This post is part of a series in which we interview successful makers on how they built their business. Today we are interviewing artist, Eva Magill-Oliver.
Eva is a multi-media artist currently living and working in Asheville, NC. She had been working uniquely on paper for several years, but has expanded her work to include oil/acrylic abstract paintings on canvas. The natural world is an ever-present theme in her work and one that is also transitional based on the landscape that surrounds her. It inspires her color palettes, the way she creates patterns, and influences the organic shapes and silhouettes prevalent throughout her work. Her work is organic and represents the dynamic evolution that is the natural world. Eva is represented by a number of galleries nationally and you can find her work featured in several online boutiques and publications.
We interviewed Eva about how she started her career in celebration of her upcoming workshop, The Business of Being an Artist.
1. When did you first discover your love of art?
It started at a very young age. I loved painting from the time I started taking watercolor classes at the age of 8. From that point on, I never stopped painting. I was hooked.
2. Did you always know this would become your career?
Yes, I was always sure that I wanted a career in art, but was not certain how to make that happen. In college, I considered teaching and also entertained the thought of going into illustration or graphic design. But my true passion has always been in the fine arts.
3. What did you do before you were a full-time artist?
I was lucky enough to get a job as a full-time artist right out of college working for a fine arts publishing company. Even though I was happy creating and making art, the work was not my own. But it was making a lot of money for the company, which was both satisfying and frustrating. In any case, it was a signal that I could make it happen for myself. It was probably about five years ago that I decided to pursue making and marketing my personal work to galleries, designers, and private collectors.
4. What have been your biggest highlights and ‘proud-ofs’ since then?
I have been an artist for so long with all of the associated ups and downs. I have had periods of real struggle, but also periods of strong motivation and inspiration. Those periods kept me going. I assume I’m similar to most artists in that I’m my own worst critic, but I will say there have been a few moments recently where I gave myself a nice pat on the back. One being the Tate Modern Museum in London posting one of my sketchbook images on their Instagram feed. To be recognized by such a prestigious institution was quite an honor. Also being chosen to be one of five artists collaborating with Portland, OR based Schoolhouse Electric was a very proud moment. It’s very gratifying to paint what I want and to have it be appreciated and accepted by so many.
5. What kind of art do you create?
I create nature-inspired visual artwork, primarily mixed media. In the past, I have considered myself a painter, but more recently have pursued more collaborations with companies incorporating my designs into their products. In terms of paintings, most of my work is large scale, but I love creating small paper pieces as well that focus on form, shape, light, and silhouettes.
Eva is teaching a session during our live online workshop, The Business of Being an Artist on January 11th.
6. What inspires your creativity the most?
My work has always been most strongly influenced by nature. I draw from the natural world most of my color palettes, designs, and themes. I also use personal experience and themes of transition in a lot of my work. Moving back to the United States after living in Paris for several years is a good example of that. Reverse culture shock.
7. Which three words would you use to describe your artistic style?
Graphic, balanced, feminine.
8. Can you talk a little bit about your process?
My large scale paintings involve a lot of acting and reacting to the materials. I generally work with mixed media, ink, spray paint, pencil, oil, and acrylic. I love the complexity of different materials complementing one another and working together. My collages are drawings and cut papers that I construct to create nature-inspired abstract works.
9. Where do you sell your artwork?
Most of my larger paintings are sold through galleries. I do sell direct through my website, but these are uniquely smaller paintings and paper pieces. I often receive requests for commissions and other projects and collaborations through the site. My work is also available through several online boutiques.
10. How did you begin working with galleries?
Each gallery I approached happened a little differently, but for most I simply submitted work and they followed up with me. When I started, the process was pretty cut and dry. It was also very rigid and time consuming. Many would only review new artist submissions annually, and the process required submitting slides created from high-res photographs. All neatly packaged with a bio, artist statement, resume, etc. It was painful, but there was no alternative at the time. Most of my efforts early on were fruitless. Fortunately, the digital age has ushered in a more streamlined and efficient process for submitting work.
11. Please describe an average day in your life.
I am [usually] a morning person — having a 5-year old sort of forces you to be. I try to write, send and respond to emails, and work on social media etc. in the morning when my mind is fresh. I then take my son to school, try to run a few errands, and return to the studio mid-morning. That’s when I steal some time to paint, work on current projects, and sketch out new ideas. The rest of the day is primarily committed to my son. I do like to run and try to squeeze that in 4-5 times a week. Being outside is essential to clearing my mind and helps to recharge and refocus my mind — which is so important for me being a creative. The time outside the studio is just as essential as the time spent in it.
12. What do you hope the not-too-distant future holds for your art career; Do you have any exciting, upcoming plans that you would like to share with us?
My first priority is always to continue producing fresh and original work. In 2017, I’ll be working with more designers and art agencies and I hope to push myself in new and exciting ways. I’m looking forward to taking on new challenges, projects, and collaborations. One example of that currently underway is a collaboration with Clemence, a Melbourne-based women’s clothing brand. I created three new designs/patterns for their upcoming collection to be released in Spring. I always felt my work lends itself well to fabric and I am extremely excited to see this vision come to life. I also worked with a Danish company, Speakarts, that will soon be launching a line of high-end speakers combining Danish design with contemporary artwork to disrupt the way we think about traditional speakers.
Eva is teaching a session during our live online workshop, The Business of Being an Artist. This program will show you how to build a successful art business. The live workshop starts on January 11th, but everyone who signs up will get lifetime access to the content. See the full schedule and sign up here.
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