“Anything that was created was once made from trying something completely new that no one had ever done before.”
Meet Heather
Heather is a talented, imaginative, and endlessly warm creative whose work has a way of making the everyday feel extraordinary. For over a quarter of a century, she’s been a constant in my life, bringing kindness, thoughtfulness, and wonder into everything she creates. Even from afar, I can sense the energy she brings to her art and the care she puts into every creation. It’s a quiet kind of magic that makes everyday life feel more vivid, imaginative, and alive. So I asked her a few questions about how she navigates her creative life, what inspires her, and how she continues to grow as an artist.
Our friendship has spanned more than a quarter of a century—through laughter, growth, and countless beautiful moments. The years have changed us in many ways, but we have always remained a constant for one another. Over time, I’ve watched Heather courageously explore creative outlets, from painting to sculpting, always learning, always curious. Her ability to fully immerse herself in a project, to lose herself in the details, is something I’ve always admired.
Creative Conversations is a monthly Q&A series where I sit down with creatives from all walks of life—some familiar, some newly discovered—to talk about creativity as it really exists. The pauses. The pivots. The returning. And the courage it takes to keep creating in the middle of everyday life.
For Heather, creativity shows up in both large projects and small moments of inspiration. Whether it’s painting for hours at a time, filling a notebook with sketches, or crafting tiny apothecary bottles for Halloween, she approaches each endeavor with curiosity, care, and a willingness to explore.
✦ Everyday Creativity
Can you tell us a little about yourself and what your days generally look like?
My everyday life looks pretty normal, I work Monday through Friday processing medical records to pay the bills. Though this is not my dream job. Yet it is okay for now. On the weekends I find myself venturing down to my art area in the basement and loosing myself in my painting. That or I work on little projects here and there during the week. I don’t let myself work on anything big unless I know I have a lot of time to dedicate to it though.
Where does creative expression show up in your daily life, even in small ways?
Creativity shows up in my decoration in my living space. I also like to carry a notebook to draw in when I feel inspired to draw or write.
Do you prefer creating in short bursts or longer stretches of time?
I love doing both, but I tend to hyperfocus when I start a project, I am excited about it. I recently started painting and on the first day of starting, I spent 5 hours working on it without even realizing it. Time seems to disappear, and I find myself enveloped in brush strokes, the way the colors blend and contrast each other. The tiniest mark can make a difference. I am still learning for sure, with every new piece of art, and I love it.
✦ What She Loves to Make
What types of projects do you most enjoy working on?
What do I like working on the most? I’m not quite sure. I have been fond of acrylic and oil painting lately, yet I love anything that challenges my mind and allows me to use my hands to create something new. A little over a year ago, I started a project for Halloween. Making apothecary bottles making the inner pieces out of anything I could, such as sculpting 3D tentacles out of layers of hot glue, or filling and paining beads to look like tiny “fairy skulls”. I also created a “spell book” I created the book from scratch, using cardboard for the shell, wrinkling and dying the pages with coffee, and then binding the book myself. I had a hard time figuring out the decoration on the cover and back of the book because I had so many ideas, but I am happy with the way it turned out. I am still working on the book illustrations, since each page takes a long time to do.
What is your go-to creative fuel?
I find inspiration in many ways. Often music is inspiring and also walking in the woods. I love the feeling of being in nature and the sounds and colors in everything around me. I do find that I have to be in the mood for the project that I am working on. I struggle with ADHD and find myself hopping from project to project when I feel stuck or drawn towards one project to over the other. I think I currently have at least ten projects I am rotating.
If you could spend a whole day making anything, what would it be?
I often find myself spending entire days painting or drawing. I get lost in the art and time has no meaning.
Do you have a favorite piece you’ve made or a project that feels especially meaningful to you?
I still have the very first watercolor painting I did with my grandfather’s help at the age of 8. It inspires me to learn and challenge myself. It also means so much to me, because my grandfather was such a huge part of my life growing up.
✦ Encouragement and Reflection
What would you say to someone who feels like they “don’t know what they’re doing” creatively?
I would say that no one knew what they were doing when they first tried something new. Anything that was created was once made from trying something completely new that no one had ever done before. They had no idea what they were doing either, but they tried it and refined it with trial and error. Every time they tried they got better.
What’s something you enjoy creating that most people might not expect?
I like making jewelry pieces and medieval belts. I have a belt that I just finished and love it.
Have you ever tried something creative that didn’t go as planned and what did you learn from it?
About two years ago I asked all of my family members what their favorite animal was and then created small Christmas ornaments out of air-dry clay. First I did not realize how long it was going to take to make all of them and did not give myself enough time. Second, I learned that air dry clay still crumbles and does not harden like clay that you bake in an oven or kiln. I finished them and they still broke a few days later.
Is there a creative goal you set for yourself that you haven’t tried yet but hope to?
I want to eventually make a piece to submit to Art prize in Grand Rapids MI. I have yet to figure out what that will be though. I also would like to learn how to do stained glass. I think that would be really cool.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your creative journey?
I would just say that I am still learning, and I find myself still learning to believe in myself with my art. I often have struggled with the worth of my art and what it might actually mean to others. Believing in yourself is so important when it comes to being creative and expressing yourself.
Closing Reflection
Creativity doesn’t need to be perfect, scheduled, or monumental to matter. For Heather, it’s in the brush strokes, the miniature details, the hours lost in flow—and in the courage to keep exploring, learning, and creating. Our friendship has been full of shared laughter, curiosity, and moments that spark wonder. The years have changed us, but we remain a constant for one another. Seeing her creativity unfold reminds me that thoughtfulness, playfulness, and the quiet magic in everyday moments can carry across any distance.
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