We recently connected with Chloe Evers and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chloe , thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?
I made my first sculpture almost by accident. I was home from college on break, and in peak anxiety. My dad is a professional sculptor of 40 years, and I grew up playing with clay at the kitchen table with him. In his workshop, I found a piece of scrap metal that was roughly in the shape of a heart. I started tacking clay to it with no forethought of a design in mind. This was done purely as a therapeutic exercise to release some of my stress from my body through my fingertips. What manifested was “Eye, Heart, Nature,” my depiction of Mother Nature, influenced from recently having read Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” I had no intention of doing anything with I had made. Mind busy with upcoming assignments, I assumed it met its destiny in a five-gallon bucket scrap pile. When I came home next, I walked into my dad’s studio to find my very first bronze cast sculpture on the showroom floor. My brother had welded it up, chased it and mounted it to a base. This extremely kind gesture from the men in my life really gave me the boost of confidence I needed to get started. I started on my next sculpture immediately and self-financed its production with hard won wages I eared working at a winery. I learned to bet on myself. When Denise, my very first client, bought the first piece I was twenty-five. The same age my dad was when he had his first sale. Denise and I are still in touch and she will always have a very special place in my heart as my first client ever.
Chloe , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a designer, sculptor and jewelry artist. For sculptures, my focused medium is limited edition bronze castings, but I also do steel fabricated and stained glass mosaic originals. I’m all about mixing different mediums and constantly expanding my knowledge base. I am very fortunate to come from a family of artists where everyone shares tips and tricks and helps each other succeed. For jewelry, I primarily work in silver because it is durable and valuable enough to be an heirloom without being an outrageous price point. Cheaper mixed metals such as goldfill just don’t hold up over time and I like making things that will last and be cherished for years to come. I do work in gold, but only by commission. If you want to peek in on my process you can follow along on instagram, chloejoyeversdesigns is my handle. If you want to shop my new collection, you can find it at chloejoyeversdesigns.com or shoot me an inquiry.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
When someone deeply connects with your work: enough to invest their hard earned money, enough to give it a front and center display in their home, enough to wear it, love it, and live life with it. Art has had such an impact in my life, and I am honored that I get to produce on this level. Every day that I get to wake up and make art, I feel so blessed and grateful.
Have you ever had to pivot?
It was really hard going from working as an artist in my dad’s company to working fully on my own. I’m nearly two years in, and still being stretched outside my comfort zone all the time. The pressure of trying to make a living off of your art all on your own is incredible. It’s hard to know when to double down and put all your energy into the career that you want, and when to pick up side work and take some pressure off of yourself. I am a big fan of keeping side hustle jobs that are a flexible schedule so that I can still prioritize my business, and have some consistent income. The art market will always be unsteady and I think it is just realistic to ebb and flow with whatever season you’re in and always be open to new opportunities. It’s so cool for me to see how much my confidence has grown since I started. I remember being on the phone with my best friend crying. I told her how everyone was being so sweet and supportive, but that at the end of the day, I felt like I was on a boat out at sea and everyone who was saying those words of encouragement were on the shore. My perspective has changed, I know who is in the boat with me based off of how they have shown me their support through the doubt and challenges. Starting my own business taught me that no one is an island and having strong support is everything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chloejoyeversdesigns.com/
- Instagram: chloejoyeversdesigns
