Saunderstown artist’s design featured on CVS Pharmacy journal

Saunderstown’s Matthew Everett is one of four CVS Health colleagues whose artwork appears on the cover of a new store brand collection of journals now being sold in more than 6,700 CVS Pharmacy stores nationwide and on CVS.com. The artists’ designs — inspired by their personal mental health and wellness journeys — were selected following a company-wide call for art. It is the first time CVS Health colleague artwork has been featured on store brand products.

In his mid-forties, Everett was diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Shortly after, he began keeping an art journal, which he still carries everywhere.

The contest excited Everett because it offered a chance to apply his art to something new, and the program’s focus on mental health resonated with him. He found inspiration for his design — “Late Blooming” — in nature and his travels in Mexico, where he admired the use of color in everyday life. His mission is to bring more energy and vibrancy into the world through his art.

“Color illuminates things and makes them more cheerful,” Everett explained.

Everett’s notebook design

Everett has worked in administrative support for merchandising at CVS Health’s Woonsocket headquarters for two years. An artistic dabbler his whole life, he began seriously pursuing art about five years ago. As an advocate for ADHD awareness, he recently completed an ADHD coaching program and became a newly certified coach. He is passionate about representing the ADHD community and believes in the importance of creativity as a coping mechanism and a positive outlet.

Keeping an art journal is a way for Everett to take a breath and has also become a source of confidence.

“Drawing used to stress me out because I felt like nothing was ever good enough,” he said. “But now, having a better understanding of my brain’s wiring, I was able to stop judging myself and found that it actually relaxed me. Not only that — the feeling of accomplishment when a picture came out well carried over into other areas of life that I found challenging or overwhelming.”

A panel of colleague judges selected his journal notebook artwork for CVS from more than 75 submitted designs. The winning artists received a cash award for their participation.

The journals are part of the Caliber® Fashion Artist Series, a line within the Caliber store brand of school, work and stationery store brand products. The winning designs aim to raise awareness of the impact that art and journaling can have on one’s daily life.

“Journaling has long been used to help people process their thoughts and emotions,” said Deborah Fernandez-Turner, Deputy Chief Psychiatric Officer, CVS Health. “Studies have shown that journaling after a difficult life event or about emotional expression and processing can help to improve one’s mood, anxiety and overall well-being.”

The journals retail for $8.99 and are also available at CVS.com. To purchase Everett’s notebook or to view other winning artists’ work, visit the following product pages:

• Matthew Everett (Saunderstown, RI): "Late Blooming" Journal
• Makayla Huerta (Brea, CA): "Aesthetes" Journal
• Diego Rios (Ronkonkoma, NY): "Life Harmony" Journal
• Ashley Briggs (Richmond, VA): "My Peace" Journal