Heather Griffin is a highly creative artist who works in a variety of mediums from paper and canvas to digital and textile and specializes in portraiture, events, wildlife, logo and pattern design.
Background
While she was born a Texan, Heather actually up in rural Arkansas where the beautiful natural state made a big impact on her love of nature and wildlife. She spent many days roaming the woods barefoot with her two younger sisters, leading the trio on imaginary adventures. When she wasn’t playing outside, Heather spent a lot of time daydreaming, drawing, painting, or writing. She began winning prizes for her art and writing at a young age.
Heather comes from a long line of artists on both sides of her family including her mother Ramona Wood and her maternal grandmother Winn Tate. Just next door to Heather’s childhood home lived her paternal great grandmother Opal Nash who was an avid painter with a house full of wildlife oil paintings. Opal’s art collection and her painting lessons undoubtedly inspired Heather’s own interest in painting wildlife. Heather also soon cultivated a fascination with the challenge of portraiture.
After high school Heather received a full college scholarship to Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas where she studied Graphic Design. There she was trained by excellent instructors with a variety of styles and Heather received the award for Outstanding Student in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. During her years in college she stayed busy with internships, the last of which turned into a full time position after graduation.
Heather gained a lot of educational experiences and personal growth during her time in Magnolia, Arkansas. Soon after graduation, it was time to move to a bigger city for more art and design opportunities. Since then, Heather has enjoyed many great jobs in the areas surrounding Dallas, and she currently resides in Rowlett Texas.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Griffin.
Heather, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. Ever since I was a kid, I had a keen interest in art and creating. As a child, I would chase my mom around the house, requesting that she draw doggies. In high school, I was constantly doodling and I excelled in art class. When I graduated high school, I actually got a free-ride art scholarship to Southern Arkansas University based on the merit of my high school art portfolio. There, I studied graphic design, took some photography and fine art classes and graduated with honors in 2009. (Bonus points, I also met my husband there.) During my time in college, I interned in graphic design and that turned into a full-time position with Southern Aluminum. When I graduated, I soon found new work in Dallas.
I landed at Rose Tree, a luxury bedding company in Dallas. There, I did everything; created the actual art we printed on to the bedding and table linens, ran the large textile printers, designed marketing materials and provided product photography as well. This was an awesome opportunity for me to learn new things in the realm of fashion and textiles. I thrive by staying busy, learning new things, and doing my best at every new task. When I wasn’t in the office, I was working on freelance design projects, creating logos, providing portrait and event photography, drawing and painting portrait commissions, growing my Etsy business and creating art and putting together art shows.
Toward the end of my six years at Rose Tree for six years, the family-run company began to downsize. The owners wanted to retire and I had recently had my first child. Eventually, the company closed and while bittersweet, the timing was not bad since it provided more opportunity for me to work on freelance projects, art, and raising my girl. I began to focus more on art, illustration, teaching art classes and caricature.
Since then, I gave birth to twins in 2018 and just recently moved from West Dallas out to Rowlett. On the cusp of this fresh start, and as my babies getting a bit more independent, I’m looking forward to finding more new and exciting art opportunities and ways to apply talents towards contributing to my community.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc.– but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you? In the realm of art, having a connection to the right audience is essential. It is a bit of a challenge to find the right niche for your work. Finding patrons that not only appreciate it but will also put funds behind their fondness is something I’m still working towards! It’s also important to set yourself apart. There are a lot of photographers and designers out there. So, I’ve shifted my focus to provide more unique services more based on my skills of fine art, realism in drawing/painting. That’s really where my passion lies– I like to be as creative as possible.
Ultimately, the biggest struggle of mine is to reel it in. I feel compelled to “do it all” with raising babies AND stay highly creative. This is super challenging. Especially with a toddler and twins, over the last few years, I’ve had to reduce the projects I accept and re-calibrate to find some balance in life. However, as my babies are getting bigger, so too are my plans for my business! I’m ready to start gaining more momentum again!
