By Denise Marsh

Above: Heather Bergstrom. Photo: Lois Spatz.

They say that all creatives are “artists.”; however, I have always daydreamed about what it would be like to be a visual artist.  What would it be like to be able to create a visual representation of a cloud, sunset – an emotional moment that needed color and depth?  Hence, art is and will remain an integral part of my life.  On that note, I’d like to introduce to you Heather Bergstrom, President of the Wellington Art Society and professional  artist specializing in graphite  charcoal and  acrylic painting – an artist who “tells stories” through  her art.   Let the interview begin….

A.W: At what age did you know that being an artist was your “calling”? 

H.B: I’ve loved art my whole life and spent a lot of time honing my skills as an artist growing up.  It didn’t occur to me that art could be a career choice, so I never knew what to say when people asked, “what do you want do be when you grow up?” I ended up earning my degree in Psychology and got a job that helped pay the bills, but it wasn’t satisfying.  I never stopped learning, creating and dreaming about art.  In 2016, my husband, our two children, and I left our home in Connecticut and moved here.  I sort of fell in into a job at my kids’ new school and art became my “side-hustle.”Two years later, my husband suddenly fell ill and, to save his life, doctors put him in a medically induced coma with full life support.  The doctors gave him a 50-50 chance of survival, so I decided to stop working to be with him in the hospital as much as possible,  I am grateful to my friends and family, whose prayers and support got me through this difficult time.  After months in the ICU, my husband grew strong enough to regain consciousness, go through rehab and finally return home, but still needed a lot of care.  Art became my outlet during his long recovery.Then, just as I was able to go back to work, the pandemic hit, and schools were closed indefinitely.  So, with no job to go to, I decided to go for it and start my own art business.  So, to make a long story short, I guess it took some pretty major life events to help me realize art was my true calling!

A.W: I read on your website that you were “quite shy’ as a kid, and that art helped you with this challenge. Do you feel that being able to share your art with others has made you less shy?

H.B: I am still an introvert – that personality trait runs deep!  But just like anyone else, I want to have meaningful connections with others.  A lot of my art has to do with subjects, ideas and emotions that are pretty universal.  The moments I capture give me and my audience an opportunity to connect with each other in a way that feels safe to me, I suppose.  It’s a lovely way to “break the ice!”

A.W: What are some of your favorite pieces? Please share a few with us and their significance.

H.B:  Many of my pieces have some kind of water in them.  To me, water represents life for many reasons.  There is “water” in birth, baptism, and we need it to survive.  It can be violent or joyful, peaceful or terrifying, exciting or calming… and it can change in an instant.   In the same way, life is unpredictable and ever changing, but it is always beautiful.One of my favorite paintings that features water is Life Lessons,  which shows a father teaching his son to fish.  The reference photos that I used for this painting were taken by my mother. The figures in the painting are my brother and his son, who was about seven years old at the time. I wanted to highlight this special relationship of a father and a son especially the encouragement and guidance the father gives as his son reels in his first fish.  When I look at this painting, I imagine many future fishing trips where the father teaches his son much more than fishing.Another of my favorites is Flying Ace,  a pelican in flight.  Watching a pelican trying to walk on the beach is like watching a clumsy cartoon character.  But when they take flight, they are kings of the air! The  idea behind this painting is not to judge someone based on their struggles, but to look for the moments when they shine.  Flying Ace recently won Best in Show from the Jupiter Cultural Arts Council and was purchased by the Town of Jupiter.  It is hanging in the main lobby of the new Jupiter Town Hall. 

A.W: In researching your art, I learned that your main art modalities are graphite, charcoal and acrylic paint.  How do these compare with other artist’s mediums? Do they intensify color and vision?

H.B: When I was younger, I gravitated towards graphite and charcoal because they were inexpensive and  almost always within reach.  I liked using a range of values to create realistic drawings in gray scale.  Eventually, I wanted to add color into my artwork, so I took up painting. I was immediately taken with acrylic paint for its vibrant colors, quick drying time and easy clean up.  Often people look at the blending in my work and think that it is oil paint because it’s very hard to blend like that with acrylics.  I am left-handed, but I actually paint with a brush in each hand sometimes, so I can blend the paint quickly before it dries. Whether I am using graphite or paint, I love creating the illusion of three-dimensional forms on a two-dimensional surface. 

A.W: As President of the Wellington Art Society, you view and interact with many forms and genres of art.  Do you feel that your position has influenced or affected your own art?  Please explain. 

H.B: Absolutely!  I think that the most successful artists never stop learning, discovering and growing.  Shortly after I joined WAS, I was introduced to master oil painter Laurie Snow Hein.  She has been my mentor for the past four years,  Laurie has taught me, not just about technique, but also about life and what it means to be an artist and a businesswoman.  My daughter who is also a member of WAS is a huge inspiration to me. She is majoring in Studio Arts and focuses on character design using digital art.  I often tell people about her incredible talent, creativity and dedication to her art.  As President, it is a privilege to work alongside so many talented, local artists and experience their different mediums, styles and subjects.  Every time we get together, we give each other inspiration to explore new ideas. 

A.W: What are the positives of being President of the Wellington Art Society? What are some of the challenges?

