ABOUT
My name is Evangeline Sargeant, or Evi for short. I am currently a BFA Studio Art major with a concentration in two-dimensional studies at Messiah University.
Growing up, I attended Advanced Art classes from third grade through senior year of high school, taught by John McCormick, a graduate of Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). I was classically trained in various mediums, including graphite, charcoal, conté, chalk and oil pastels, and acrylic and oil paints. Through the classes, I learned how to measure proportion, draw from observation, shade to create contrast and depth, and paint with proper color theory.
Through my art class and programs, I developed not only my technical skills but also my body of artwork that demonstrated my progression and abilities as an artist. Through my art portfolio, I was accepted into Messiah’s art program and now take classes on a wide range of mediums and techniques, including oil paint, intaglio (printmaking), figure drawing, and illustration.
I studied abroad in Orvieto, Italy, in the Fall of 2024 through a program called Gordon in Orvieto. While there, I was able to create artwork that has further developed my artistic expression. I exhibited two of my charcoal drawings in their gallery called GIO in Orvieto, Italy.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The mediums I am drawn to using are traditional 2D materials such as charcoal and oil paints. I love the loose, painterly approach as well as the tactile nature of the material I am working with. I appreciate the ability to see the presence of the artist’s hand within their art. I want to combine my love of traditional techniques of painting with the expressive quality within the subject I am depicting.
Growing up, I have always loved the human form, especially portraiture. From my formative classical art class up to the present, I have endeavored to capture a person’s likeness. I focus on accurately depicting the characteristics, details, and mannerisms that make a person who they are. I have particularly been drawn to painting my own likeness, which, in turn, can lead me to understanding my identity. My body of work seeks to explore the concepts surrounding the human experience, particularly my experience as a Chinese adoptee who has grown up solely in America. I want to reconcile my Asian heritage with the American culture and influences I’m accustomed to. What does it mean to feel American but not look the part? How does one process imposter syndrome from both cultures? How can I redefine the feelings of not being “Asian enough”? Through my self-portraits that represent multiple facets of myself, I hope to answer these questions by confronting my perceptions of myself and ultimately capturing aspects of both America and China, blended into one identity.