We recently connected with Evelyne Dieu and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Evelyne with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
You are definitely not the first to ask but I do finally know how to answer. I believe it has a lot to do with grit. Having grown up in Belgium and Spain, I learned from a very young age that there’s more out in the world than the obvious path of staying in the country I was born in and making the best of what it had to offer. Having my grandparents, whom I love dearly, live in a different country because they were happier there, made me grow up with the ability to love people deeply without having to live in the same country. We only live once and better make the most of it. I wasn’t happy and I knew that I was the only person that was going to be able to do something about it. Nobody was going to show up at my doorstep and offer me a happy new life in another country and present it on a silver platter. I was going to have to do it myself. And this mindset shift happened when I was a teenager and I knew that I was going to have to play the long game. I always had to deal with a lot of critique and very few people that believed in me. But I was realistic enough to realize that anything I set my mind to I did achieve. That started to blur out the negativity and helped me believe in my capabilities to make my dreams a reality.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m incredibly passionate about my work as an artist, specializing in the symbolic portrayal of people’s life stories, with a focus on mental health and trauma recovery. What sets my art apart is its deeply personal nature—I draw inspiration from my own experiences with trauma, allowing me to connect with my clients on a profound level and share examples of how I’ve visually represented my own stories.
The most exciting and special aspect of my artistic journey is the transformative power of storytelling through art. Each piece becomes a visual narrative, a therapeutic journey that not only allows individuals to confront their struggles but also serves as a testament to the strength and resilience that can emerge from adversity.
In terms of upcoming projects, I’m thrilled to share a significant endeavor on the horizon. I’m currently working on a series of jackets that will serve as canvases for the life stories of veterans. This project goes beyond the realm of traditional art; it merges the worlds of creativity and fashion. The jackets will be showcased at an upcoming fashion show in Dallas, providing a platform for these powerful stories to be seen and celebrated.
What makes this project even more meaningful is that a portion of the proceeds from the sales of these jackets will be directed towards non-profit organizations in Dallas dedicated to supporting veterans dealing with PTSD. It’s my way of giving back to those who have served our country, using art as a vehicle for positive change and support.
As for the future, I am constantly exploring new avenues to expand the reach and impact of my art. Collaborations, events, and initiatives are in the works, all aimed at fostering a greater understanding of mental health, trauma recovery, and the healing power of art.
In essence, my art is not just about creating visually stunning pieces; it’s about fostering connection, understanding, and healing. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this journey with your readers and to contribute to meaningful conversations around mental health and veterans’ well-being.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Use the worst to reach the best. Going through traumatic experiences, there are multiple ways you can deal with them and I’ve chosen to use them as a strength that gave me a sense of realism, emotional intelligence, awareness of my surroundings, and human knowledge that I’m using every single day. Once you use it as your power it no longer has power over you. And that has shaped me to the person I am today. The events didn’t change me, how I decided to deal with them did.
My math teacher in high-school told me that there was no way I would become an interior designer as my math skills weren’t strong enough. I didn’t just become an interior designer without failing a single class, 5 years later I enrolled at an American University, studied an Executive MBA, passed with straight A’s, and am currently studying a specialization year in Leadership and Innovation. Be realistic about your abilities and never let your self-esteem depend on how others think about you. The sky is the limit if you believe in yourself and work as hard as is necessary to achieve your goals.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Every client has a story to share. We sit down and have a very open and transparent conversation. My clients can go as in-depth into their story as they want to. I show examples of how I would approach your story and symbolically portray it and when the client approves I get to work and start on the canvas. It could be a portrait of how you deal with something, your personality, characteristics, background, or an event that you’ve been through. It will be a very personal and anonymous art piece.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artsbyevlynn.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artsbyevlynn/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtsbyEvlynn
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/73430401/admin/feed/posts/
Image Credits
MKJ Photograhy (2 artist photos) all other photos I took myself.
