We recently connected with Heather Prall and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Heather, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Most people will face challenges in life. In many cases those of us who encounter extraordinary challenges, become more resilient. Personally, I have always looked at situations that presented difficulties, as something to overcome.
When you don’t have a village, or a consistent support network, you often learn to become your own rock. Over time, you learn ways to cope, recover, and move forward through your own resourcefulness. Ironically art and painting initially became a way for me to get through a particularly difficult situation.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a professional artist and I’ve spent the last 15 months traveling full-time by RV creating abstract artworks. My paintings are inspired by my adventures, and I create using an intuitive process. I love working with acrylics and inks to express emotions and experiences into abstract works of art. I find that many people can to connect with abstract artworks in a meaningful way based upon their own experiences and interpretations.
Through my art and adventures, I’ve been able to bring my collectors and followers on a journey of exploration. Meeting new people, experiencing new places and seeing beautiful landscapes all translate into the artworks that are created. My most recent collection is titled the “Travel Inspired Collection” and all my available work can be found on my website to collect.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I’ve always given myself the freedom to explore without worrying about what other people might think of my work. It’s important not to compare yourself or your work to others. I’ve seen some early artists wanting to copy another artist thinking it will bring them success. You want to be unique and have your own style and process. That authenticity is key to enjoying your work and connecting with your peers and collectors.
Experiment without feeling like you must have a recipe, formula, or thinking that everything has to come out perfect. When I was developing my craft, I didn’t get caught up in watching what others were creating or over-researching things. Instead, I came up with an idea for a piece and then went to the art supply store to see what materials were available to play with. In many cases artworks would evolve from an original concept, and it would be a process where I had to figure out what came next in the moment.
Abstract art is a great way to experiment, and it allows for a lot of freedom and flexibility. Try different methods, utilize your intuition, and hone your process over time. Art is an experience, and if you find enjoyment in creating, that’s the first step to being successful.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
If I’m feeling overwhelmed by life or a deadline, I get into the studio. The process of creating artwork can be meditative. Often, it makes me feel better. Being able to transfer emotions and feelings onto a canvas is cathartic. If I’m trying to meet a deadline, I like to give myself time to create without feeling like I am constrained too much. So, procrastinating on a project just feels like you are adding more stress.
If an artwork feels like it’s not coming together the way you want it to, the best strategy is to walk away. Leave it and move on to something else. Sometimes I come back a day later, a month later, or even a year later and my perspective has changed. I may notice something that I didn’t see before, or I’ve had time to figure out what the painting needs. It’s usually something simple, but we tend to get caught up in all the details when we are so close with a piece. I’ve discovered that we are often our biggest critics.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heatherprall.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherprallart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherprallart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherprall
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/prallh
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@heatherprall240
