Heather Kirtland
Multimedia Visual Artist, Community Connector
Heather Kirtland, an artist, received a BFA in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Heather currently teaches encaustic workshops and is focused on her studio practice. She was awarded The Maryland State Arts Council Grant and was a resident artist at The Holt Center. Most recently she works with West Elm as one of their Local Artists. Her Work has been exhibited throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, abroad in Italy and Wales, and has appeared in Modern Rustic Magazine and Country Living UK. The Make-A-Wish Foundation and Montessori school have commissioned her work, as well as many private collectors. Heather recently moved from Baltimore to a more rural part of Maryland where she lives with her husband and two children and their dog. When she is not painting she loves to read, run and encourage other mothers to find a creative outlet through a project she co-founded with Marissa Huber; Care Out Time for Art.
To My Younger self,
While striving to reach your goal I’d like to remind you that it doesn’t mean throwing your self up against the wall of creativity or to “suffer” for your art. There will be times in your life when the inspiration will be stagnant, when life gets in the way, but know that will not make you any less an artist. You will always return to your practice, and when you do you’ll be more vibrant, more inspired and more excited to make work.
Respect that your creativity is dependent on down time, quiet time and reflection that may not immediately result in paintings. This lifetime artist thing is an ebb and flow. Don’t hang on too tight to what you think it’s supposed to look like. (I’m talking to you shiny white light filled studio!!) You’ll make your best work in unexpected places.
Find time to write to read and cultivate friendships with interesting people - all these things will help you to gain clarity. It will help you to make the decisions that are right for you and be clear in what you want. Clarity and flow is not a constant state and that’s okay, enjoy it when you find yourself there. Your studio practice may not always be about making the perfect work, but find joy in the work of it and you’ll always be happy there.
Oh girl, Motherhood will throw you for a loop. Hang in there. It will all come out so much better than you ever thought possible. You will find a new found drive and passion for your studio work. You will become more confident in your art. You will make some of your best art friends, and you will learn so much from those amazing children of yours.
Don’t let fear stop you from asking for what you want and deserve. Getting the answer NO isn’t a the catastrophe it seems, nor is it the end, it’s just a re-direction. I’m here to tell you there will be many more yes’s than no’s.
This artist life of yours and your creative process will always be a constant. You will turn to it in heartbreak and loss, and also celebration. Let it be your solitude, your meditation and your prayer.
Finally, put in the simplest form, my message to you is that it will all be okay, and you are right where you belong.
With love, Heather
Follow Heather’s Work
Website: www.heatherkirtland.com
Instagram: @heatherkirtland