About the Artist: Emma Yount
Emma Yount is a tender observer of life’s quiet reverence—an artist, teacher, and lifelong learner who finds deep meaning in making, reworking, and exploring. With a spirit both imaginative and grounded, Emma is drawn to purposeful, heartfelt work where creativity meets connection.
Her love for animals and art began in childhood, when she would fill the pages of her notebooks with doodles of dogs, cats, birds, and other creatures. In high school, her passion blossomed through studio art classes, where she honed her technical skills and developed a vivid, expressive style—especially after discovering Yupo, a unique synthetic paper that reacts beautifully with watercolor. One summer, she painted a portrait of her dog on Yupo paper, showed it to her mom, and received the kind of advice that sticks: “You should sell those.” To her surprise, people did want them—and she’s been painting pet portraits ever since.
Now with over 500 commissioned portraits completed and orders spanning internationally, Emma continues this work not just for the joy of it, but for what it stands for. “Animals are beautiful beings,” she says, “full of expression, love, and unapologetic presence. I love capturing that spirit in paint—but even more, I love honoring the bond we share with them.”
To Emma, each portrait is a small act of care and a quiet protest—proof that art can be meaningful, connective, and sustainable. What began as a hopeful experiment at 17 has grown into a soulful, enduring practice. At its core, her work is about presence, love, and the beauty of being truly seen.
About ERY Portraits
Mission Statement
At ERY Portraits, our mission is twofold: to create meaningful, beautiful artwork that brings joy to our customers, and to give back to causes that help make the world better. We dedicate approximately 10% of our profits to nonprofits focused on environmental, educational, and animal-related initiatives.
Our 4-P Social Impact Model
ERY Portraits is built on a values-driven model we call the 4-P Impact—a way of doing business that considers more than just profit:
P-rofit
By commissioning a portrait, you’re directly supporting a young artist and helping sustain creative work. You’re also helping create opportunities for other young creatives who assist with operations and outreach.
P-eople
We believe in kindness, communication, and quality. Emma works one-on-one with every customer to ensure their portrait is just right. Your happiness with the final piece is our top priority.
P-lace
ERY Portraits is rooted in community. We give back by mentoring emerging artists, donating art and funds to public schools, and staying connected to our hometown and college networks.
P-lanet
We are committed to minimizing waste and reducing our environmental footprint. We use recycled shipping materials whenever possible, and all paintings are made on Yupo paper—a fully recyclable, tree-free surface made from repurposed plastic.
Giving Back
Here are a few of the causes we’ve proudly supported:
2021: $500 to Jaguares en la Selva (Environmental Conservation)
2020: $300 to WIRES (Australian Wildlife Rescue)
2019: $250 to Guiding Eyes for the Blind
2019: $250 to the Northampton Education Foundation