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Gravitating to the idea of capturing a moment in time, Heather Millar's work is reflective of vintage ambiance steeped in nostalgia, ranging from childhood toys, vintage family snapshots and portraiture, landscape and wildlife caught in a still moment.
"I love the idea of having something tangible to represent that moment caught in time" So often our memories obscure what was our reality at the time, so bringing back those images in the form of a painting on canvas lets the viewer treasure what was possibly once lost.
Heather is a professional painter living and working in Prince Edward Island, Canada, since 2008. Formerly from Edmonton, Alberta, she completed her BFA at Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary in 1998. A painter since childhood, Heather discovered the seductive elements of glass blowing while at ACAD and embraced that as her major for her years there. Upon graduation, the reality of renting or building her own glass studio was out of reach, so she once again picked up her brushes and discovered an entire, untapped world of inspiration within her surroundings. Almost entirely self-taught in painting, Heather’s work has evolved into her own unique style with the overall impression of contemporary pop-art, whereupon the image depicted is the sole focus of the painting.
Heather is currently represented at Canvas Gallery in Toronto, Ontario, Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery in Whistler, BC and Jones Gallery in Saint John, New Brunswick. Her work can be found in private collections worldwide, in public collections nationwide and on the set of "Suits" and HGTV.
"I love the idea of having something tangible to represent that moment caught in time" So often our memories obscure what was our reality at the time, so bringing back those images in the form of a painting on canvas lets the viewer treasure what was possibly once lost.
Heather is a professional painter living and working in Prince Edward Island, Canada, since 2008. Formerly from Edmonton, Alberta, she completed her BFA at Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary in 1998. A painter since childhood, Heather discovered the seductive elements of glass blowing while at ACAD and embraced that as her major for her years there. Upon graduation, the reality of renting or building her own glass studio was out of reach, so she once again picked up her brushes and discovered an entire, untapped world of inspiration within her surroundings. Almost entirely self-taught in painting, Heather’s work has evolved into her own unique style with the overall impression of contemporary pop-art, whereupon the image depicted is the sole focus of the painting.
Heather is currently represented at Canvas Gallery in Toronto, Ontario, Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery in Whistler, BC and Jones Gallery in Saint John, New Brunswick. Her work can be found in private collections worldwide, in public collections nationwide and on the set of "Suits" and HGTV.
Published on March 19th, 2023. Artist responses collected in months previous.
What are you fascinated with right now?
Currently I'm doing a lot of botanical work with applied gold leaf background. I'm inspired by the art nouveau movement and the thoughts behind embellishing the canvas to enrich the viewer's experience. I find the background is equally important as the subject, whether it's simply applied colour, texture, image or material. One should compliment and enhance each other, forming a duet, or equally juxtapose so that the image floats above and becomes the main focus.
What advice would you give your younger artist self?
Experiment more. Sketch more. Develop ideas beyond what you think is a complete idea. Go further. In the beginning of my career, I felt like every new idea or project had to be a masterpiece as soon as it was committed to canvas. It quickly developed into a roadmap for my method of thinking, specifically once I became represented by galleries. Suddenly time became money and silently started to eat away the enjoyment of just experimenting. Only now, after 20+ years, am I coming to realize how important the art of experimenting is, simply for the purpose of keeping open the doors of imagination.
What are your tools for creative resilience these days? Do you have any methods to stay positive when life becomes difficult and perhaps when you have limited time to create?
I love to challenge myself to do better with each piece I create, but the self-encouragement can quickly tip over into self-admonishment if I'm not mindful of the negative self-talk. Typically it all begins with a comparison of my art to someone else's...am I not doing enough, fast enough, good enough when so-and-so is... that type of thing. So I'm finding what is giving me creative resilience is to stay away from social media when I get into these mindsets. It's like flipping a switch to reset and focus on what is giving me inspiration at the moment, outside of the studio. When I'm really limited for time, I will prime a load of canvases, catch up on paperwork, simply work out thoughts in writing, anything to feel I've been at least a little productive.
What is your dreamy vision for your creative career and art practice three years from now?
I would love to make a viable life in Denmark, where my husband grew up, even if it was half the year there and half in Canada. We took a trip to his hometown several years back and you can't help but be immersed in art and design everywhere you go. It would be a dream to own a little home studio there and be represented by a gallery in Denmark, or Europe in general.
How are you being kind to yourself as you look towards realizing your vision for your art career?
I think it's vital to remember it's okay to go at your own pace and create work that comes from what moves you, rather than trying to anticipate what will move a collector to purchase. As mentioned before, I also find it a kindness to disengage from social media as a way to reset. I'm old enough to vividly remember a time before the internet and the simplicity of just being present instead of curating a look that is style over substance.
What are you fascinated with right now?
Currently I'm doing a lot of botanical work with applied gold leaf background. I'm inspired by the art nouveau movement and the thoughts behind embellishing the canvas to enrich the viewer's experience. I find the background is equally important as the subject, whether it's simply applied colour, texture, image or material. One should compliment and enhance each other, forming a duet, or equally juxtapose so that the image floats above and becomes the main focus.
What advice would you give your younger artist self?
Experiment more. Sketch more. Develop ideas beyond what you think is a complete idea. Go further. In the beginning of my career, I felt like every new idea or project had to be a masterpiece as soon as it was committed to canvas. It quickly developed into a roadmap for my method of thinking, specifically once I became represented by galleries. Suddenly time became money and silently started to eat away the enjoyment of just experimenting. Only now, after 20+ years, am I coming to realize how important the art of experimenting is, simply for the purpose of keeping open the doors of imagination.
What are your tools for creative resilience these days? Do you have any methods to stay positive when life becomes difficult and perhaps when you have limited time to create?
I love to challenge myself to do better with each piece I create, but the self-encouragement can quickly tip over into self-admonishment if I'm not mindful of the negative self-talk. Typically it all begins with a comparison of my art to someone else's...am I not doing enough, fast enough, good enough when so-and-so is... that type of thing. So I'm finding what is giving me creative resilience is to stay away from social media when I get into these mindsets. It's like flipping a switch to reset and focus on what is giving me inspiration at the moment, outside of the studio. When I'm really limited for time, I will prime a load of canvases, catch up on paperwork, simply work out thoughts in writing, anything to feel I've been at least a little productive.
What is your dreamy vision for your creative career and art practice three years from now?
I would love to make a viable life in Denmark, where my husband grew up, even if it was half the year there and half in Canada. We took a trip to his hometown several years back and you can't help but be immersed in art and design everywhere you go. It would be a dream to own a little home studio there and be represented by a gallery in Denmark, or Europe in general.
How are you being kind to yourself as you look towards realizing your vision for your art career?
I think it's vital to remember it's okay to go at your own pace and create work that comes from what moves you, rather than trying to anticipate what will move a collector to purchase. As mentioned before, I also find it a kindness to disengage from social media as a way to reset. I'm old enough to vividly remember a time before the internet and the simplicity of just being present instead of curating a look that is style over substance.
Find Heather Millar on Instagram
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