Amid the bustling activity of this year’s Small Business Saturday, artist and Vietnam War veteran Everett Carter found the day particularly significant. Stationed at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment in Huntsville, Alabama, Carter’s artwork offers more than visual aesthetics; it serves as a poignant narrative of his experiences during the Vietnam War.
For over ten years, Carter has been cultivating his artistic passion at Studio 117, fondly referred to as “The Vivid Studio.” This space allows him to express the intense emotions and memories from his past, using his paintbrush as a voice for stories often too painful to verbalize.
A Journey Rooted in Art
Hailing from Huntsville, Carter’s artistic journey began in his youth. His constant companion was a sketchpad, often seen during his school bus rides. A curious neighbor’s interest in his sketches led to his first art sale.
“I got off the school bus — you know, we rode the school buses back in the day — and I always carried my little sketch pad,” Carter told Fox 54 in Huntsville. “An elderly lady in the community called me over. She was going through (the sketch book), and she said, ‘Is this one for sale?’”
This unexpected transaction not only filled his pockets with bubble gum money but also validated his budding talent, which later became crucial for his healing process.
From Draft to Deployment
Carter’s artistic dreams were interrupted when he was drafted into the Army at 21. Sent to the battlefields of Vietnam, he faced the grim realities of war as a sergeant, enduring personal loss and injury.
“You know, everything I’d gone through… I mean, I was blessed to be alive, but physically I felt that I was okay, but mentally not,” Carter said.
The transition to civilian life proved challenging, and Carter sought solace in a familiar form—art.
Art as Redemption
Carter’s return to art was primarily therapeutic, offering him a way to honor fallen comrades and process his experiences. Initially, he had no intention of selling his work, focusing instead on the healing power of creativity.
“Art brought me back in a way,” Carter said. “When you are put on this earth, everybody has a calling. My calling is art.”
Eventually, he embraced the opportunity to share his work, setting up shop at Lowe Mill. His paintings, ranging from serene landscapes to evocative memorials, reflect a journey from the shadows of war to a place of peace and remembrance.
Carter views art as a universal language, a means of connection that transcends the decorative and touches the soul.
“Some type of art is in all of us,” Carter said. “We’re all artists in some form or fashion. So do what you love.”