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of. I think what sets me apart from a lot of other professionals in my field is that I really do a lot. I have a broad range of services from graphic design and photography all the way to fine art commissions, illustration, and experience in creating textile patterns for high-end bedding and handbags.
I have a soft sot for my Etsy commissions. The sentimental area of creating custom art for clients to give family/friends as gifts is one of my specialties. I’ve always been a bit of a hoarder of memories (photos) myself and I’m always happy to bring a client’s snapshot to life in a quality piece of artwork. This does much more justice to the value of the moment is captured and expresses it a much more romantic medium. Especially when I can pay tribute to a loved one who has passed away in the form of a custom painting or drawing, I feel like I really contribute a little to the history of that person’s surviving family and friends. That kind of work is incredibly meaningful to me.
I also really enjoy combining my different mediums of expertise when I can. For instance, when I apply both skills of illustration, logo design, layout and typography, I can really push the envelope when it comes to children’s books. And I’ve always loved words, storytelling, and imagination. I finished my second children’s book this year and I’m super excited for its publication! I’m also beginning to dip my toes into the world of live wedding painting and event caricature– and that’s pretty unique! Variety is the spice of life! I’m excited about growing my business in these new directions.
What were you like growing up? As the oldest of three girls, I was prone to leadership. I enjoyed playing school with sisters and leading us on different pretend expeditions in the woods of southern Arkansas. In actual school, I got really good grades. I was a little nerdy, a tad verbose and introverted at times but ultimately got along with just about everyone. Often, I prefer to observe, but my close friends could certainly vouch for my silly outgoing side. I was always into some new project, game, or hobby and ended up getting a lot of playground trends. I made jewelry, started a “ladybug club” among friends of mine, sold my “creepy crawlers” back in the third grade– (got in trouble for that too! ha). So, creativity and entrepreneurship have always been in my wheelhouse.
About the Artist
Heather Griffin is a highly creative artist who works in a variety of mediums from paper and canvas to digital and textile and specializes in portraiture, events, wildlife, logo and pattern design.
Background
While she was born a Texan, Heather actually up in rural Arkansas where the beautiful natural state made a big impact on her love of nature and wildlife. She spent many days roaming the woods barefoot with her two younger sisters, leading the trio on imaginary adventures. When she wasn’t playing outside, Heather spent a lot of time daydreaming, drawing, painting, or writing. She began winning prizes for her art and writing at a young age.
Heather comes from a long line of artists on both sides of her family including her mother Ramona Wood and her maternal grandmother Winn Tate. Just next door to Heather’s childhood home lived her paternal great grandmother Opal Nash who was an avid painter with a house full of wildlife oil paintings. Opal’s art collection and her painting lessons undoubtedly inspired Heather’s own interest in painting wildlife. Heather also soon cultivated a fascination with the challenge of portraiture.
After high school Heather received a full college scholarship to Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas where she studied Graphic Design. There she was trained by excellent instructors with a variety of styles and Heather received the award for Outstanding Student in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. During her years in college she stayed busy with internships, the last of which turned into a full time position after graduation.
Heather gained a lot of educational experiences and personal growth during her time in Magnolia, Arkansas. Soon after graduation, it was time to move to a bigger city for more art and design opportunities. Since then, Heather has enjoyed many great jobs in the areas surrounding Dallas, and she currently resides in Rowlett Texas.
Interview with Voyage Dallas
Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Griffin.
Heather, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Ever since I was a kid, I had a keen interest in art and creating. As a child, I would chase my mom around the house, requesting that she draw doggies. In high school, I was constantly doodling and I excelled in art class. When I graduated high school, I actually got a free-ride art scholarship to Southern Arkansas University based on the merit of my high school art portfolio. There, I studied graphic design, took some photography and fine art classes and graduated with honors in 2009. (Bonus points, I also met my husband there.) During my time in college, I interned in graphic design and that turned into a full-time position with Southern Aluminum. When I graduated, I soon found new work in Dallas.
