Emma Mackay is an entertainment illustration major in her junior year with an ever-growing social media presence. Her Instagram currently has 40,000 followers, with more followings every day. Instagram, however, is the least notable thing about her. 

Her journey to get where she is now started in a very significant place. 

“I went to go see General Conference with my dad,” Mackay said. “And my grandma had given me this little journal. I was like, 'This is so fun.' I was writing in conference notes, and then I started doodling in it.”

After that initial spark, she never stopped. 

“I can maybe think of a week in which I didn't actually draw anything since I was little. Other than that, I’ve been drawing every day,“ Mackay said.

Her love for art came full circle on her mission. 

“I served my mission at Salt Lake City Temple Square, a place completely filled with art,” Mackay said. "And I was like, 'Wait, this is where it all started.' It all came around. This is where I got my start in art because I went to General Conference and was doodling with my dad.”

Stress slowly caught up to Mackay on her mission, but through that stress, one medium of art become her go-to.

Ever since Mackay was a kid, she would paint with her grandpa. Mackay’s grandpa was the owner of a company called M Design, where he and his team created industry designs like the Nesquik bottle.  

In addition to being an artist professionally, Mackay's grandfather created vivid paintings.

"He also sold fine art watercolors online," Mackay said. "They were super, super beautiful. So, that's why I learned how to paint. I would spend every birthday with him painting after I was seven."

That experience, painting with her grandfather, came back to help her on the mission. She began painting pictures of Jesus and scenes from the scriptures.

“Something that was really helpful was during my free time, I’d do a lot of painting," Mackay said. “If I was stressed, I just gathered a small paint set.”

Mackay would use photocopy prints from Church headquarters to give these paintings to all the other missionaries she served with.

"I used to be so terrified of painting pictures of Christ because I was like, 'I’m gonna do it wrong, I’m gonna mess up,'" Mackay said. "And so I started with sketching and just figuring things out. And then it was like, 'Ok I’m gonna draw him how I see him, and how I’ve come to know him,' and it was always really fun to just get to draw Christ in these really beautiful pictures."

Her favorite painting came from her hardest challenge on her mission.

"I found out my grandfather had cancer in June of 2024," Mackay said, "I had an image of Christ holding me and telling me everything was gonna be okay."

Mackay spent the day painting and finding comfort in her painting of Jesus.

"I was crying as I painted, but that didn't stop me." Mackay said, "I sat back and just stared at the painting for a while. It gave me peace."

That painting continued being a source of comfort for Mackay throughout her struggles.

"I would look back at the painting every so often, when I was feeling sad and alone, knowing that Christ was there during that hard time," Mackay said. "I knew he would be with me in all my other challenges."

Eight months back from her mission, Mackay is still painting and not just for herself. Ever since she was little, she's been painting and drawing for those she cares about.

“I feel like any time people have a request, it’s someone I know. Most often I’m able to be like boom, drop the mic, let's do it," Mackay said. "I have time to work on this, I’m gonna draw this for them.”

She often uses her art to improve her friends' lives. One of these friends is Kim Luchau, who met Mackay through her Instagram.

Luchau is a fellow entertainment illustration major in her junior year who didn't originally plan to go to BYU-Idaho.

"I was doing community college, and I absolutely hated it," said Luchau. "And Emma reached out to me."

Mackay explained that she often reaches out to artists that she likes on Instagram to bond with them over projects.

"She started sending me stuff, and we talked back and forth. I thought she was an amazing artist," Luchau said. "She was also sharing a lot of the projects she was doing for her classes, and I was like, 'Where do you go to school? What major are you?' This is the stuff I want to do."

Mackay inspired Luchau to transfer to BYUI. Now, as close friends, they meet up every Friday to draw together.

"I think the first weekend of last fall, we officially got to meet in person," Luchau said. "It meant a lot. She’s amazing to draw with, and it's really fun to hang out and very inspiring."

Mackay's art career is just beginning. She is determined to continue expanding her skills and learning new things from her classes.

Mackay shows how art and creativity are amazing tools to grow both spiritually and emotionally. No matter what medium she's drawing in, acrylic, pens or paint, she is excited to share art with the world.

“That’s my favorite part, sharing stories and making people feel emotions,” Mackay said.

Creativity is Mackay's tool to share those emotions with the world. She inspires people to go out and create things of their own.

"Creativity isn’t limited just to artistic forms," said Brian Kinghorn, a BYUI religion professor, in a 2019 devotional. "And when we participate in any form of creativity, we learn and grow and become. Ultimately, that “becoming” draws us closer to our Heavenly Father and helps us to not only understand more about Him but more importantly to become more like Him."