DPW Spotlight Interview: Heather Bullach

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Heather's painting, "Summer Berries" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

From the time I was little, I was always sketching things. I actually didn't pick up oil paints until I was about twenty. They clicked immediately and I haven't stopped painting since.

Summer Berries
(click to see original image)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Heather's interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

No.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I've worked in watercolor a bit, and still try to go back to it every so often for a change of pace. I started painting portraits almost immediately after I began working in oils. I've only recently delved into landscapes and still lifes. Though I believe portraits and figurative work will always be my first love, I love the way landscapes and still lifes allow me to explore color, light, and painting styles with less demanding (for me) subject matters.

City Lights Study
(click to see original image)

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

I'm not sure I can really pinpoint any that have not stuck, at this point, as I've only recently really delved outside of portraiture.

Who or what inspires you most?

I find myself pulling inspiration from so many different places. I'm inspired by light and colors. I've discovered that I constantly watch the way the light changes throughout the day and with the weather and seasons, making mental note of how the colors change. I don't think a day goes by that I don't see something that I'd love to just stop and paint. And there is always something unique and exciting about each person I paint to inspire me; I never tire of seeing someone come to life on my canvas.

Into the Storm
(click to see original image)

What does procrastination look like for you?

I have three weekdays (and sometimes Saturdays) out of my week reserved for studio work. I treat my art like a job and commit serious time those days to creating work. But  procrastination absolutely pops up even within a regular routine. I put off the less exciting or more intimidation projects. Or I'll put off making a leap and trying something new to keep my work fresh. I never regret pushing through and tackling the hard thing.

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

Again, treating my work like the job that it is. I've never lost sight of the fact that if I want to continue a successful career in what I love, I have to continue to put in the serious hours.

Orange Lipstick
(click to see original image)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Mostly, I paint what I see. I like painting things in my daily life that are beautiful and bring me joy. These daily paintings have become like a bit of a diary for me, whether I'm painting something from somewhere I've visited, something from my closet, or even something I've eaten! And I love capturing people: both their likeness and their unique personality.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

Daily Paintings have become an excellent way for me to keep my work fresh. I'm able to quickly explore a great number or different subject matters, styles, and approaches. I've found that my larger works are directly impacted by the work I do in these smaller painting. In the six months that I've been doing these - albeit off and on - I've become a much more confident painter, and it shows in my work!

Dawson
(click to see original image)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

Painting more loosely. It takes greater planning and restraint for me to paint with bold brush strokes than to paint with really tight and exact detail. But I find myself much more excited about the process, and happier with the results when I paint this way.

What makes you happiest about your art?

I love seeing myself improve. And I love recognizing when I've achieved something technically that I haven't been able to before. But I think what makes me most happy is seeing my work bring other people joy. Which is why, I believe, I love portraits so much. There is something uniquely special about a portrait in how it can touch someone.

Thanks, Heather!

© 2015 Sophie Catalina Marine