Evelyn Morris Hecht, a basically self taught designer and artist, spent 15 years in the New York fashion industry. Her experience includes designing for private clients, several years of designing under her own label EVELYN MORRIS, and a variety of positions in established fashion houses. In 1989 she became interested in animal rights issues and decided to change her life direction based on this. It started coming together in 1993 when she rescued her first dog Ollie, a 2 year old abused Bichon Frise. Evelyn started using her talent as an artist to do dog portraits, with the intention of someday turning them into a business that could contribute to the cause of abused animals. In 2004, the business Top Dog Art was created. Evelyn has also been a member of the Pastel Society of North Carolina since 2001.
“The dogs that I am moved to draw and paint are not necessarily the ideal AKC standard for their breed, or even completely purebred. I am attracted to them by their common yet individual unifying quality – that of a very expressive and special soul essence. There are those that say that animals do not possess souls, but I feel differently. As I gaze into their eyes, I sense a quality and an energy that can only be described as ‘one with the universe’.”
Exhibits
2006 Durham Art Guild – Juried Solo Exhibit - Durham, N.C.
2006 The Arts Center – “Fur and Feathers” Exhibit – curator and featured artist – Carrboro, NC
2005 18th Annual Juried Contemporary American Dog Art Competition – New York, NY
2005 Durham Art Guild - Annual Juried Members Group Show (juror Judy Chicago) - Durham, NC
2005 Durham Art Guild - Members’ Group Show – Durham, NC
2005 West End Art Gallery - “Furr” Ball Exhibit – Winston-Salem, NC
2005 Karine Thoresen’s Studio – “Dog Days of Summer” Exhibit – Greensboro, NC
2005 Nicole’s Studio & Art Gallery - 2nd Biennial Juried Animal Art Exhibit - Raleigh, NC
2005 The Gallery at J.P.McGees - Winston-Salem, NC
2005 CHPAC** Community Dream Exhibit - Chapel Hill, NC
2005 CHPAC - Two Person Exhibit - Chapel Hill Public Library, Chapel Hill, NC
2004 PSNC* Group Exhibit - The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC
2004 Emerson Waldorf School - Woodland Shop, Chapel Hill, NC
2004 CHPAC Community Self Portrait Exhibit - Chapel Hill, NC
2004 PSNC Group Exhibit - Chapel Hill Public Library, Chapel Hill, NC
2003 PSNC Group Exhibit - Acme Restaurant, Carrboro, NC
2002 PSNC Group Exhibit -The Arts Center Carrboro, NC
* Pastel Society of North Carolina
** Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission