Meet Evva Gilkeson, our West Virginia Artist on Display for July. Evva paints, assembles art, does prop building, builds custom furniture, and most recently has been applying her skills into tattoo artistry at Custom Image Tattoo in Lewisburg, WV. Get to know an artist who loves her children, is inspired by life, and never stops learning with our Q&A:
1. How do you describe your palette?
I do a wide array of art. All my paintings are in acrylics with some other mediums peppered in. I also do other forms of art (listed above) and now tattoos! I feel like I am the weirdo in the art community who may or may not have a true sense of direction! My palette is mostly determined by what I have on hand and the mood I am in for the day. Unless, of course, it is a commission, then I use predetermined materials and already known my direction.
2. What is your greatest accomplishment?
My two beautiful sons are my accomplishment. It is truly because of them that I create!
3. What obstacles do you need to overcome to find your creative space/muse?
Honestly, the greatest obstacle I have and I am sure future obstacle that I will have to overcome is fear.
4. How do you find your inspiration?
Just being alive inspires me. I wish I had some great revelation that was very deep, but honestly, just being a part of my own creations and seeing the minds of other artists come out through there own work is amazing. Watching my children, where I live, not knowing the outcome of each piece. Life inspires me to do art.
5. What advice do you have for other artists?
What I could tell another artist is to never give up. I never thought I could make a living doing this artistic life thing….. However, you can. I am not saying that it is without hardship and failure, you just have to believe and be dedicated. I truly look on some of today’s current artists that I have found via happenstance, etsy, or local. They are out there and doing it. You just have to believe.
Her paintings are available for purchase at Patina on E. Washington St. in downtown Lewisburg (located beside the Wild Bean). To learn more about this artist find her on instagram and facebook @evvagart.
– LBSPY #67. July 2015.
HASHTAGWV ART & ENTERTAINMENT Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Christina Entenmann-Edwards has been a WV resident since September 2008. She was born and raised in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and is no stranger to hard work and the entrepreneurial spirit. In 2006, she graduated from Quinnipiac University (Hamden, Connecticut), Cum Laude, with a B.A. in History. In 2010, she graduated with an M.B.A. from Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia). In February 2012, Christina launched HashtagWV as the area’s first full-color, free arts and entertainment tabloid + online platform. Christina completed the Leadership West Virginia class of 2021, which is an innovative program that grows, engages, and mobilizes leaders to ignite a life passion to move West Virginia forward.