests of guests.
- Trains new instructors on studio management, instruction techniques and delivery.
- Streamlines class registration processes, improving efficiency and customer experience.
- Works effectively in the fast-paced environment, teaching back-to-back scheduled classes.
- Holds the key, cleaning, restocking, and administrative tasks and secures the studio at the end of the evening.
High School Art Teacher
Cordovan Art School
03.2023 - 07.2023
- Developed and administered engaging art lessons for 10-20 high school students in a studio, classroom setting.
- Developed structured art units and monthly art projects that supported technique expansion, experimentation, self-expression, and confidence in student artists.
- Utilized various artistic mediums to enhance student learning experiences and understanding of materials.
- Inspired students and assisted in developing creativity and self-expression through various art forms and media.
- Established and maintained professional relationships with students, staff, parents and community members.
- Promoted culture of inclusion, respect and collaboration in classroom.
- Managed classroom effectively, fostering a supportive environment where students felt encouraged towards artistic exploration and growth.
- Adapted lessons for diverse learning styles to ensure inclusivity in the art program and supported development of individualized education plans for students with special needs.
- Utilized differentiated instruction strategies for accommodating diverse learning needs, ensuring all students had access to quality education.
- Assessed student work and provided constructive feedback.
- Managed art room supplies, equipment and resources to maintain consistent supply for projects.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Major in Studio Art, Minor in Art History
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX12-2025
Associates of Arts -
Lone Star College- Montgomery
The Woodlands, TX05-2023
Skills
- Art Education
- Artistic Curation
- Creative Marketing
- Brand Direction
- Digital Marketing
- Event Coordination
Timeline
Owner/Curator
Scorpion Sun
06.2025 - Current
Social Media/Marketing Assistant
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
01.2025 - Current
High School Art Teacher
Cordovan Art School
03.2023 - 07.2023
Art Instructor/Event Facilitator
Painting With A Twist
01.2021 - Current
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Major in Studio Art, Minor in Art History
Texas State University
Associates of Arts -
Lone Star College- Montgomery
Group Exhibitions
2025 | Eternal/Ephemeral- Thesis Exhibition, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
2025 | All That We Are, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
2020 | The Grounds 1488 Fall Festival Art Exhibition, Magnolia, Texas
Awards, Grants & Commissions
2025 | College of Fine Arts and Communications Council of Scholars, Texas State University
2024 – 2025 | Dean's List, Texas State University
2024 – 2025 | Bobcat Select Renewal Transfer Scholarship, Texas State University
2023 – 2024 | Bobcat Select Transfer Scholarship from Texas State University
2021 | First Place Highschool Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts Student Art Contest
2018 | First Place Highschool Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts Student Art Contest