Meet Evan Edwards

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Evan Edwards. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Evan below.

Evan, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Overcoming imposter syndrome is an ongoing challenge. Sometimes, I’m completely confident in my ability to create outstanding work. Other times, I doubt whether my skills are enough. When I feel the worst of imposter syndrome, I find it helpful to just take a step back. Taking a moment to relax and remind myself that I’m doing this work for a reason can really help. Afterward, I return with fresh eyes which allows me to continue making progress.

I often revisit and revise my older work. Just because a project is finished doesn’t mean I have to put it away and forget about it. There are definitely moments when that feels tempting, though. If anyone says they actually fully overcame imposter syndrome, I’m not inclined to believe them.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, and I recently graduated with a BFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Right now, I’m in a transitional phase, figuring out my post-grad life and trying to lay the groundwork for my career as a full-time artist. My artistic focus centers around animal and pet-based illustration. I particularly love doing commissioned pet portraits. There’s something incredibly rewarding about capturing the bond between people and their pets. It’s meaningful work that I feel lucky to do. Right now, I’m focused on expanding my commission offerings and building a cohesive body of work. I want potential clients and followers to know that I bring a high level of care, originality, and intention to every piece I create.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

It sounds cheesy but be yourself! Authenticity has been the most impactful part of my artistic journey. The more I leaned into what genuinely interested and inspired me, rather than what I thought I should be making, the more I started connecting with the right audience and finding my voice. People are drawn to realness, and staying true to yourself not only makes your work more meaningful, it helps your community naturally grow around it. Keep experimenting with new ideas. Some of the most exciting breakthroughs in my art happened because I gave myself permission to try something different. Whether it’s new materials, styles, or ideas, curiosity helps you stay fresh and push your work forward. Finally, don’t wait to feel “ready to start. Especially early on, it’s easy to feel like you need more experience, better tools, or a perfect plan. I get it, it’s super intimidating. But the most growth happens through doing. Start small, share your work, and say yes to opportunities. You’ll learn and refine along the way and you’ll build confidence in your voice!

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The biggest challenge I’m facing right now is navigating life post-grad without a clear plan. I’m very type A, so leaving my set routine is quite intimidating. I’m feeling some pressure externally, but mostly internally, to secure a job or have everything figured out immediately after graduation. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, but I find a little comfort in knowing that a career in the creative field is rarely linear. I’ve been working on reframing that uncertainty as a possibility instead of a failure. Rather than rushing to fit into a mold or take a job just for the sake of having one, I’m trying to give myself time to explore and define what success really means to me. That means continuing to build my portfolio, take on commissioned work, and reach out to communities and mentors for guidance and connection. It’s definitely still a work in progress, but I’m learning that it’s okay not to have it all figured out and that sometimes the best opportunities come from giving yourself the time to grow into them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://evanedwardsillustration.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/evan7creates