We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Evelyn McCorristin Peters a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Evelyn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Over the summer of my sophomore year in college I worked as an usher at an entertainment and arena venue in Philadelphia. Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus was the first event I worked.

I met several people working with the show and for reasons I still do not understand forty years later, I decided I wanted to join the tour. The performers and crew live on a train that travels across the country. There was no room for me at that point, but I was told if I could make it out to California at the end of the summer there would probably be space.

I worked that summer to raise money for the air fare and flew into California in August. I went to the show in Fresno, found the person who offered me a job and said “Remember me? You said I could have a job if I made it out to California.” I started working that night.

Eventually I got the job as scenic artist taking care of the props and floats for the production numbers. I traveled the U.S. and lived in Japan. I was a quiet and shy young girl and this step was huge for me and very unexpected to friends and family.

It was exciting and hard, and I have never regretted my decision for a moment. I worked at the prop shop for Ringling in Sarasota for several years after coming off the road. It showed me how a small group of creative people can imagine, build and paint anything they put their mind to. I learned so much as a painter that I now use in my artwork. It was an on hand education I could never have received through my college studies.

I eventually left and returned home. I finished my degree, and had a wonderful career in retail. I met my husband when with Ringling Brothers and moved back to Sarasota where I was able to restart my art career. Traveling builds a broad and deep understanding of the world we live in and I am very glad for the opportunity that showed me the amazing variety of people across the country. Traveling builds empathy and resourcefulness that I wish we all could obtain.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have built a solid business from my art in the last twenty years. I began by creating dog portraits. I volunteer, foster and adopt for various rescues in southwest Florida. Painting dog portraits began when I adopted a Boxer and the two volunteers who interviewed me saw a painting and asked if I could donate a custom piece to raise funds for the rescue. I now donate my skills to rescues all over the country to help with the amazing work they do.

Once I established a steady stream of clients this allowed me to explore different subject matter. My oil paintings have been awarded in various shows across the country and I have received residencies from the National Park Service and non profit organizations who support artists and the work they create. I was invited to be a member of the Petticoat Painters, one of the longest continually exhibiting women’s art organizations in the country.

My pet portraits and what they mean to people are still what I am most proud of. To be able to give families a remembrance of their pets is an amazing experience. My work has made lots of people cry, but in a good way. So many clients have taken the time to reach out to me to let me know how much my work means to them. Clients say it is how I capture the eyes of the animal that make my work magical.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Creating is hard and very personal. It took several years to understand that not everyone will appreciate your work. I learned that art is very subjective, what appeals to one person often does not translate to others.

I have painted images that when done, I think I will have them for a long time, that nobody will buy them, only to sell them a week later. Some paintings I love have shown and then returned to my studio. It is hard not to let this discourage your instinct to create. But I know that I am not just creating to sell but primarily to express myself and how I fit into the world around me.

Many artists create work that no one has or ever will be seen, but they keep creating. Art is not just what I do, it is who you I am.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goals and mission for creating are constantly evolving but one main thread is consistent. I want my work to show and give people experiences they have not had before. The benefits of caring for the animal community and our natural resources are always presented somewhere in my work.

My current goal for myself is to continue to learn new skills and media to express myself. I have found it very important to take the time to create “bad art”. It is only through mistakes and being open to new processes that I become stronger in my skills and expression.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://evelynmccorristinpeters.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evelynapeters
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarkingDogCreationsStudio