We were lucky to catch up with Heather Kirtland recently and have shared our conversation below.

Heather , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I would have to say it was creating and producing the book The Motherhood of Art with Marissa Huber. I struggled as a new mom and artist and even in 2011 that wasn’t something that was widely talked about. There was a stigma to women artists who also chose to become mothers. I felt a true identity crisis as a creative. In my artistic practice, I require a lot of what I call psychic time, time to ponder, experience, and work through ideas. As a first-time mom, it was hard enough to get into the studio, but all psychic time seemed lost as well. By the time my second child was born, I had found my way a bit more and since having kids I have been my most prolific. I stumbled upon Marissa Huber’s Instagram page and she was having a dialogue and conducting interviews around motherhood and artist, we hit it off and began to work on a book that would help other creative mothers not feel as alone.

Heather , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Baltimore area artist. I was always interested in pursuing art and have been painting consistently since I was young. I graduated from The Maryland Institute College of Art with a BFA in painting and started a studio practice. I work in various mediums, oil, acrylic and encaustic. Most of my work is abstract, but also enjoy doing portraiture. My work is a reflection of our state of being. It responds to our need to be seen. Through abstract compositions, I create visual representations of our universal human emotions. Using brushstrokes, drawn lines, layers of paint, and recognizable forms to represent us. I show how outside forces surround our inner selves, and through paint convey these emotions. I use encaustic, oil, and acrylic paints to build layers. I incorporate marks with oil pastels, spray paint, and markers that can relay immediacy and intensity. My paintings give you room and a place to express what you cannot in words. In my own experience, I can find that it is a struggle to take up space and to be valued when I show up as myself. I create a connection to this collective experience that is at once unique to you and universal to us.
I work with designers and directly with collectors to find a work that speaks to them or enhances their environment. I enjoy commissions where I can help bring an idea to life by collaborating with clients to create a one-of-a-kind personal piece.
I hope to make art more assessable and relatable to anyone that finds a connection to my work.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think society could support artists best by valuing what they bring to the table. That could be just sharing work that you see and like. I think with painting specifically there is a fear that you may say the wrong thing, or interpret the work in the “wrong” way. I hope that you are bringing your unique experience to a painting as if it’s a mirror and your interaction with it only furthers the meaning of the art. There isn’t a wrong way to experience it. I also hope that people support artists by purchasing their work. I am surprised at what people and designers spend on prints on large warehouse sites when some original work has comparable costs.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I can’t imagine not creating. It has been prayer, therapy, and connection throughout my life. There is never boredom, there is always something new to do. Even during times of creative block, I can still pick up a pencil and draw. I consider myself so lucky to have an artistic practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.heatherkirtland.com
• Instagram: @heatherkirtlandart
• Facebook: Heatherkirtlandart
• Twitter: @heatherkirtland
• Other: @carveouttimeforart

Image Credits
Kirsten Smith Photography