Heather Freeman

Making art gives me the freedom to fully be me. When I make art I get to let go of making mistakes and let the imperfections that show up be a part of the work.  Just like my art, my life is beautifully imperfect, sometimes messy.  I draw from the unfolding of my own journey and create paintings symbolic of its twists and turns, its good parts, and hard parts. When people see my work, I want them to see themselves in it. I want them to feel excitement, joy, and to feel their own aliveness. When a viewer experiences this when looking at my work, it gives me the greatest joy as an artist. 

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I use acrylic on wood and canvas oftentimes incorporating collage and graphite. I love playing with color. And right now I’m loving the challenge of playing on bigger and bigger canvases.  My favorite tools include paint brushes, rollers, stencils, and of course my fingers! I even have a stash of found objects I use for scraping, pushing around paint, and mark making. Getting messy, coloring outside the lines, and breaking out of my comfort zone is how I get to where the real play is. It’s not always as easy as you think. There’s a lot of re-training of my adult mind to let go and be a kid again. 

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Colorful abstract paintings are my jam. My paintings are filled with color, symbols representing my favorite childhood and life memories, and texture. Stepping into one of my paintings means letting go, finding joy in the journey, and celebrating all life has to offer.  

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I can't wait to meet you and share more with you during the Durango Open Studio Tour! 

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​Studio Address: 1309 E 3rd Ave, Smiley ArtRoom #3, Durango, CO 81301

Website: thepaintedplayground.com 

Instagram: instagram.com/heatherfreemanartist

Facebook: facebook.com/ThePaintedPlaygroundDGO/

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