We recently connected with Evelyn Schmitt and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Evelyn, 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?

After I retired from teaching, I explored several creative avenues: knitting, watercolor, oils, and acrylics. I never could draw anything to save my soul but I could splash colors on canvas like crazy. I did a large canvas painting of a volcano/ mountain Japanese style. I had it sitting in the stairwell going up to the garage and I was planning to reuse the canvas for another try. My husband’s brother and his partner saw it and ask about it and I told them I was going to paint over over. When they got back home they emailed e and said they wanted the painting for their house. I jokingly said you have to pay $1.00 for it. They still have the painting hanging in their home and they have moved 3 times since they acquired it bye have some incredible art pieces in their home so it makes me feel like a real artist. They got a deal!!!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I live at the beach so every sunset I would run outside with my point and shoot camera and take a photo.. I thought maybe I should get a good camera so I went to Paul’s Photo and started taking classes there. The classes rally boosted my confidence. I got so much positive feedback for my photos. While others in class always said they were timid about asking people if they could take their photo, I never felt that way. I am 86 years old and I always say “Nobody says NO to an old lady”. I guess that is why street photography is my favorite.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

We need to keep art in the school curriculum from kindergarten through high school. I am afraid that with all the cutbacks in education the the arts suffer the most. My philosophy of life has always been that every day one must do something intellectually for your mind, something physical for your body, something social for your heart, and something creative for. your spirit.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I taught Advanced Placement Calculus and Computer Science at South High for 26 years. Because my husband became principal at South High, I had to leave and go to West High. I could not teach Computer Science at West because they already had a program in place. So they offered me Mathematics and coaching Tennis. Wow, I had never taught tennis but I went to the coaches at other high schools for advice and figured out what I needed to do. I had some very bright math students on the tennis team who helped me a great deal setting up drills and practice sessions. I became a much better tennis player myself and I had a great time. Tennis and photography are now two passions in my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://evelynschmitt.smugmug.com
• Instagram: Evelyn.schmitt
• Facebook: Evelyn(Nardi)Schmitt

Image Credits

all images are by me ((EVELYN SCHMITT) except the one of me with the press pass was my friend Jane Takagi