The Remarkable Story of 16-Year-Old Artist, Eva McKinley

In the rolling hills of Middleburg, Virginia, a remarkable young artist is painting her way into the hearts of her community. At just 16 years old, Eva McKinley is not a typical teenager. She’s a passionate artist, a savvy businesswoman, an eager traveler, and a testament to the power of following one’s creative dreams. Eva labels her work as, “Meaningful artwork inspired by nature” and herself, as “The Old Fashioned Girl.”

From Vienna to Watercolors

Eva’s artistic journey began early. While living in Vienna, Virginia, she discovered her love for art through outside-of-school art lessons. Watercolors quickly became her medium of choice, a passion that has only grown stronger with time. Although, her prowess with oil paints is every impressive. “I was always creative,” she recalls, her eyes lighting up as she describes her early experiences with art.

The Education That Nurtures Creativity

Eva’s path to artistic excellence has been shaped by thoughtful educational choices. “My middle school experience preserved my childhood,” she shares. “I built friendships and saw how different students learn, all in an outdoor homeschool co-op.” Her foundation of learning in nature proved instrumental in her development.

When her family recognized how deeply the outdoors inspired her creativity, they made pivotal decisions. “I chose to homeschool in my high school years so I can spend more time learning and doing the things I love,” she explains. Her parents moved to Philomot, Virginia for a higher quality of life and to afford her tranquility and natural spaces,  her father adjusted his work to be remote, and the entire family embraced homeschooling, in part to support Eva’s artistic and entrepreneurial growth. Eva has a teenage sister (who helps her with packaging her prints and stationary) and toddler sister and brother (who is also interested in art).

A Businesswoman Beyond Her Years

What sets Eva apart is her extraordinary approach to her craft. She’s not just an artist – she’s a strategic entrepreneur. After a year of learning and analyzing her market, Eva developed a sophisticated business plan that would impress seasoned professionals.

Her strategy is refreshingly direct. She visits businesses with a basket of prints and cards, carefully curating her approach. The result? Her artwork is now displayed in 11 different storefronts between Middleburg and Purcellville. In 2024 alone, she painted 30 paintings – a remarkable achievement for someone so young.

The Moment Everything Changed

Eva vividly remembers the turning point in her artistic journey. “In 2024, I submitted two pieces of artwork to the Artists in Middleburg Gallery. I had no expectations whatsoever that they would sell, considering I was only a teenager and there were seventy other talented adult artists in that exhibit,” she recounts. “But to my great astonishment, I sold my first two paintings that month.”

That unexpected success transformed her confidence. “There are hardly any words to describe the feeling when a stranger sees a glimpse of the same beauty I saw, and decides to buy the original painting,” she says. Since that breakthrough moment, Eva has sold almost twenty original paintings and hundreds of art prints, and stationary packages.

Finding Her Unique Voice

While many local artists focus on horses and equestrian scenes, Eva has created her own niche. Her true passion lies in capturing wineries – spaces filled with memories and untold stories. “Wineries hold so many memories for so many people,” she explains. “Being able to provide them with an image of their special places is very meaningful to me.”

Her creative process is both methodical and intuitive. She travels to her chosen locations, takes photographs, and then begins the delicate work of sketching and painting. A single watercolor can take between 5 to 10 hours, while her oil paintings might require 15 to 20 hours of dedicated work.

A World of Inspiration

Eva’s artistic vision has been broadened by extensive travel experiences. Her family has explored nearly half of the US National Parks and more than two dozen countries, exposing her to diverse landscapes and cultural perspectives that influence her work.

Her North Macedonian heritage provides another wellspring of inspiration. One of her favorite summer activities is spending weeks in their small apartment overlooking Lake Ohrid. “Her paintings of the crystal-clear water, the boats that she sails, and the breathtaking church, Saint John at Kaneo, inspire her creative freedom,” notes a family friend. This summer, she looks forward to rowing on the beautiful Macedonian lake and capturing interesting scenery as only she can.

“Since our move to the beautiful Middleburg countryside where there is no lack of inspiration for an artist,” Eva shares. Beyond painting, she finds joy in “tending to my gardens, reading classic books, and spending time painting, in my studio and outdoors.”

A Family That Supports Dreams

Eva credits her success to her incredibly supportive family. Her mother, a business professional, has been instrumental in her education. Eva has learned financial analysis, market metrics, and business calculations as part of her curriculum – skills that have proven invaluable in her art business.

“While our family hasn’t done organized sports during the school year, we spend our summers outdoors sailing, swimming and hiking,” Eva explains, highlighting the balance her family has struck between education, art, and active outdoor living.

Community and Giving Back

Eva isn’t just selling art; she’s sharing her passion. She teaches watercolor classes at the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, inspiring others to explore their creativity. She is participating in this year’s Foxes on the Fence fundraiser for the Middleburg Art Council by completing a fox shaped painting to be auctioned for the event.

“It brings me so much happiness to recall all the people I have met who have seen my art and purchased it for their home or gifted it to their loved ones,” she reflects.

Her goals are ambitious – she dreams of painting all 50 Virginia vineyards and continues to participate in local art festivals like Art in the Burg and Art of the Piedmont. She also hopes to visit all of the National Parks and create paintings from those adventures.

Looking to the Future

With visits to universities like the University of Virginia already underway, Eva is exploring her next chapter. “I would love to continue to grow my art business and have many goals and dreams. I think that I would like to study artas well as business,” she shares, perfectly reflecting her dual artistic and entrepreneurial mindset.

But perhaps most remarkable is her long-term vision. “Ultimately, I would like to save enough funds to buy my own piece of heaven in Loudoun County, where I’d like to start a school from pre-K through high school,” Eva reveals. “My dream is to create a learning experience that is focused on classical studies but with lots of time spent outdoors. And I’ll probably teach a lot of art lessons too,” she adds with a smile.

“I hope that my art makes people pause and be drawn to it,” Eva says. “From local Virginia scenery to the awe-inspiring National Parks, my hope is that my artwork brings peace, beauty and joy into their homes.”

And pause we do – captivated by the talent, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit of this extraordinary young artist.

In a world that often separates art from business, Eva McKinley is proving that creativity and strategy can beautifully coexist, while nurturing a vision that extends far beyond her canvases.

Visit Eva’s website for information, events, and available art. https://www.theoldfashionedgirl.com/