Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Heather Eck. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Heather, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I’ve been very lucky to begin work on a project I was awarded a grant for called, “Look Them In The Eyes”. While it’s not completed yet, it’s been a deeply personal exploration of a current topic that’s very important to me; school shootings. I’ve had to sort of surrender to the creative process and allow myself some space for the scope of the project to shift depending on my reactions to the work and the emotions that bubble up for me while I’m working on this sacred project. I am excited to share more in the near future.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I thrive on emotional experiences elicited by color, and my paintings primarily use very specific colors as tools to tell a story. Each work is a personal, sometimes collective story, and always with the intention of reaching right out of the canvas to connect with the viewer as if to say “I see you there. Let’s feel something.” I love making and posting videos online as a way of sharing this process. From joy to more vulnerable moments, I like to think of each piece as an intimate message that marks a place in life’s journey and happens to look great above the sofa. I love creating large-scale paintings that can truly transform a space. I am continuously fascinated that something as simple as a painting sits at the intersection of adorning your home and offering significant meaning. Most commonly, my works live on canvas, but I am currently developing a line of lifestyle products like journals and handbags to carry the energy of wholeness and healing with us wherever we are. I’m excited about joining intentional artwork with everyday objects that already occupy our spaces. Doing so, I’ve seen whole rooms, and dare I say, even lives, transformed by this connection.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Simply put, my goal is healing. More than that, it is surrendering to the process of making, and letting color, texture, and movement, offer solace or recognition to the right viewer. My creative journey is about fully stepping into a moment or a space, no matter how silly or uncomfortable, and painting from there. This encompasses for me, the idea of living a whole life where there is space to recognize, care for, celebrate, and honor all of the aspects of who we are. I believe art can help heal people and communities by giving voice to something that longs to be recognized. It certainly has for me. It requires bravery to be seen in that way. When a client opens their heart to me to allow me to see that vulnerability, it’s a blessing. These stories of healing are powerful and with their permission, I’m able to share them with others to mark the moment with a strong sense of oneness. It reminds us that we’re not alone and that healing is possible when we’re willing to go there.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I was showing in a new exhibition, and someone approached me to tell me that they thought my work looked unfinished. That piece sold the next week to a new collector who loves it. One thing I’ve had to learn/unlearn is how to care more about the work that I’m making than what people think about the work that I’m making. Being a natural people pleaser most of my life, putting my work, and by extension myself, out into unknown audiences is an exercise in discomfort, empowerment, and unlearning of the best kind.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heathereckstudios.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heathereckartist
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/heathereckartist
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9uz5oq4s88T-GeYBMrEh4w