Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Ivins.
Hi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a fine artist, with a focus on photorealistic colored pencil pet portraits and loose watercolors. I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. But, I definitely got more serious about it around 2014, when I discovered what colored pencils can do. I had seen some hyperrealistic artwork online that was created using colored pencils, and, frankly, I was shocked that it was even possible! Up until that point, I had only drawn with graphite. I knew right then that I had to try colored pencils, and I got started immediately.
My first colored pencil drawings were of animals my son had asked me to draw. I posted them on social media, and they were very well-received. In fact, they inspired a friend to ask me if I would draw a portrait of his dog. That was my first pet portrait commission, and I’ve been drawing people’s pets ever since.
Colored pencil is very labor-intensive. It takes layers upon layers of mark-making to achieve realistic-looking fur. My pet portraits typically take anywhere from 12–24 hours to complete, and this is usually over the course of several days, as I find it quite difficult to sit and focus on them for long periods of time.
As much as I love rendering people’s beloved pets, it’s also nice to have a break from it. Lately, I’ve been creating loose watercolors in between commissions. These pieces have given me an opportunity to play and take a more relaxed approach to art. I’ve amassed quite a collection of watercolor florals, which I’ve recently started to sell at local art markets. The bright and colorful, loose florals are giving me a much needed respite from the tight, meticulous colored pencil work. Besides, who doesn’t love a flower? I think it’s a nice contrast for me, and I’ll continue with florals in between the fur babies (at least until I get an itch for something else!).
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m extremely lucky to have always been surrounded by supportive people. Family and friends have been commissioning artwork from me since a very young age. This support definitely encouraged me to pursue art as a career, and it let me know that there is a market for custom artwork.
That being said, I find that some people don’t understand all that goes into creating a piece of original artwork. The planning, the time spent working, the time spent learning the skills, the cost of supplies—most artists don’t just whip out quality artwork without an investment in these things. I think a common misconception is that, since artists enjoy the work they do, they don’t need to be paid much for it. There have been times when I’ve had people at art walks balk at the prices of original artwork. (And my prices are relatively low!) Perhaps people are spoiled by mass-produced art. Also, it doesn’t help that there are now AI systems that can generate artwork with the click of a button, without the need for an artist. If you want an original piece of artwork from an actual living person, remember that the artist deserves to be paid a living wage for their work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I split my time between fine art and graphic design. I run a small, in-home creative studio, HEATHER & JOHN, with my husband John Ciambriello. Some of the services we offer are brand identity design, photography, photo retouching and compositing, illustration, brochure design, menu design, business cards—you name it! We love using our collective skillset to help make people and businesses look their best.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
It truly brings me joy to make other people happy, be it with beautiful artwork, or by assisting them with their graphic design needs. I also really love connecting people, so I’m always introducing people who I think can benefit one another in some way. Other than that, it doesn’t take much to make me happy. I love good food, good music, our beautiful Florida weather, and the company of loved ones. I don’t need much more than that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heatherivins.com and www.heatherandjohnstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherivins and https://www.instagram.com/heatherandjohnstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherivinsart
Image Credits
John Ciambriello
