Emily Bourassa is a Los Angeles based artist and illustrator whose work is shaped by salt air, aquarium visits, and the small treasures gathered on family beach walks. She began painting during Covid at age thirty seven and has not looked back since, building a practice rooted in curiosity, color, and the quiet beauty of nature.

Educated at UCLA and the Rhode Island School of Design, where she completed certificates in Natural Science Illustration and Painting Studies, Emily is currently earning her MFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Her academic foundation informs her careful observation of the natural world, while her playful spirit keeps her work expressive and full of life.

Emily calls herself a watercolor rebel, believing life is too short to follow every rule, especially the ones about paint. Inspired by the ocean and the way children notice what adults often overlook, her work celebrates seashells, sea life, and the wonder found in everyday discoveries.

She shares her process, favorite materials, and painting tips with her growing community online at @emilybourassastudio, inviting others to find beauty in the smallest details.