H.B: First, let me tell you a little about the Wellington Art Society (WAS).  We are a 501 (c)3 charitable organization whose mission is to educate encourage originality, and to promote art appreciation in Palm Beach County.  WAS is a very friendly and welcoming group with over 100 members who are artists, gallery owners and art enthusiasts.  We have continuously  run  exhibitions that are free and open to the public at both Wellington City Hall and Wellington Community Center.  We also host engaging monthly meetings featuring well-known, local artists and special events like pop-up galleries and art receptions.  Every year we award scholarships which enable talented young artists in the community to attend art school.  To date, we have awarded over $130,000 in scholarships!  We also do community outreach projects such as collecting art supplies for needy children and doing art projects with cancer patients.  As President, it has been a lot of fun working with our amazing Board of Directors.  I enjoy helping to plan our events, such as our current exhibition called “Harmony” going on now at Premier Family Health in Wellington, as well as working with other non-profits such as Kids’ Cancer Foundation, Arts for Smiles and the Great Charity Challenge.  We are all volunteers at WAS, and it is so rewarding to support local artists while giving back tour community in creative ways.  As far as challenges go, most non-profit organizations will tell you that raising funds always tops the list.  We fund our scholarships and other outreach programs in part through donations and sponsorships.  We are always looking for fresh ideas to encourage people to support our mission.  For a small donation of  $25, you can become a “Friend of WAS and support the advancement of arts and culture in Palm Beach County. For more information, please visit our website www.wellingtonartsociety.org

A.W: Where can we view more of your work and contact you if necessary?

H.B: You can learn more about me and my artwork at www.heatherbergstrom.art I am also on Facebook and Instagram as @HeatherBergstromArt

A.W: The images you’ve created are so rich in color and highlight feelings in the “moment”.  I feel like it should be labelled, “art with heart”.  Two of my favorites are: Joy Comes with the  Morning and Evensong.  Can you please share the background story behind each piece?

H.B: Thanks so much!  I sometimes think of my art as “visual stories” that I hope others identify with.  I painted Joy Comes with The Morning during quarantine.  The painting is of a little girl walking beside her horse in a sun-bathed meadow.  I was feeling quite cooped up at that the time and missing my friends and family.  Joy helped to remind me that “”weeping may stay for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5).  It was a way to reassure myself and others that one day soon we would be together again.  Evensong is a painting of a serene-looking woman, sitting in a rowboat on a sunset lake. It is all about learning to find peace in the moment.  During my husband’s illness, every day was full of uncertainty.  I spent my days talking, reading and even singing to my husband in the hopes that he could hear me in his subconscious mind.  Some days I just sat quietly as the different machines keeping him alive whirred and beeped and nurses and doctors rushed in and out of the room.  Even though it was an extremely difficult and lonely time for me, it was also a time of tremendous personal growth. I think I needed to paint this one to help process everything that happened.  I am happy to say that my husband is doing well now and enjoying life!

A.W: Looking at the art on your website gallery I saw a very extensive and diverse portfolio of genres: everything from Florals, Landscapes, Equestrian Sightings, Family Portraits, and even Pet Portraits.  What genres give you the greatest joy?

H.B: My love of horses is what first got me into art.  I drew horses constantly as a child and I still love them.  I didn’t realize that Wellington was known as an equestrian hub until we moved to the area – lucky for me!This past year and a half or so, I did a “Secret Garden” series of florals and other garden paintings.  The inspiration for this collection came from our actual “secret” garden which was hidden behind a row of hemlocks in our backyard in Connecticut.  My children loved to play there, and pretend it was a magical land.  It was fun to create this series and I will probably do more florals and botanicals in the futureOf course, I also love doing commissioned pet portraits and they are very popular with my clientele.  I think going through the process of creating is joyful no matter what my subject is.  I like variety because fresh ideas keep me motivated.

A.W: Do you sell your art mostly to the locals (especially the Equestrian community) in Wellington or globally as well?

H.B: Locally, I sell my artwork at juried shows and exhibitions, as well as through my website. I also sell my work in the continental US through my Etsy shop and I have an international e-commerce site through Pixels.com where you can get fine art prints of my artwork as well as other print-on-demand merchandise.

A.W: What are your future plans for your art?

H.B: Coming up on May 18-19 from 12-5 pm each day, I will be at Arts Warehouse in Delray along with about 20 other local artists as part of the Cultural Council’s county-wide Open Studio weekend. Details on that event will be coming soon at https://www.palmbeachculture.com/ As far as the more distant future, I am looking forward to deepening my understanding of the various aspects of art from creation to curation as I continue to build my art business and grow my connections in the local art scene and beyond.   

Heather Bergstrom’s kind personality and infectious passion for art makes  me want to dabble in art again. Even if it is basic water color.   As a poet, I can empathize with her ability to let her art serve as a catharsis in  times of trouble and still  find “gifts” in everyday experiences.  It is always so refreshing to know of someone’s backstory, especially with artists as it makes you appreciate their work so much more. If you are looking for art “with heart” you will definitely enjoy Bergstrom’s talent for detail and “story” in every one of her pieces.  Treat yourself to some new art or get inspired – she’s just a click away.  Heather speaks to the “artist” in all of us who wants to share their story and have others gain insight in what she does. It was a pleasure interviewing her! 

Visit www.Heatherbergstrom.art