When it comes to art, these sisters know where to draw the line

When art becomes as natural as breathing, it can shape more than technique.

It shapes identity.

For 14-year-old sisters Scarlett and Amelia Evancic, art has been part of their world for as long as they can remember. 

“It's a freeing feeling to just dabble on a canvas and have at it,” Amelia Evancic said. “There's no expectations, no structure of time, no dedication to it. You can set the pencil down and leave – for a day, a week, a month – and you can come back and it will still be waiting for you. I feel art is an open concept that you can just walk up to when you need it or when it needs you.”

Scarlett Evancic said a person can express themselves in any way through their art and people will understand and appreciate it.

"Art is an open platform that can be used by anyone, and that's what I love about it,” she said.

Courtesy image

Scarlett and Amelia are two of three triplets along with their brother, Jameson, who prefers sports over the arts. All three grew up doing artistic activities, including sidewalk chalk on their driveway, painting rocks, and more, but Jameson gravitated from it. 

“We have an idea in our heads and we just can replicate it a lot better than some other people,” Scarlett Evancic said of the sisters.

They credit their artistic ability largely to their father, Scott. 

Scott Evancic said he has always had a great love of art himself but said his daughters took an interest in art early on and quickly surpassed his own abilities. 

“For me, it helps me understand what's going on in their minds in a way that words can't always capture,” Scott Evancic said. 

For Scarlett, her favorite piece is a collage titled "Persistence of the Past” which received an Honorable Mention award at ArtCenter Manatee her seventh grade year.

When she got that award, it was a wake up call that told her she does, in fact, have talent that people can acknowledge. The collage was made up of photos of live and dead animals.

Photo by Madison Bierl

“I feel people can connect with it, because depending on how you see it, it can mean different things,” Scarlett Evancic said. “At first it could be ‘survival of the smallest,’ but there's also larger creatures here and humans. There are areas that are dead, but also thriving. It shows presence, even in death, so it’s open to interpretation.” 

Amelia Evancic said she particularly enjoys working with cardboard. She also enjoys digital art because she doesn’t have to wait for paint to dry. 

“I do make mistakes – that's what makes me human – and I like having an eraser at the tip of my fingers,” Amelia Evancic said. “It's nice to have an exit in case I want to go back, make changes, make edits and just make something I'm proud of. That's why I like pencils more than paint brushes.” 

During their last year at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, the girls did do a lot of waiting for paint to dry. In Katelyn Reyes’ art class, Reyes assigned her students to design a mural for the hallway. Scarlett Evancic’s design – a bull which is the school’s mascot – was chosen and painted on a large wall. 

The process took from September to May. There were some bumps along the way.

“I have such a hard time when it comes to procrastination, especially through the rough stages of artwork,” Scarlett Evancic said. “It was so hard for me to look at it unfinished. I just had such a freezing moment, but eventually Reyes brought me back.” 

Scarlett said if it wasn’t for Reyes and her sister, she doesn’t think the mural would have been finished.

“I tried to keep the steam running because I knew if I slowed down and Scarlett also slowed down, the entire mural would have slowed down,” Amelia Evancic said. 

Courtesy image

Reyes said she was glad to see Scarlett take charge in both the creative process and by leading her classmates to help bring the design to life. 

“She's taken on roles that she's never expected and she's handled them with grace and dignity,” Reyes said. “I’m very proud of what she's done. She’s super creative and definitely needs to believe in herself more, because she can definitely handle it.” 

The Evancic family all agreed Reyes was a big part of their middle school experience and why they love art as much as they do.

“Art was just a piece that tied them to her and how they met her,” said Katie Evancic, the triplet's mom. “She gave them the confidence that I don't think they would have ever had if they hadn't met her.”

Both Scarlett and Amelia Evancic are looking forward to attending Lakewood Ranch High and taking as many art classes as possible. Scarlett said as much as she loves art, she might pursue a career in engineering. 

“I compared myself to a lot of different artists, including ones at the same age as me,” Scarlett Evancic said. “It was always a little bit conflicting and caused a lot of hesitation toward continuing art. Comparison is the thief of joy, so if you compare yourself to others, you'll lose that kind of connection to it.”

Amelia Evancic wants to stick with art for her future but doesn’t know quite in what capacity yet. She is OK if she veers off a bit, as long as art is still in her toolbox.