At the age of six, Heather's depiction of Cinderella's pumpkin coach won recognition in a local newspaper, The Marquette Mining Journal. Despite this early success, she did not begin painting with oils seriously until age 43. Initially she worked in a studio setting with other artists, from novice to expert, and learned the basics of working with oils. Heather has taken several workshops but has valued most her time spent with Ron Chesley, a California and now Utah plein air painter and a wonderful teacher and mentor.
Described by some as a "colorist," Heather uses a rich and varied palette. Her work would not be described as subdued! Her subject matter ranges from chairs silently waiting the return of their occupant to still lifes of roses from her garden. Anything is fair game. Heather's first formal show occurred in 1996 and her work is held by dozens of collectors throughout the United States.
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"Sometimes you think 'How did I do that?' because the act of drawing and painting can be so totally enveloping that you don't think or analyze every step of the way. Being able to paint is a gift from God and one I never fail to appreciate."
- Heather Sturt Haaga |
