We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Heather Heckel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Heather, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

Giving oneself downtime and breaks is good for mental health, work-life balance, and is an essential part of the creative process. A lot of our best ideas come to us when we’re not actively trying to think of them. I’m an art teacher, so I get the summers off, and decided to turn my time off from work into a way to pursue my passions. I love to travel to national parks, so I found a way to combine my interests with my vacation time. The National Park Service offers artist residencies where they provide housing so artists create art inspired by the park. Artists are expected to conduct at least one public program, and donate a finished piece of artwork at the conclusion of the residency. During the school year I keep things going by working on my art when I can, even if it’s for only 5 minutes a day–it comes down to time management, and giving myself permission to have downtime to recharge.

My advice for entrepreneurs is to figure out a way to combine your business and vacation. Can you network for an hour by the pool? Can you visit a storefront or business that relates to yours as research while you’re traveling? Can you give yourself permission to recharge by enjoying part of each day while you’re not working?

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m an artist with decades of experience in both traditional and digital media. I’m actively seeking commissions, and my passion is creating original fine art, illustrations, and graphic design for clients. I earned my BFA in Illustration from the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL, and worked in corporate design for several years before moving to New York City. I made the decision to inspire creativity in others through teaching, and earned my MAT in Art Education from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. As an art educator, I believe in experiential learning through hands-on activities that allow students to exercise choice while expressing themselves. Most recently I earned my MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and my EdD in Educational Leadership through the University of the Cumberlands. My MFA thesis visually explored my strabismus that causes me constant double vision, and historic and contemporary artists with the same eye condition. My doctoral research focused on the relationships between art education, leadership, and teaching creativity.

I provide original graphic design, illustration, and fine art to my clients. Something that sets me apart from others is my unique approach to create visual solutions, and my ability to make artwork in a variety of styles and media. My artistic styles vary from classical portraiture using oil paint, to collaged landscapes, to digital logo design. My award-winning artwork has been shown internationally, is part of several permanent collections, and I have been awarded 19 artist residencies through the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. My passion is storytelling through distilling ideas into rich, informative imagery, and I’m most proud of my ability to translate abstract concepts into something visually concrete.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Work begets work. I work on art and apply to artistic opportunities on a daily basis, even for just a few minutes. This continual devotion to my artistic practice keeps my portfolio growing, and furthers my skills through experience. I’m also constantly seeking out commissions, future exhibitions, and residencies, which all contribute to my professional accolades, and allows me to meet new people.

I update my Instagram account with progress on my artwork, and I update my website every time I finish a new piece of artwork. This helps viewers learn more about what I’m doing, and spreads the word about what I have to offer.

The most beneficial promotion that I was fortunate enough to have written about me was an article about my artwork in National Parks Magazine. This magazine is designed for National Parks enthusiasts, and it helped connect me to a wide audience of readers that are interested in my work.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the constant opportunity to be creative. My dual career as an artist and art educator is doubly rewarding. I’m still amazed that I get paid to make art with kids every day, and that my passion for creative problem solving is enjoyed by others. I love getting into a flow state while creating a digital illustration, or drawing a portrait using colored pencils. No matter the medium, I lose myself in the process, which feels like a form of meditation. Ultimately, I have built my life around my passions, and artist residencies allow me to travel, advocate for the environment, teach creativity, and make original artwork. These are my dreams come true!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heatherheckel.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HeatherHeckelArt/
• Other: Park Palette
  Witnessing Inspiration at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
  Duality in Unplain Sight
  The Art of Isolation: A Visiting Artist Residency in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  Teaching at a Distance: Seven Teachable Moments for Art Teachers