Wendy L. Heimsness - Artist Statement

My art is an innate part of me. I have created in one form or another my whole life. I have always had a keen sense of color and composition.

I have followed many pathways, working as a seamstress, a little interior design, and eventually started my own interior painting and color consulting business.That led to doing artwork on walls and local businesses.On one of my commissions I made a mural using joint compound to create a "sculpture"directly on the wall. After several more commissions of these pieces, I decided to try doing them on birch panels. I did a botanical series and a figurative series. I gave up my painting business after 15 years, got a studio space and began doing art full time. About 12 years ago I tried abstract painting on canvas and I fell in love.I learned how to follow my intuition and trust my muse. I find joy, excitement, freedom, and wonder in this work and it has become one of my greatest joys.

My inspiration can be gained from many things. Nature, a beautiful composition in architecture, a color combination I see somewhere. And light. Exquisite, ever changing light. The piece usually begins with some gestures of line and color that I am hungry for and then the painting tells me what it wants and when it is finished. I am drawn to simplicity in my work, although it can get pretty riotous at times. I use expanses of color, transparent staining, large resting spaces of neutral tones and mark making that usually happens at the end. I work with acrylics, ink, polymer mediums, charcoal, crayon, marker, and sometimes dabble with collage.

I get completely lost when I work and nothing else exists but the canvas and paint. It is an amazing way to spend my time and I feel blessed beyond measure.