Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloe Hedden.
Hi Chloe, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Utah’s wild red desert but have had the great fortune to call many amazing places around the world my home. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, I am as comfortable painting large oils as I am illustrating children’s books. In 2007, I won an International Creativity award in the category of commercial illustration for “The Peaceful Warrior.” My first children’s book, “The Illuminated Desert,” written by Terry Tempest Williams and published by the Canyonlands Natural History Association in 2008, won The Mountains and Plains Bookseller’s Award for Best Children’s Book. My paintings and sculptures can be found in numerous public and private collections around the world.
As an artist, I look for the unseen patterns and hidden narratives that reveal the magnificence in all things. Robert Henri said, “Paint the spirit of the bird rather than its feathers.” There is a still point in every moment and to capture this essential luminescence is to acknowledge the ancient wisdom in all things. I make use of archetypes from the cultural and mystical history that connects all humans and all life forms. Joseph Campbell said that artists are the shamans of our time. I believe that we have the ability as well as the obligation to find and share truth and offer direction to the greater community. It is with this inspiration that I delve into the riches of the collective unconscious and the imagery and symbolism of my dreams to draw out something bigger than myself to share with the world.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life is full of circumstances that we can’t control. Some are joyous but many are challenging. I’ve had plenty of plot twists and started down paths that felt like the yellow brick road that turned out to be dead ends. The important thing for me is to trust the process and know that earth life is a school. I believe that we are here to learn. Our souls don’t necessarily crave comfort the way our minds do. So I do my best to breathe and stay present in the moment. As my grandmother says: “Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so.” When it comes to my art, I’ve made a steadfast commitment to keep going no matter what. That commitment along with my trust in the universe has gotten me through some very dark nights.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I draw my inspiration from everywhere. Artists tend to see the world through a lens of inspiration. I’m always swimming in it. That said, for me, my paintings are about light and abstraction. I may paint flowers or crystals, but they are just my subjects to convey my love of light and the visual language of abstraction and form. I want viewers to be able to dive into my paintings and stay for a while. For a long time, flowers and crystals have been my preferred subjects, but that could change at any time. I’m passionate about the sacred in small overlooked things. I want to create beauty in a way that really stops people and reminds them how amazing life is. That’s partly why I paint so large. I’m looking for those moments when the veil of reality gets torn and something bigger and more amazing gets in. Beauty can do that.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was pretty introverted and focused on my interior full of imaginary worlds. I spent tons of time drawing and creating games for me and my sister. I hated school even though I was good at it. I graduated top of my class but always wanted to be in the studio instead or outside in nature.
I grew up in the middle of nowhere southern Utah, raised by hippies from Harvard who wanted to do ‘the land thing’ in the 70’s. I didn’t have TV so spent most of my time drawing, painting and playing outside. My dad had me copying Picasso and Matisse when I was four. I went off to RISD for college and have since been living all over the world and dealing with the reality of being a professional artist in the 21st century.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.chloehedden.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloehedden/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chloeheddenart
