Cover image Life is Strange

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a working artist, teach colored pencil classes at Krasl Art Center, and I'm a mom to 3-year-old twins. When I'm not drawing or caring for my daughters, I enjoy being out in nature, baking and reading about different spiritual or philosophical topics.

How long have you been creating? How did you begin to in art?

When I was 9 months old, my mom would tape the paper to my highchair and give me a crayon to color with. She was surprised by how long it held my attention and that I naturally knew how to correctly hold the crayon. I'd draw spirals and circles that eventually became faces and forms by the time I was 2. She kept that as a regular activity and always encouraged me to be artistic; I've been creating since before I can remember.

Why did you choose your medium?

I took a drawing class in high school, and the teacher, Mrs. Davis, demonstrated the different colored pencil techniques. I loved how the layering and blending methods could create such a smooth look; since then, it has been my favorite medium.

How did you learn your art?

When I was 18, I did a tattooing apprenticeship which taught me a lot about planning compositions and shaped my creative process. In my early 20s, I worked in the wedding industry. I did decorative chalkboard sign work, which helped me learn to be more detail oriented. The YouTube channel "Lachri Fine Art" was also a huge educational resource when I started getting into realism painting and drawing. Several sources have helped me learn through time, but I think the biggest thing has just been practicing as much as possible.

How did you arrive at your style? Can you describe your style?

Around 2017 I decided that I wanted to be able to draw photo-realistically. I pushed myself as much as I could until I was able to do it. I took a break from drawing when I was pregnant with my daughters in 2019. After I had them, I went back into photorealism drawing, but it didn't fit anymore. I wanted to do something more expressive of my own, and my current style developed from that. I would describe it as a photo realism collage style with a geometric twist.

Why do you use shapes over the top of your drawings? How do they work to bring the different parts of the drawing together?

I used shapes and lines to emphasize, balance the composition, and symbolize life cycles, change, growth, thoughts, inspiration, and hope.

In each painting, you use several images: people, animals, and butterflies. How do these images work together?

Most drawings start with a concept or idea I want to express. I use different elements that work well together while also creating an exciting piece of artwork. For example, in "Remember," the drawing of an owl with flowers, the profile of the woman's face, and strings of beads everywhere, the overall inspiration for that was contemplating how people collect so many internal messages and things from life experiences. We all have a unique kind of wisdom where we draw from those experiences constantly, and they inform how we interact with the world and who we become as people. It's such an interesting and complex process when you stop and think about how that happens. The owl is a standard symbol of wisdom. The strings of beads represent the different things collected over time and how they become ordered. The flowers represent the variety that the process helps to create in the world. The butterfly symbolizes all the different transformations that all of the experiences create. The blossoms and blackberries are how that inspires action. I also like using blackberries as a way to represent a divine presence, in the case of this drawing, to illustrate how everything in that process is always able to be used towards becoming a positive force in the world, even if an experience is negative. The profile portrait of the woman with closed eyes represents how, even though that whole process happens unseen and unintentionally, we can choose what to do with it and which direction we want to go.

How do you begin your drawing? Do you have a regular process for drawing?

I usually design the composition in either procreate or krita, collect reference photos, sketch it all out, and transfer it onto my drawing paper. After that, I test out different color combinations with my pencils and then get started.

Why do you use animals as central subjects in many of your paintings?

I really love animals and think they are beautiful. They work really well for representing different aspects of the human condition, amongst other things, and even on their own, are worth celebrating in art.

How do butterflies play a central role in your painting?

I love how they embody change, beauty, and their intricate designs are fascinating.

Who are the artists who have influenced you, and why?

The artist that I've been the most influenced by is Matt Payovich. When I was probably 4 or 5, my mom introduced me to him and told me he was a real artist. I thought that was cool, but then I saw his work and was consistently blown away by it. His color usage and the way his work flows together are beyond amazing. His example and encouragement showed me that it was possible to be an artist if you worked hard and practiced a lot, which had a considerable impact.

If people want to buy your art, how do they find you?

I'm on Instagram, Facebook, and Etsy and will be at quite a few art fairs this summer. For the remainder of the spring, I also have several pieces on display and for sale at Small Town Grounds in Bridgman, MI.

Can you tell us about your experience at art shows?

2022 was my first year doing shows. I participated in 6 group exhibits, 2 art fairs, and a maker's market. It was an incredible experience getting out and being around other artists and people that enjoy art, so for 2023, my main focus is doing more art festivals.

Are art shows planned for the summer of 23?

Most of the ones I've applied to are either still accepting applications or in the jury process. Still, I'll update my Instagram with where I'll be as the dates get closer and plans are finalized.

Miranda Heward