ABOUT THE ARTIST
A
childhood surrounded by nature often provides the building blocks for
future wildlife artists. It serves to create a reverence for the
earth’s tremendous and amazing variety of life forms. Growing up on the
southern shore of Lake Michigan, Eva spent her childhood exploring the
woodlands, marshes, and ponds of the Indiana Dunes. Many happy hours
were spent scouring the dunes and their ponds for frogs, tadpoles,
turtles, toads, and salamanders. She also gives great credit to her
mother for boldly taking her children camping each summer, across the
U.S. and Canada. That early exposure to so many different types of
habitats and wildlife, helped to further instill her love of nature and
wild places.
Naturally, her love of drawing animals began quite early. And, surprisingly, horses came into her life during her early teen years, giving her greater access to wild areas where few people venture. Eva notes, “I, like all children, was in love with animals- especially the wild ones. Each fleeting encounter left a hauntingly beautiful image etched in my mind. Even now, they rattle around for years, waiting to come back to life in the form of a sculpture or painting. As an adult, I find that all of the fieldwork and research that goes into being able to accurately recreate those moments, rejuvenates my spirit and reconnects my soul to all that has come before and all that I hope will continue after.”
Though always a creative person, fine art came into her life with a plein aire oil painting class in Santa Cruz, California in 1979, while pregnant with her first baby. What a time to discover your life’s passion! Since then, life has taken Eva from the redwoods and ocean of California, to living in the Hill Country of Texas, the remote mountains of western North Carolina, the piedmont of Virginia, back to Indiana- and in early 2006, finally settling in Colorado. Though primarily a self-taught artist, Eva gratefully and lovingly acknowledges each and every creative soul who has graced her life with their love, friendship, inspiration, knowledge, and encouragement.
After working with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for 3 years- and having completed the hands-on responsibilities of raising her family- her travels have now taken her across the length and breadth of North America several times- from Washington State to Florida, Prince Edward Island to Arizona and California. 2005 took her back through the Florida Everglades, then around the far side of the world, to Australia and China- her first world travels! Although some of those “down-under” creatures may eventually find their way into some of her work, Eva focuses primarily on North American wildlife.
She says, “It is terribly important to educate our people- especially the children- about the amazing variety and needs of the creatures and plants native to our own hemisphere. Wildlife art helps in that mission. Wildlife art can have an effect on the way we view our planet and her creatures, as well as how we see ourselves- mere parts within the extremely complex web of life- interconnected and interdependent. Our earth is made up not only of today, but also the remnants of all time before, and the fragile promise of all that may come after. Given the proper stewardship, the earth possesses a remarkable ability to replenish and heal itself.
Art reminds us to stop, brush off the dust of
our everyday lives, and appreciate the beauty around us."
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