Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tyler Evin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Tyler, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My path to becoming an artist, and where I am professionally today, has certainly not been the most straightforward. As with most creatives, I’ve had a love for all types of art since I was young. I can remember filling up countless lined notebooks with pages of random sketches and drawings as a kid—observations from the world and creations from my head. As I got older, art remained a constant for me. Throughout my formative years, art was a consistent presence in my life. There was a time however when I doubted turning this passion into a career. My early undergraduate studies did not include visual art. I’ve explored and studied courses in environmental design, music production, and several areas of psychology. Only until I began working in an after-school program did I start to think of merging my love for visual art into a career, working professionally as an artist and teaching art in various educational settings. I pursued a degree in Art Education and Studio Art with a concentration in painting after studying under an amazing mentor in college. I strongly believe those previous years studying human psychology extensively, and throughout my education, have absolutely shaped me as an artist. The subjects and themes I explore in my work directly reference these topics, and offer a continual source of inspiration for me.

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 am an artist that has spent most of my life in the Fargo, ND area where I grew up. I specialize in oil painting, with occasional studies in charcoal and graphite as well. My work is a direct reflection on where I came from and experiences that have shaped me along the journey thus far. I like to explore the tension between fleeting moments and the impact left behind. Deeply rooted in Midwest nostalgia, I aim to layer symbolic elements and delve into themes of youth, memory, and fragility of time. Through this lens, I seek to capture the beauty and strangeness in the in-between spaces, where quiet introspection and recklessness intersect with reflection and loss. In my latest series I experimented with painting on various types of metal surfaces—steel, brass and aluminum to name a few. Testing out various rusting effects and achieving interesting chemical reactions with the metal was a really fun time! In my work I enjoy the interplay between texture and atmosphere. By building up these textures, I create surfaces that feel weathered and raw, reinforcing the themes of time and impermanence. In addition to my own personal work, I also enjoy taking on commissions from those interested. I see it as a collaboration—working together to bring their vision to life based on topics and aesthetics from my work. Currently, I am pursuing my Master of Fine Arts with a concentration in painting at the University of Houston, slated to graduate in 2027. Transitioning to life in Houston, TX a couple years ago was unquestionably a change of pace from what I was used to back home. I look forward to seeing how this will influence myself as an artist in the upcoming years.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

As an artist, I very much view myself as a story-teller. Being able to tell a story through my work and have that resonate with the viewer is a feeling unlike any other. Visual art is a beautiful universal language, and I love being able to communicate what I want to say through these images—whether it sparks a memory, an emotion, or a new perspective. There’s something fulfilling about knowing a painting you’ve created can evoke a response in someone else, even if their interpretation differs from your own. I also enjoy the challenges creating a painting presents, and the continual problem-solving that it requires. It’s like slowly putting pieces to a puzzle together in hopes that, by the end, something interesting comes of it. For me, being an artist means you are constantly evolving and growing—constantly staying curious and open to new discoveries.

How did you build your audience on social media?

To preface what I’m about to say, I am by no means an expert at all on how to build an audience online these days. I feel like the social media landscape is constantly shifting and what works today may be useless tomorrow. I do feel like consistency is very important with whatever online platform you choose to use. I am being a bit of a hypocrite when I say that, as I need to do better about sharing what I’m up to more often! I think having the belief in yourself and trusting what you’re creating is worthwhile, is a huge component to growing and maintaining a presence online. As obvious as it sounds, if you don’t have the confidence to share your work online, nobody will see it. One of the biggest challenges we face as artists is trying to balance everything all at once while trying to update followers and stay relevant on social media—which is a full-time job in itself! I also believe in dipping your toes in as many different social media platforms as you feel comfortable. I primarily use Instagram, Facebook, and a little bit of Tiktok (while it’s still around). Lately I have been inspired to create longer form content on YouTube. I created a channel and was uploading only a few videos a couple years ago, but am hoping to create more consistent content over there moving forward. Filming and editing videos is a unique creative outlet for me that I am especially inspired by lately. YouTube allows me to share a glimpse into my creative practice that images alone just can’t do, and I really enjoy going back and seeing the process unfold again once a piece is finished.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tylerevin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evinpar/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evinpar/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC53RsEtSV2V7Mfycw9cdmLA

Image Credits

Joseph Bui