HI and welcome! I’m so glad you’re here…
ABOUT APRIL HEATHER ART
A labor of love-that’s what this business is. I love it-every single teeny tiny thing about it. If I could give it a great big HUG I would. I believe I am incredibly blessed to do what I do each and every day. I get up excited to work-to paint, sew, create, and connect. April Heather Art has evolved over the past 18 years. It started out as a mural business when I was a 24 year old newlywed and was based in our one bedroom apartment. I hauled my ladders, gallons of paint, drop cloths, and supplies all over Central Texas. I had a ball! After becoming a mom and moving to the East Coast my little business changed and I began teaching decorative painting classes at night and on weekends. I was still painting murals, but almost exclusively for children (including my own!). Another move brought us to beautiful Bucks County where my business and I have continued to grow and evolve.
I began licensing my art in 2010 and in the spring of 2012 April Heather Art expanded into illustration and embroidery. This process was the product of a lot of soul searching and faith. In November 2012 I opened my etsy shop and in March I hit 100 sales, followed by a nod in Mollie Makes Magazine. Its been a wild and wonderful year and I have not looked back. I’m still having a ball and lovin’ every minute of it!. I’m so proud of and humbled by the way this little business has grown up.
Interested in working with me? Give me call or drop me a note-I’d love to hear from you!
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
When I was a little girl my mom would say “Go outside, you’re gonna get rickets!” because all I wanted to do was stay in and draw all day long. A stack of paper and some pencils kept me occupied for hours.
I still just want to draw all day long.
Growing up in a little town in Texas, I day dreamed about living in a high rise in New York City. Of course I will have a door man. I drew pictures of exactly what it would be like. I loved drawing my day dreams! I drew the characters from books I read, the homes they lived in, as well as my future house plans. I drew all the time. On my first day of kindergarten I drew a school on our coffee table (sorry Mom!). As I got older I loved to draw clothes. One of my favorite things to draw were the dresses worn by Hollywood legends in black and white classic movies. I would pause the VCR and draw the gowns worn by all the glamorous movie stars, like Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn.
This inspired me to pursue a degree in Fashion Design at The University of Texas in Austin. I thrived in my History of Costume course but floundered in Flat Pattern. After graduating with a degree in Textiles and Apparel I worked at a costume company in Houston, supplying area theaters with scores of period garments. I loved being in that giant warehouse surrounded by thousands of costumes. I’ve always loved to play dress up!
After a move back to Austin, I worked on the costume crew for a Disney movie filmed in town. It was an exciting experience working on set and I even washed the clothes at night after the filming wrapped. I enjoyed seeing the process of creating movies, but realized I was missing my true love–drawing and painting. After talking it to death, my family and friends finally said “Enough!” just do it already! So I did. And it was awesome.
I feel incredibly blessed to be married to my best friend and college sweetheart and the mom of 2 amazing daughters. After my daughters were born I experienced a 7 year period of severe chronic daily migraine. During those 7 years I did not paint at all and it was devastating. In 2007 I had a hysterectomy, which left me migraine free. I haven’t had one since. My experiences led me to paint my feelings-something I had never been able to do before. It has been a great pleasure and incredibly meaningful to share these works in hopes of connecting with other migraneurs. Some of these pieces have been widely published and well received — it is my fervent hope that they will inspire and inform others about the severity of migraine.
After relocating to the East coast I continued to nurture and tend to the garden that is my business while also tending to and loving 2 growing girls. No longer suffering under the weight of daily pain, I have learned how to really live again. I don’t want to waste a single second! In recent years I have enjoyed painting in my home studio, creating work for companies that produce my art on their products. This opportunity has given me a chance to try new things while being home when the school bus arrives in the afternoon. It has been a thrill for me to see my work in many different applications. I share stories about my creative life each week on my blog, as well as a regular Friday post called “Graphic Gratitude” where I illustrate something for which I am grateful during that week.
Every day I am open to new ways to grow and expand my art and my little business that I love. When people see my work the most common thing they tell me is “It’s so happy!” and that makes me so happy too.
Thank YOU for taking the time to read my story and getting to know me. xo-Heather
Want to watch a little video? Here I am in my studio talking about my work. (Filmed in February 2012-just before my big business change!)
Here I am painting a Parisian street scene. (Thank you to my 14 year old daughter who set up the time lapse and the music!)
Like Texas cookin’? Then check out my instructional video on how to make Fried Pies. Part 2. They are so good! (again my sweetie pie did the filming/editing and music!)
Are you on Vine? I am and I share videos of drawings too! Its lots of fun, I promise.
Vist my FAQ page for more interesting tid bits and info on the supplies I use!