Interview with Joe Evershot

In the dead of winter everything contracts with cold, and shapes become simpler, more curvy and grounded.  Recently, I  found the art of Joe Evershot, and it resonated well with these thoughts and an enjoyment of what makes winter unique and beautiful.  I'm excited to share some of Evershot's work as well as a short interview.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. When did you begin making art?

I was born 1978, into messy circumstances, parents rock musicians, but then I studied physics and discovered it's even messy-er.  Later I studied architecture.  I've always produced art in my spare time.  Now I have a 3-year old son and that takes care of the spare time.

What shapes your creative process? Can you describe an environment: time, place and company (people or pets) where you feel most inspired to work?

A pub will do, I drink a lot of beer... Seriously, what inspires me is the stories of Jorge Luis Borges. Enigmas.  Nature is based on a set of strange (very complex) laws and the closer you look the weirder they become.

I love the way the ink blends seamlessly into the paper like an old photograph. What kind of materials do you work with and why?

For the pieces here I used old paper, charcoal, ink, beer, as well as a MacBook Pro.  For my paintings (not on etsy) I use enamel paint and a propane torch.  Lately I picked up doing some sculpture, mostly made of weathered wood and cotton string.

Many of your pieces look like they have parts taken from old diagrams or maps.  How do these images play a role in your art?

The parts that look like diagrams represent mazes.  Very finely tuned labyrinths.

What's next for Evershot?

I wish I knew.

Huge thanks to Evershot! I hope you enjoyed his gorgeous organic shapes and scenes.  For more Evershot you can visit his Etsy store.

P.S. Joe - I'm a big fan of Borges too - after reading his piece, "Las Ruinas Circulares" in high school I was hooked and went on to minor in Spanish in college.  

Comments

[Satsumaart.wordpress.com]

These are fascinating. Thank you for sharing!

[Michele Bottaro]

The images included above by Joe Evershot remind me of certain ink washes by Victor Hugo. They are seldom seen, but there is a book about his art work. Hugo was known to glean ideas for his writing from the powerful scenes that spontaneously emerged in his sepia ink wash, known to also occasionally include coffee.