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

Heather, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Earning a full-time living as a painter is a dream come true for me, though pursuing that dream did not come naturally. The myth of the “starving artist” was so ingrained in me that for many years I had art-related jobs, but hadn’t really jumped into my personal dream with both feet. Some of these jobs were: art teacher, graphic designer for clothing and residential muralist & faux finish painter.

I had actually put my brushes away to try to go earn a “straight living” after the 2008 recession. While I worked at an ad agency and suffered through a 9 to 5 “civilian” job, I developed hives all over my body. Eventually my physical body forced me to listen to what my heart and soul was trying to say: GO FOR IT!

After hives closed my throat and I ended up in the ER, I finally got the message. I realized that if I didn’t pursue my dreams, I would someday look back and wonder WHY? Lots of people live their dreams. Lots of people have success doing what they love. It was time for me to start believing I could too. The following day I quit my job and truly have never once regretted it. I only wish I would have done it sooner!

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?

Creating art, creating other realms and characters, has always been an outlet for me. Going through some pretty big childhood traumas, as many of us do, drawing and painting helped me to escape and survive and feel as though I had at least a tiny bit of control amongst chaos.

I like to say imagination is like a muscle, the more you use it, the bigger it gets. I was using that muscle and without even realizing it, it was growing. As my work has evolved, those realms I would create have evolved as well. I describe this style that has evolved as Folk Surrealism. There is always a tremendous amount of nature in my work (plants and animals and galaxies and such), which is the folk aspect. All of the elements in my paintings work together to tell a story, which is the surreal aspect.

Once I decided to put my all into this career, one amazing thing after another happened. Opportunities started to arise; things I could have never predicted! I was connecting with people through my art and it felt and still feels AMAZING! It is always such an honor to sell a piece. It’s also an incredible feeling to do commissioned work. Clients hire me to depict what is important to them (people, places, animals, etc) in my style! From my Family Trees to pet portraits, it’s all such a huge honor! And so much fun!

I absolutely love telling stories with my art. But when I really boil it down, it is the connection to other humans that I think I love the most. Not just the connection I make with my clients, but my network of artist friends and art supporters too, gallery owners, shop owners, family! Through this career my entire world has become so full and beautiful. It’s like one day I was able to look back and go, Oh wow, all the things I dreamed of have actually come true!

My work continues to evolve and I can’t say what it will be like in 5 years or even 6 months, but I will always be digging deep to find what I feel is magic. In my experience, when something is created from that place deep within, it is going to resonate with an audience.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

A book I read early on in this journey to be a “successful” painter was Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art. This book is amazing for creatives, but I think anyone can find inspiration within its pages. I have given out more copies than I can count.

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

My mission on this creative journey is to keep connecting deep within myself so that I can keep connecting with my fellow humans. To keep growing, evolving and loving this life I get to live.

We all experience fatigue. We all have to do tedious tasks. We all have to do uncomfortable things (like answering interview questions :) ). Perspective is important, Remembering that it all serves the goal to keep connecting and creating makes it all worth it and even enjoyable.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.HeatherRenaux.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherrenauxart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherRenauxArt
• Twitter: @HeatherRenaux

Image Credits
Lily McClelland