We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Heather Morrison. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Heather below.

Hi Heather, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I have always been a creative person. My mother is an artist, and I learned basic art techniques from her. Art began as a hobby for me, something I enjoyed in my free time. In college, I struggled to choose a major, torn between art and nursing, since I was, and still am very interested in science. Ultimately, I chose what I believed was the more practical career path and pursued nursing.

For several years after that, I didn’t create any art at all. After I had my daughter, however, I spent more time at home and began painting again around 2016. I started sharing my artwork online, and soon friends and family began asking to purchase it. From there, it gradually grew into something more.

Heather, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Initially, when I started selling my artwork, I did enjoy it, but I found that commission work wasn’t as fun as creating whatever I wanted. At first, I had a hard time letting go because I worried about what other people would think of my work. Once I stopped focusing on the “right” way to do things and started paying more attention to what felt right to me and what I personally liked, I couldn’t stop creating. It became an obsession—and it still is.

I have ADHD and anxiety, and creating art is very therapeutic for me. It calms me physically, helps me emotionally, and allows me to release what’s in my mind. I currently practice part-time as a nurse practitioner and have always been interested in a holistic approach to patient care. I find it deeply fulfilling to educate people about how therapeutic art-making can be, as well as how simply viewing art can have a therapeutic effect.

I don’t have much experience with branding or marketing, and those ideas feel overcomplicated to me. I’m a nurse first and an artist, so I focus on being as authentic as possible. My brand is simply me. My art isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. Ultimately, I use art as a form of self expression and if it speaks to someone like it does to me, that’s even better.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

At its core, my art began as simple self-expression, without any goals or larger mission. Being diagnosed with ADHD two years ago helped me understand why I had always felt different. While ADHD comes with many challenges, I hope that, in some small way, my art can help others feel less alone or provide them with therapeutic tools that they may not realize are easily available.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Input from others and skill development are important parts of any craft, but what I had to unlearn was worrying so much about the “right” way to make art. There are many forms of art, and people from all walks of life connect with different things. What one person finds ordinary or uninteresting, another may find inspiring or beautiful. I’ve learned that it’s more about finding your audience than doing things a certain way—because ultimately, there isn’t just one right way to create.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.heatherjamesmorrison.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherjamesmorrison/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hjmorrison1

Image Credits

Morgan Atkinson Photography

Reid Wilkinson Photography