Meet Heather

Hi! I’m Heather Bondorew Sawtelle. I have been a lifelong learner especially when it comes to my passion for art. My journey as a professional artist has encompassed many different facets of art. Working as a textbook illustrator, high school art teacher, muralist, and fine art painter has taught me both the wonder of learning new things, and the true joy of passing on that knowledge to my students in art lessons here in my studio in Collinsville.

In moments of obscurity, there is often a defining picture to be found. I think that is because most of our most intimate motivations are hidden inside our most common activities - making the irrelevant most relevant. It is in the framework of finding those thoughtful moments that I am compelled to paint.  Creating is my great passion.  Oil painting and charcoals have become something I’m sort of obsessed with mastering. I am continuously fascinated by what I discover.

Teaching art and sharing what I have learned has been one of the great joys of my life.  Most of my time over the past 25 years has been dedicated to teaching students the fundamentals of art and showing them how to expand their vision and grow in their knowledge of technique and materials to produce realistic artwork that is truly spectacular.

MANY PEOPLE WONDER HOW ALL THIS HAPPENS

 It takes A LOT of time - Talent is overrated.  Everyone has something they are interested in and are willing to work towards.  That is where we begin. 

Thinking is the Bedrock

 Thinking turns seeing into true observation.  Technique sits on top of these and is established slowly with each project. The learning never stops. I often tell my students that while people will enjoy the finished project, the magic that happens during the creative process - that is strictly for the artist.  Only the makers can understand that experience.  The viewer will see the culmination of these moments, but to live them is hard to put into words.  The moment of hard-fought clarity is a gift, and it is addicting. It is not easy, but when your work fights back and stretches you, it becomes your own. You forge a relationship with your work and begin to understand each other.  That is why whether a sketch, study, master copy, or original work -  you always add a piece of yourself to it.  With each attempt you become a different artist than you were in the beginning. 

 You Begin To Trust Yourself  -You begin to believe in your own thinking

We all have creativity inside us but learning the techniques to showcase our creativity and skill is imperative to achieve quality artwork.  Most people don't know where to begin, but EVERYONE CAN CREATE MEANINGFUL ART.