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

Heidi, 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?

Hi, I’m Heidi Clinite. I’m a multimedia artist. I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a kid. When adults asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I answered, an artist!

After college, I studied figure drawing and painting at The Art Students League of New York.

I taught myself pyrography (wood-burning) in 2015. The following year, I started my art business Ember Maypop Shop selling my artist crafted gifts and decor online and at craft fairs.

In 2021, I self published my first children’s book, Sassy Susie Sasquatch Sets Sail. All the illustrations are wood-burned! Silly Li’l Susie bravely faces obstacles in the wild, strengthening her ingenuity and self-reliance, risking her life for what’s most important to her.

Along with the multiple mediums I use, I have also been designing and planting public gardens for my community and the native wildlife.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I like the phrase, “follow the dopamine.” My ADHD takes the wheel especially when I’m making art. My brain wants to be engaged and challenged. Making art can be a way of making the impossible possible. I’ve never drawn blank before or used this medium before, but if I keep at it, I can figure it out!

I also make a point to address issues that are important to me in my artwork. Issues such as protecting the environment, Civil Rights and Women’s Rights.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Despite the continual disappointment of not having a sustainable income from my passion, supplementing that by working low income jobs over the years and the hardship of having a spouse with a debilitating chronic illness, my artwork turns out bright and cheerful. My inner child is resilient.

On the other hand, I believe my children’s book, Sassy Susie Sasquatch Sets Sail, reflects the darker side of life. The wood-burned illustrations give the words a deeper story. Even though life can be a series of challenges that make us grumpy or terrified, we persist to protect what we hold dear, whether it’s protecting our loved ones from life threatening diseases, protecting our family from losing the roof over our heads, protecting our environment or stray animals from neglect, or protecting our sense of self from losing the time to create.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.EmberMaypopShop.com
• Instagram: @ember_maypop
• Facebook: @ember_maypop
• Other: Tiktok: @ember_maypop Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeidiEmberMaypop

Image Credits
3 person photo by Dsto Moore, portrait of me wood-burning by Jessica Penndorf-Whitley, group gardening photo by Rhonda Miller, photos by Kris Sutter: author photo, me with horns, me with fish wood-burning. Remaining photos by me, including main picture.