Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Essian.
Heather, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always been an artist. Growing up drawing, jewelry making, and crafting is where you could find me most often! I studied photography in College and began my photography career at the age of 19. After eleven years of running my own photography studio I took a step back to start a family with my husband and began staying home with our first daughter, Harper and only worked part time as a photographer/business owner. Less than two years later our second daughter, Hollis entered the world. As a new mom with two young babies at home, I had a big desire to have a creative outlet that was easily accessible, so I decided that I would teach myself how to abstract paint. In the beginning I just put paint to canvas and let my creativity run wild which turned out to be such a wonderful outlet for me! I began to share my painting journey on my personal Instagram feed and from there I began to get inquiries for commission work, and eventually decor stores started to reach out asking to represent my work. Now almost six years later, I’m thankful to say that currently three stores represent my art, and I have a steady flow of commission work.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road. I’m not sure there is a smooth road in owning your own business! I think every artist struggles at some point with valuing their work enough to charge what its worth. There’s no template in owning a creative business. There are times when I’m tempted to think that my work is less valuable than another artist’s work who has a degree in art. But I try to remind myself that school is not what makes a true artist. It can be a helpful tool for sure, but it’s not the only path that leads to success. I’ve really enjoyed discovering my own style and stumbling on techniques that are unique to me! There’s something about being self-taught that has allowed my creativity to run free without limitations. Another struggle is accomplishing that sweet spot of juggling being a stay at home mom to my three girls, and being a business owner. I consider my work as a mom to be top priority, so to find a balance of how much work I can handle has been something that’s taken me time to learn. I now work nine hours a week every Wednesday and so far it’s been a perfect fit!
Artist, Heather Essian – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I’m an abstract artist that works with many different mediums including, acrylic, oil, charcoal and more. I’m known for my color palettes, bold brush strokes, and modern style. I’m proud to be a voice for those who have a passion for something and set out to make a career out of it. I’m proud to represent all the Mamas who stay home full time and still carve out a little time to do what they love. One thing I’m passionate about with my art is creating pieces that will last for generations. I encourage my clients toward color palettes that they’ve always been drawn to. I ask them to share a little about themselves or their family and use any information that they share to help inspire their art piece. Then I choose a title that reflects them and their art. I have this dream of future family members inheriting this special piece of art that has a special story to it. I picture them sharing this story with dinner guests who inquire about the piece, and that makes me so happy! A story behind original art makes the art feel even more valuable, and it’s not something you can purchase at a store that’s been mass produced.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Selling my art in decor stores! It’s exciting to get to create exactly what I envision and to have the opportunity to send it on to a decor store that can reach people that I never could on my own. I still catch myself being giddy as I’m painting knowing it won’t sit in the corner of my house unnoticed and not used. I can’t tell you how thankful I am to be able to create and have others invest in my work! Original art is one of those things that is not a necessity but it definitely brings a room to the next level. And out of a sea of artist, to have my work chosen to be on display in someone’s home makes me feel so very blessed.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heatheressian.com
- Email: heather@heatheressian.com
- Instagram: @artist_heatheressian
- Facebook: @artistheatheressian
Image Credit:
Opening image of me and two girls: Cherie Marie Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
