EVELYN HENSON

In the last couple of years murals have been springing up over Columbus. One of them is by Evelyn Henson, a Brookstone graduate, and now living in Charlotte, NC, who loves to transfer her creativity not only to canvas but to blank walls creating a place for people to go and see and enjoy.

Murals and art in general are a way in which we as a community can come together and use our resources not as an ultimate fix to what are problems in our city but a way for us to move forward in a way that will have massive change visually to our city. Evelyn Henson, a Columbus artist spoke to SVM about how she got into the art world, what sparked her interest in murals, and the artists that inspired her.

You are a Brookstone graduate and now living in Charlotte, when did you know you wanted to dive into the art world? I grew up with a love for all things creative, always mesmerized by visits to the Columbus Museum, local art camps, and an Art History class at Brookstone. I majored in Art History in college thinking I would love to be surrounded by art, and that perhaps a museum or gallery would be the best path forward. Eventually I started painting on the side for fun and, after creating an Etsy shop after graduating, I slowly realized that painting was something I loved and wanted to pursue.

What initially sparked your interest in murals? Noticing the popularity of “instagram walls,” I became fascinated with public art and how murals allow someone who might normally be intimidated by an art museum or gallery to interact with art in their everyday life. Art’s proven ability to cultivate happiness and reduce stress can be gifted to the world through public art projects. I always think about how Picasso said “every child is an artist;the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Projects like this allow everyone to (literally) step back into that magic of creativity by giving them the opportunity to interact with the piece.

What is your favorite or most used form of art and why? I most enjoy painting small pieces with gouache on paper. Being able to quickly paint small objects or scenes from my day brings me an enthusiasm for everyday life.

Outside of doing murals, what other kinds of art are you doing on a regular basis? I typically paint gouache illustrations that I turn into art prints, stationery, calendars, and other gift items. I like being able to take a single illustration and bring it to life on several different products.

What does it mean to you that other people want to display your art and people want to see it? Whether it’s a greeting card or a 40 ft mural, I just want to bring more sunshine into someone’s world. It makes my heart happy to know I can bring someone joy through art and that perhaps they’re able to then give that sunshine to someone else.

Are there any specific artists that inspire you? I love taking the everyday and bringing new life to it with color, so I draw a lot of inspiration from artists like Wayne Theibaud or Andy Warhol who have a penchant for everyday objects, and artists like Rothko and De Kooning who studied color. Those fields fascinate and inform my work the most. I’m also of course especially inspired and motivated by all the incredible artists in Columbus.

Tell us about your work, do you have a specific palette? What else informs your work? I tend to paint with a bright palette of pinks, corals, blues, and greens; anything that feels like sunshine. I’ve always carried Maya Angelou’s idea “be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud” with me and want my art to be that bright spot in someone’s world. I always try to take color and whimsical brushstrokes to bring out the fun in the simple things, whether it’s a doorway, a bouquet, or the sun. SVM