Meet Eva Kmetko

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eva Kmetko a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Eva, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
My optimism has stemmed from the bad stuff, difficult situations, uncomfortable dialogues and bad experiences. I do believe it’s a cocktail of psychological, biological and environmental factors mixed together. I tend to focus on positive outcomes and maintain a hopeful attitude towards the future. There have been situations in my life when a positive attitude was my way out of difficult circumstances. For example, many moons ago, I worked in Switzerland, Europe and unknowingly got into a situation where I had to face the Ukrainian mafia. Or when I had a difficult labor and my daughter and I almost didn’t survive. Or when my mom died. These and many other situations in my life, taught me that I need to stay focused and optimistic, especially when things go downhill. Optimism is like a habit; you need to nurture it. You focus on your wellbeing. I look for things that make my heart smile, like activities that make me grow, good food, art or a nice cup of coffee. Any little thing counts. Even if it’s one thing a day, in one year, you collect 365 mind-positive actions without even realizing it. These actions should be tailored to your personality and environment. When I get into a tough situation, my first reaction is, ‘Okay, how can I fix this so that both sides are relatively happy, and how can I get the best outcome out of this?’ Crying never got me anywhere, but optimism did. There are things I cannot change, for example, the weather. But I can change the way I see it. I can adapt and make the most of it. Many years ago, someone told me that my images were too optimistic, too pretty, too much ‘Rainbows & Unicorns.’ And I said, ‘Thank you!’ I knew that person wanted to insult me, but I didn’t react. I wasn’t hurt because that was my style. That was exactly what I was aiming for. And that person was not my client; he was just full of opinions, and that’s fine. It’s good to get different opinions, especially when you’re in a creative field like me. It teaches you how to better handle similar situations in the future.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Sure, on the creative market I am a visual artist, known for work in photography, graphic design and traditional painting with oils on canvas. This is the route I want to nurture even more in the future. I’ve been on the job market for over 20 years now. My career path has taken me through several different fields. I have developed a versatile skill set from office environments, sales, management, design, professional photography, customer service. It’s been a very diverse and well rounded journey. My photographic exploration began over ten years ago in Europe; now I operate in the US. My long-term presence in the creative field has helped me gain a great amount of experience. I am evolving my style, exploring new techniques and subjects, but staying true to myself and my vision. During my workday, I combine mediums, techniques, aesthetics, themes, and subjects to make my mark in the art community and deliver the best results for my clients. Lately, I’ve been working on my skills in motion picture, something I would like to practise further. It’s going to be a great addition to my portfolio and a valuable offering for my clients.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
If I need to pick only three qualities that were most impactful, it would be a creative vision, creative thinking and business skills. These were not just the most impactful qualities, they were my pillars of the whole journey. For those who are at the beginning of their artistic voyage, focused on developing their key skills and knowledge, here’s what I suggest doing. These actions helped me:

  1. Practice regularly: Like any skill, abilities improve with practice. Dedicate time regularly to work on your project. Experiment with different ideas, styles, mediums, and techniques to discover what resonates with you.
  2. Educate yourself. Analyze. Take classes or workshops. Understanding the context and evolution can be incredibly enriching. Read books, watch documentaries, visit galleries and museums, anything that makes your art juices flow.
  3. Seek feedback and constructive criticism: Share your work with others and be open to feedback. Constructive criticism can be a powerful tool for growth. Engage with art communities, both online and offline, to gain different perspectives.
    4. Develop Your Unique Voice. While it’s important to learn from others, it’s also crucial to develop your unique artistic voice. This involves exploring what you want to express through your art and how you want to do it.
    5. Experiment and take risks! Don’t be afraid to experiment with new ideas or mediums. Taking risks can lead to unique discoveries and help in defining your style.
    6. Learn business and marketing skills. Understanding the business side of art, like marketing, selling, and networking, is crucial for a professional career. Learn how to promote your art and build connections within the art community.
    7. Stay inspired and curious. Keep your inspiration flowing by engaging with things you love, whether it’s nature, books, music or other forms. Stay curious and open to new experiences.
    8. Take care of your mental and physical health. This should be on top of your list. Artistic endeavors can be mentally and physically demanding. Ensure you take care of your health, as it can directly impact your creativity and productivity.
    9. Document your progress. Keep a record of your work and progress. This not only helps in tracking your development but also serves as a portfolio of your work.

Artistic growth takes time and persistence. Don’t be discouraged by challenges or slow progress. Remember that every journey is unique. Embarking on an artistic journey is both exciting and challenging. Embrace the process of learning and discovery and remember that your journey is a personal and evolving one.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes, I am looking for partners to collaborate with. So far, I have been fortunate to collaborate with brands, individual private clients, and other artists such as actors, models, photographers, and I am open to new horizons. Since I started working in motion picture, I would like to create more connections with musicians, composers, film directors and cinematographers. Cinematography is a vast and creative field, and I would like to be a part of it. People can find me on social media. I have a new kmetkoeva Instagram profile with a few of my photography images that I’ve done. It’s a work in progress. They can reach out through my website as well https://evakmetko.myportfolio.com. I am looking forward to connect with more creatives and clientele.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Image Credits: Megan, Ch., Katlyn S, Ieva A., Fatima H., Eva K., Annie C.

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