Over time this enthusiasm grew into something of an addiction. As parents we were often frustrated (and more times amazed) at constantly finding beads, bits of paper, colored cotton balls—or anything else Emilie thought she could use to create art—all over the house. She loved accompanying Alissa to the craft store to brainstorm her next project and also to fill her pockets with discarded materials she found on the ground. Eventually, we were forced to let go of our parenting instincts and allow our 3-year-old to use scissors.

Download Emilie’s Art Book

This passion and persistence with art shaped Emilie’s characteristics and attributes that we love so much about her. For example Emilie never gave up. She became infatuated with the character Puss N’ Boots after watching a movie. She took her infatuation to paper to draw this newly beloved character but couldn’t get it quite right. She spent every spare minute over the next two days and two booklets of paper drawing Puss N’ Boots over and over, until she finally declared, “Mom! Dad! Look at this! I finally did it, I got Puss N’ Boots just right!”

It was obvious to anyone who knew her that art was how she expressed herself and viewed the world. Emilie came to us one day with our family in Play-Doh. She was explaining each member of our family, and Alissa noticed a blob of Play-Doh on the belly of her figure. Alissa was immediately self-conscious of her weight until Emilie explained, “…and this is Mommy. and this [pointing to the blob] is her camera hanging on her neck.” Art was a way for her to not only express herself but also a way for us to understand the world through her eyes.

Video: Making a Bead Necklace…

How to Make a Bead Necklace from The Emilie Parker Fund.

Emilie could have been anything she wanted in life. However, she constantly told us that when she grew up she wanted to open an art gallery. She would work on her paintings and sculptures in the back, and Alissa would run the cash register in the front. It was so sweet how she and Alissa were so close that Emilie’s vision of her future involved sharing it with her mom.

Art was Emilie’s outlet and her joy, and we want to be able to provide that same opportunity to those who wish to express themselves in a similar way. As parents of a child who loved to express herself through art in its many forms, we have seen firsthand how difficult it can be to find proper avenues to develop that passion. Art programs are few and far between and usually suffer the first hit when budgets are cut. It is easy to sign your children up for a multitude of soccer, basketball and baseball leagues, but difficult to find programs to teach ceramics, watercolor and abstract art.

We had the amazing blessing of watching how Emilie came alive through her art. Our hope is to overcome the simple challenges that exist and provide opportunities for your children to share their stories with you, through art.

Thank you for your support of the Parkers. If you would like to help them honor Emilie by supporting arts programs in schools and communities via paypal, click the donate button above. Check donations may be mailed to: P. O. Box 1237 Brush Prairie, WA 98606.

Make checks payable to: the Emilie Parker Art Connection, Inc.

We are a Connecticut non-stock cooperation and a U.S. tax-exempt charitable organization as described in Code Section 501(c)3. All contributions made through this website will go directly to the Emile Parker Art Connection, Inc. and will be used in Emilie’s honor for the advancement of the arts.