I landed at Rose Tree, a luxury bedding company in Dallas. There, I did everything; created the actual art we printed on to the bedding and table linens, ran the large textile printers, designed marketing materials and provided product photography as well. This was an awesome opportunity for me to learn new things in the realm of fashion and textiles. I thrive by staying busy, learning new things, and doing my best at every new task. When I wasn’t in the office, I was working on freelance design projects, creating logos, providing portrait and event photography, drawing and painting portrait commissions, growing my Etsy business and creating art and putting together art shows.
Toward the end of my six years at Rose Tree for six years, the family-run company began to downsize. The owners wanted to retire and I had recently had my first child. Eventually, the company closed and while bittersweet, the timing was not bad since it provided more opportunity for me to work on freelance projects, art, and raising my girl. I began to focus more on art, illustration, teaching art classes and caricature.
Since then, I gave birth to twins in 2018 and just recently moved from West Dallas out to Rowlett. On the cusp of this fresh start, and as my babies getting a bit more independent, I’m looking forward to finding more new and exciting art opportunities and ways to apply talents towards contributing to my community.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc.– but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
In the realm of art, having a connection to the right audience is essential. It is a bit of a challenge to find the right niche for your work. Finding patrons that not only appreciate it but will also put funds behind their fondness is something I’m still working towards! It’s also important to set yourself apart. There are a lot of photographers and designers out there. So, I’ve shifted my focus to provide more unique services more based on my skills of fine art,
realism in drawing/painting. That’s really where my passion lies– I like to be as creative as possible.
Ultimately, the biggest struggle of mine is to reel it in. I feel compelled to “do it all” with raising babies AND stay highly creative. This is super challenging. Especially with a toddler and twins, over the last few years, I’ve had to reduce the projects I accept and re-calibrate to find some balance in life. However, as my babies are getting bigger, so too are my plans for my business! I’m ready to start gaining more momentum again!
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I think what sets me apart from a lot of other professionals in my field is that I really do a lot. I have a broad range of services from graphic design and photography all the way to fine art commissions, illustration, and experience in creating textile patterns for high-end bedding and handbags.
I have a soft sot for my Etsy commissions. The sentimental area of creating custom art for clients to give family/friends as gifts is one of my specialties. I’ve always been a bit of a hoarder of memories (photos) myself and I’m always happy to bring a client’s snapshot to life in a quality piece of artwork. This does much more justice to the value of the moment is captured and expresses it a much more romantic medium. Especially when I can pay tribute to a loved one who has passed away in the form of a custom painting or drawing, I feel like I really contribute a little to the history of that person’s surviving family and friends. That kind of work is incredibly meaningful to me.
I also really enjoy combining my different mediums of expertise when I can. For instance, when I apply both skills of illustration, logo design, layout and typography, I can really push the envelope when it comes to children’s books. And I’ve always loved words, storytelling, and imagination. I finished my second children’s book this year and I’m super excited for its publication! I’m also beginning to dip my toes into the world of live wedding painting and event caricature– and that’s pretty unique! Variety is the spice of life! I’m excited about growing my business in these new directions.
What were you like growing up?
As the oldest of three girls, I was prone to leadership. I enjoyed playing school with sisters and leading us on different pretend expeditions in the woods of southern Arkansas. In actual school, I got really good grades. I was a little nerdy, a tad verbose and introverted at times but ultimately got along with just about everyone. Often, I prefer to observe, but my close friends could certainly vouch for my silly outgoing side. I was always into some new project, game, or hobby and ended up getting a lot of playground trends. I made jewelry, started a “ladybug club” among friends of mine, sold my “creepy crawlers” back in the third grade– (got in trouble for that too! ha). So, creativity and entrepreneurship have always been in my wheelhouse.