“To develop a complete mind: Study the art of science; study the science of art. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else” – Leonardo DaVinci
Hello!
Thank you for taking the time to view my website! Over the years, this site has become a way to document and share my artwork that's been created over quite some time. I feel blessed to share my passion for art as a high school art teacher. Seeing the youth of today express themselves through their art, and have the honor to notice what they value in life by what they choose to create artwork about, gives me a great deal of hope for the future of our world. Art continues to grow as a passion in my life, and has been there in my soul since I can remember. Being in nature often with my family is the first form of art that I began to appreciate, and this fostered my desire to create art at a very young age. Creating art, and the feeling that comes with it has inspired me throughout my life to grow, learn, and reflect. Creating art is my connectedness to the world around me, and it always comes back as the place where I experience true flow, calmness and a spiritual state of mind. I create many different kinds of art during my free time for leisure. I enjoy using photographs from camping trips, vacations, or other special places that are close to my heart as my inspiration. Recently I am really enjoying studying portraiture as well. I am working to become comfortable in a wide variety of materials and subject matter... although I'd agree I fall back to realism in a way as far as my "artist style" goes. Much of the art I create is focused on nature, and many of my paintings are inspired by the natural uninterrupted beauty of the world that is becoming less and less existent with time. As we all experience as humans - we grow and we change, and many of our life experiences will invite us as individuals to look deeper inside ourselves, as well as the world around us. As I've discovered many truths about our "reality", I've come to understand that in terms of caring for our mind, body, spirit- we cannot count on what we are lead to believe is normal. To see our true potential, we need to see the cycle of today's modern world for what it is, and pave a new path based on making our own personal discoveries. I've come to internalize that a human life is often experienced in duality. This duality lies within ourselves, as our survival, ego mode as human being connected to our mind; along with our compassionate, spirit side of consciousness connected to our heart and soul. All of our actions are connected deeply to the world around us- far more than most of us understand. Art is one of many ways to connect ourselves to our deepest self, it's a way for us look within as well as overcome challenges we didn't know we could accomplish.
In many ways, art is a beautiful way to communicate with the world around us, as well as a way to capture moments in time and feel the experience all over again while painting the memory. Art can lift our spirits, it can bring us all together as humans, and it can share deep truths or various perspectives that people can't speak about in a short conversation. Art is the native language among all humans on the planet. Art can share a sense of understanding, emotion, and energy to all that take in it's beauty; it can make a statement, or make one think to their deepest core as the viewer or the artist. I strive to help my high school students to understand these things, and use art as a way to connect to themselves and create art with a purpose. Creating art is something that can be so much more than painting a pretty picture!
With true sincerity and gratitude,
Heather Schaefer
In many ways, art is a beautiful way to communicate with the world around us, as well as a way to capture moments in time and feel the experience all over again while painting the memory. Art can lift our spirits, it can bring us all together as humans, and it can share deep truths or various perspectives that people can't speak about in a short conversation. Art is the native language among all humans on the planet. Art can share a sense of understanding, emotion, and energy to all that take in it's beauty; it can make a statement, or make one think to their deepest core as the viewer or the artist. I strive to help my high school students to understand these things, and use art as a way to connect to themselves and create art with a purpose. Creating art is something that can be so much more than painting a pretty picture!
With true sincerity and gratitude,
Heather Schaefer