Meet Emma Menke | Landscape Painter, Adventure Photographer, Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emma Menke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emma, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
When I left my stable, consistent teaching job last year a lot of people questioned what was next for me. I simply stated, I’m taking a risk and following my passion of a creative career in art and photography. We’ll see how it goes. 6 months later, I’ve never felt so proud and happy of that decision. I’ve never felt called to have a traditional career, I have always chased after what makes me happy and that is being an artist and having my own business. I grew up being told how risky a career of being an artist can be and that not many people are successful. However, I understand those risks and have experienced some moments of doubt but ultimately how do you know unless you have tried? Maybe you fail, but maybe something incredible happens instead and even if you do fail, you still learn.

The first risk I took was deciding to go out of state to Arkansas for college instead of staying in Texas. The second risk was majoring in art education. The third risk was deciding to move to Colorado after graduation before securing a job. The fourth risk was creating an instagram account and publishing my art and photos online for the first time. The fifth risk was becoming a full time artist and freelance creative. I would not be where I am right now without taking each of those risks. I pushed off my dreams because initially I didn’t know when the right time was to take that next step. I didn’t know a lot about running a business, I didn’t have a ton of savings lined up, I wasn’t actively looking for a backup job just in case things went badly. I realized that if I didn’t do it then I would spend another year wondering what it would be like, another year not being able to give 100% to my creative career. I am constantly learning and taking new risks both big and small everyday. It can be scary and uncomfortable but the risks challenge and push my creativity.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In 2019, I graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BFA in Art Education with an emphasis in painting and photography and a minor in Art History. Photography, art and travel have always been so important to me. I am a landscape painter, creating mixed media artwork inspired by landscapes around me. I have been drawn to Colorado’s natural beauty since visiting every summer with my family as a kid. In high school I started painting the photographs I had taken from trips, which opened up my eyes to another love: travel. I started my creative journey as a photographer, documenting landscapes and telling stories of adventure. My love for color, lines and capturing places in unique ways is evident in both my photography and paintings.

I was in search of an outlet for my photography so I decided to start an Instagram account dedicated to my travel photography in 2020, thus @menkesinthemountains was born. It also became a place to share my husband and I’s adventures. Every photo of a beautiful location has a story and I wanted to tell ours. The account really started to get popular in December of 2021 and in a short few months we grew to around 60k followers. We also use the platform to share our knowledge and appreciation of the outdoors through hiking tips and travel guides. It has been so fun to have a different, digital creative outlet in addition to my art. It challenges my creativity in a different way, which I see in the photos I take and then eventually paint.

I also recently started selling my art in a local storefront, Eclectic OCC as well as online. I am excited to see where my creative career continues to take me!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is always one of my most asked questions! I love Colorado Springs because there is an incredible amount of things to do. I would start by grabbing coffee and going to Garden of the Gods at sunrise, there is hardly anyone there at that time and the sight of the red rocks glowing is a must see. From there I would go to brunch in Old Colorado City at Mountain Shadows then explore Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs and end the day on the rooftop at OCC brewing. The next day we would hike up to Mount Muscoco, one of my favorite hikes in Colorado Springs followed by a scenic drive down Gold Camp Road and then we would get a drink and food at Cerberus or Bristol Brewing. The next day we would drive out to the mountains, first we would stop by the Donut Mill in Woodland Park and then hike to raspberry mountain on the back side of Pikes Peak and if we had time stop by the Catamount Reservoirs on the way home for paddle boarding. Other incredible spots to explore are the Fine Arts Center, the Cog railway up Pikes Peak, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Paint Mines Interpretive Park, and Red Rocks Open Space.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shout out my incredible husband Joseph, my friends and family. All of my art teachers I had growing up, especially my high school painting teacher Ms. Foster for opening my eyes to a creative career and encouraging me to apply to art school. I wouldn’t be where I am now without their support!

Website: emmamenke.com

Instagram: @emmamenke_art @menkesinthemountains