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

Heidi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Honestly, I learned to do what I do through a mix of formal education, experimentation, and a whole lot of trial and error. Art school taught me the technical foundation, but the real growth came from showing up day after day, messing up, and learning what not to do. If I could go back and speed up the process, I would’ve asked for more help and not been so afraid of looking like I didn’t know something. I think I wasted time thinking I had to prove myself before I could truly learn. But learning is the proving. The most essential skills for me have been curiosity, resilience, and the ability to receive feedback without taking it personally. Learning how to critique and be critiqued, genuinely, not defensively changed everything for me. It opened me up to deeper conversations and better outcomes in my work. One of the biggest obstacles I faced was perfectionism. It kept me from taking risks. I thought I had to wait until I had it all figured out to put myself out there. But now I know that progress only happens through the process and through people. Now, as a teacher, I still learn something new every day from my students. We’re all still learning the craft. The secret is: you’re never really done.

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.

My name is Heidi Roussel, and I’m a contemporary artist and art educator based in the New Orleans area. I hold a BFA in Painting from Louisiana State University, and over the years I’ve grown into a true multimedia artist, a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. I’ve explored everything from drawing and painting to sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, and installation. I’ve always believed that the medium should serve the message, and I love the challenge of letting each idea guide the material it needs. In my current work, I primarily use acrylic paint to create moody, expressive pieces full of heightened color, contrast, and emotion. I’m drawn to capturing the energy of a fleeting moment whether it’s a memory, a quiet observation, or a passing feeling. Growing up and living in Southern Louisiana, inspiration is all around me. My work often reflects the beauty, mystery, and duality of life in the South, with feminist undertones and recurring themes of magic and wonder.
Through my role as a high school sculpture and ceramics teacher, I’ve discovered even more about myself as a 3D artist and ceramicist. Teaching has pushed me to stay curious and constantly evolve. I learn from my students every day…about art, about problem-solving, and about how important it is to keep showing up with authenticity. In many ways, becoming an educator deepened my connection to my own creative voice. What sets me apart is that I approach art and life with a deep sense of engagement. I believe in the power of connection: to place, to people, to process. Whether I’m in the studio or the classroom, I value vulnerability, collaboration, and the joy of learning through experience. You don’t have to do it all alone. Your community, your mentors, and even your critics are resources. I’m proud of the path I’ve carved, and even more proud that I’ve done it by staying open to change, to feedback, and to growth.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

If I could go back and give my younger artist self some advice, it wouldn’t be about a fancy tool or technique, it would be about people. I wish I had leaned into connection sooner. For a long time, I thought I had to figure everything out on my own to be “good enough” before I let anyone in. But what I’ve learned, over and over, is that you truly cannot do this alone. And you’re not supposed to. Mentors, teachers, classmates, peers, even people you only meet briefly in a critique or a workshop, they’re the real resources. The ones that challenge you, support you, question you, inspire you. The ones who see something in your work that you didn’t, or call you out with love when you’re playing it too safe. Learning to take criticism was a game-changer. Not just hearing it, but really receiving it. Letting it fuel me instead of shrink me. And equally, learning to give it thoughtfully, to be part of someone else’s growth. That mutual investment, that shared creative language, is what builds something bigger than any one artist can make alone. Connection is the resource. It’s the people who remind you to keep going, to try again, to be brave enough to be your full, messy, vulnerable, incredible self. And when you stay engaged, when you show up, participate, ask questions, share your ideas. You attract that energy right back. So if I could tell any young creative one thing, it’s this: Your talent will grow, but your connections will carry you. Stay curious. Be open. Put yourself out there. You’re not alone and you’re not supposed to be. For Me, the Most Rewarding Part of Being an Artist

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I’m a working artist and high school sculpture and ceramics teacher. My days are spent surrounded by paint, clay, creativity, and, most importantly, young people learning how to express themselves through art. The most rewarding part of being an artist? For me, it’s not just making something beautiful or interesting, it’s being part of a creative exchange that’s constantly evolving. As an art teacher, I get to witness the spark of inspiration in my students’ eyes when they try something new, or when they realize their voice matters. There’s this unspoken rhythm in the classroom: I teach them techniques, sure, but they teach me just as much. They remind me how powerful it is to explore without fear, to experiment, to fail and start again. It keeps me connected to the raw, real heart of making art. There’s a unique kind of joy in watching the next generation find their own passion. It’s a quiet, steady kind of magic…seeing a student get excited about sculpture or proud of a piece they thought they couldn’t finish. That’s the purpose and the payoff. Being an artist isn’t always easy, but it’s always meaningful. It gives me direction. It keeps me curious. It keeps me human. Art brings us together, and teaching it reminds me every day why I chose this path. We’re all learning from each other. And that, to me, is the most rewarding part.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rousselfineartstudio.com/
• Instagram: @that_girl_with_the_rainbows
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeidiRousselArt/

Image Credits

Portrait Photos by Jordan Reid Dauphin