Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Nagy.
Hi Heather, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always had a creative bent and loved drawing, painting, and exploring different art processes. I grew up watching Bob Ross on television but was also amazed at the realism Michangelo achieved in marble, how Norman Rockwell captured everyday life and the colors and motion of Monet and VanGogh.
As a young adult, I wasn’t ready to be a full-time artist and so I got my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Western Michigan University focusing on Graphic Design. I practiced graphic design for close to 20 years and enjoyed it as a creative outlet. Painting was a hobby when inspiration struck. Creating art was a sanctuary for me, it brought joy. I had years to experiment with different media and styles, to develop a style I loved. However, over the years, there was a growing discontent of my having art as a back burner activity done just for me. I wanted to fully go for it, to take more concrete steps to try and get my art in front of more people’s eyeballs. As I followed different artists online my desire to make a go at being a professional artist grew.
One of the things I knew needed to happen is to be able to find inspiration right here in Central Florida. I still remember parking down at the east end of Lake Eola and slowly walking around the lake, taking in small details I’d seen before but were overlooked for their familiarity. After an hour, I returned to my car excited. I’d taken over 100 photos and had the inspiration I had been looking for to start a series of paintings inspired by downtown Orlando. And I started to paint.
I submitted a proposal for a solo show through a public art program and the response was quick and encouraging. Did I have more paintings in this series? They loved the work and wanted to give me a solo show. It was the encouragement I needed to move forward. After many conversations with different people, research, and prayers I finally decided to leave my job as a graphic designer in 2018.
From there, it was a steep learning curve of how to do everything like getting a business license, approaching galleries, applying to art festivals, getting my work up on a website, and how to use social media to increase my influence. And of course, painting more and more. I followed other artists, local and farther away, taking note of what they did. I looked into various local opportunities and joined Facebook groups of other artists. I asked a friend a million questions and slowly made my way into the art scene in Orlando.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s not been a smooth road. I am grateful that I’ve felt like I’ve always stayed on the path, sometimes only seeing a step or two ahead of me, sometimes going a lot slower than I’d like but still moving forward.
I follow many other artists online and would look at how many shows they had, how much their work is selling for, where they are selling it and how, how many followers they have, what galleries they are showing through etc. It was research and gave me goals to reach for. However, there is not a magic button to push that magically gives you a power-up to the level you want to be. I’d research galleries and approach ones that I thought were a good fit for me. I’d apply for different shows and opportunities and although I’d get a yes now and again many times I’d hear no, sorry, or nothing at all. There are plenty of social media experts out there who promise thousands of followers in a short time, but I’ve found growth to be very slow.
And of course, March of 2020 hit and Covid stepped onto the scene and shut down the galleries I was working with and saw most art festivals canceled for almost a year.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think part of being a professional artist is having consistency or a brand to your work. You want people to know it’s you and yet leave them wanting to see more. I specialize in vibrant acrylic city scenes and landscapes and some botanical paintings. I’d describe my work as being modern impressionist. I love color and my work is bright and hopeful.
The scenes I paint are real, I always work from photographs that I’ve taken or a friend has given me permission to use. I’m known for bringing attention to the beauty that is all around us but often overlooked because we are too close to it. I say my paintings are amplified to turn up the volume of the beauty of a scene, capturing those moments around us that give us a sense of hope and awe.
Muscles strengthen the more they are used, and in the last four years, I’ve strengthened my ability to take in what’s around me and put it on canvas. I think it’s an accomplishment to be able to find things that are inspiring regardless of location.
I’m proud of the body of work I’ve created. I’m grateful for the numerous solos shows that various galleries and venues have entrusted me with. I’m proud that I was able to keep going even in the challenges of Covid and see growth happen in my work, sales and reach.
I paint landscapes–people can identify places they have been in my work. However, my work is not traditional, but modern in its painterly technique and vibrant color. It appeals to people who have seen a lot of artwork and those who have seen very little.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t really believe in luck. I do believe in prayer. I do a variety of things in an effort to get my work out there and knock on doors, and then pray and wait to see what happens.
I do acknowledge I’ve been very fortunate to have the support of my family and friends who have encouraged me in this venture and also given me the cushion to try, to fail, and then get up and try again.
Pricing:
- Acadia 1 30”×40”, $2,000
- Puppetto’s cafe, Positano Italy (pink bogainvillea with cafe scene) 48”×60”, sold
- Freedom from Above (NYC landscape, 48”×60”, $5,300)
- Senior on the Block (big tree) 24”×24” $1,000
- Downtown Ride (orange bikes) 24”×24” $1,000
Contact Info:
- Email: Heather.L.Nagy@gmail.com
- Website: https://heather-nagy.pixels.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather.nagy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HLNagyArt
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/heathernagyart/
Image Credits:
All photos of paintings taken by myself Photos of myself taken by my spouse David Nagy
