10 Questions with Evelyn Snyder

Born in Glendale, California, to her parents Robert and Roswitha Lewis, Evelyn and her mother moved to Germany in 1966, shortly after her parents’ divorce. It wasn’t until 2001 that Evelyn moved back to the country of her birth and settled in Mesa, Arizona.

Professionally, she has worked in various administrative positions in Germany and the US. When she retired in 2020, she picked up the paintbrush and never looked back. Painting with oils quickly became her medium of choice once she was introduced to the technique by the local artist Kenneth Schilling. Under his tutelage, she grew into the artist she is today.

Evelyn Snyder is a freelance artist with a knack for developing unique art pieces that captivate both critics and collectors.

evelynsnyder.com | @evelynbillsnyder

ARTIST STATEMENT

“As a Visual Artist, I paint what moves me.
I'm captivated by scenic wonders.
Painting animal and human portraits, I tell their stories.”

— Evelyn Snyder

INTERVIEW

First of all, can you share what first inspired you to start painting after your retirement?

I enjoyed painting already in my highschool years. My teachers believed in me, but in the end, I could not see how art would pay my bills. So I went to a trade school instead.
All through my life, I kept playing guitar and writing songs in my free time. In 2018, my husband Bill and I moved into our current residence, which included an Arizona Room. That little place was the perfect room to start painting. It has natural light coming in through the windows that look into our beautiful backyard.

What drew you specifically to oil painting as your main medium?

Kenneth Schilling is an artist and entrepreneur who opened his gallery and teaching studio in the Superstition Springs Mall in Mesa, Arizona. He taught me how to paint with oils, and he is the reason that I fell in love with this medium.

Agave Blue Glow, Oil, 20x20 in, 2025 © Evelyn Snyder

How did your time growing up and living in both Germany and the US influence your artistic style?

When I lived in Germany, I loved to travel to France a lot, particularly Paris. I admired the street artists in the Latin Quarter who painted scenes of the city, whatever caught their eye. I want to do the same and paint my stomping ground, so to speak. When I moved to Arizona in 2001, I went on hikes to explore the Southwestern landscapes. I took many pictures at the time that serve now as reference photography for my oil paintings.

What was it like learning under artist Kenneth Schilling?

Ken is a passionate painter and he introduced Abstract Realism to me. It's a style of painting that goes for a realistic depiction but at the same time seeks to present the object of interest through the personal lens of the artist.

Can you describe your creative process when starting a new piece?

I go through my photo arsenal and pick the one that speaks to me. I pencil the sketch, and then I paint it.

Where do you find inspiration for your paintings today?

In my neighbourhood, I find a lot of inspiration. While going on my walks, I take snapshots that later become my reference.

How would you describe the style or feeling you aim to capture in your work?

A lot of my paintings are studies of the great outdoors. I express myself in the colours and textures and lean into impressionism, expressionism and cubism to achieve that.

What has been the most rewarding part of your artistic journey so far?

The most rewarding art experience is performing art with other artists. I love coming to the studio and sharing this passion with other people.

Mr Cardinal, Oil, 20x20 in, 2025 © Evelyn Snyder

As a freelance artist, how do you balance creating for yourself and creating for an audience?

I sometimes paint on a commission basis, and I also have students. When I don't teach or create a custom artwork for a client then I'll delve into my paintings. It's probably a 30 / 70 split - 70 percent painting for me and 30 percent painting for clients and students. Since I am retired, I have not been running a business in the classical sense. I'm actually looking to donate most of my artwork to hospitals and such.

What advice would you give to someone considering starting an artistic career later in life?

Get connected with other artists to be inspired. And then have fun creating!

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.

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