Six Foot Gallery is delighted to present its annual Summer Show, featuring thirty-four artists working in a diverse range of mediums and disciplines.

Emily McGhie Jackson is a Scottish artist exploring liminal space and our perception of reality. In her introspective painting practice, she aims to show how our mood and experiences of space can shape how we physically view the world. Using an illustrative style, her paintings exist as physical objects containing portals which invite the viewer to step into another world.

Emily’s practice explores themes from her everyday life, using photos of still moments, stripping away their surroundings, to create a sole piece of work. Painting empty liminal spaces within the busy city and the open countryside, Emily explores the relationship between physical space and atmosphere, how nature can feel endless yet welcoming, and how architecture can feel endlessly barren. Using thin layers of Acrylic and murky colours, she creates a haze for the viewer, allowing them to get lost in the paintings themselves.

Hi Emily! How did you arrive at the theme of your work?
Generally I look to explore themes from my day-to-day life, knowing that they are the topics I understand the most. So, I start with taking photographs of moments which feel still or poignant and build from there. This time my photos reflected the isolation I felt in the city and studio, so I decided to explore the theme further, primarily looking at the architecture I had pictured, and it’s similarities to video games and dreamscapes.

Are there specific advantages or challenges associated with working in your chosen mediums? Have you experimented with other mediums or techniques?
I enjoy working with acrylic primarily because it is so fast drying, and easy to thin out. I usually try to avoid adding too much acrylic as I enjoy the chalky textures it can create, but the thicker it gets the shinier and more plastic it feels. Acrylic always felt very intuitive to me.

Can you elaborate on the significance or symbolism of the chosen title of your work?
I felt that Lingering in Liminality encompassed the feeling of being trapped within the in-between stages of life that drove me to make this triptych. The painting details the point of view of someone withdrawing into themselves, and I felt that this title showcased that they were not existing in reality but rather in the fantastical liminal spaces that have become increasingly popular.

How do you know when a piece is complete?
Honestly, I decide a painting is done once the depth feels correct for the viewer’s point of view, the focal point or journey is clear and distinct, the atmosphere conveys the right mood, and the details are perfected. If any of these things are out of place the painting feels off, and so honestly, I am done when the painting feels finished.

What emotions or reactions do you hope viewers experience when they see your artwork?
I hope that when viewers see my work they become captivated by the spaces inside it, looking in toward the paintings as they look in towards themselves. I really try and create atmospheres people can get lost in or put on edge by.

You can find out more about Emily and her work on Instagram @emmie.j.arts or her website. Our Summer Open Call Exhibition runs at Six Foot Gallery until Friday 23rd August.