Beauty in solitude with Lisa Heinricks

The multidisciplinary artist brings her her love for small, isolated and majestic places alive in her work.

Lisa Heinricks is an established Western Canadian multidisciplinary artist who resides in Calgary. We spoke with Lisa about her origins as an artist and the importance of a strong support system.

Pride In Business: How did you ended up becoming a painter?

Lisa Heinricks: I started drawing and colouring at age three—so very young. I was drawn to the quiet and solitude that drawing and colouring gave me. As I got older, it still remained my place of solitude and quiet, but something else happened: people started noticing that I was good at drawing and eventually painting—teachers, parents, and other kids. I eventually went to the Alberta College of Art but was unable to continue because of a learning disability.

PIB: It seems like you have been navigating a few styles, but also you have done it really well on each one. Are you settling now in a specific style?

LH: I definitely go back and forth with my work. I've never been able to stick to one style, as curiosity always gets the best of me. I love being an artist, and to me, this means learning to be good at whatever I'm interested in. So if a certain style of abstract catches my fancy, I will work on it until I feel I've accomplished it, and then I will move on to the next, which could be black-and-white portraits in oil.

PIB: Who are your influences that keep you inspired?

LH: I am inspired by so many artists. From the past, I would include Pollock, O'Keeffe, Rothko, Cassatt, Morisot, Kandinsky, Klimpt...the list, for me, is endless. From here and now, I feel lucky to be in Calgary; I'm able to be inspired by so many of my peers and artist friends. It's important to have people around you with the same goals whom you can grow with and just talk art. Without that, it's too lonely. As for following a style, I've always carved my own path; to me, that is the whole point.

PIB: What are your ultimate career goals as an artist? Do you see yourself moving to a different place following career opportunity?

LH: I've actually just moved back to Calgary from British Columbia, so moving away isn't in the cards. I see myself staying right here, growing my artistic practice until the end, whenever that is. I love Calgary.

PIB: Do you have any advice to young individuals whose minds are creative, but don’t feel the confidence to explore that creativity?

LH: The world is hard right now. I came of age in the 1980s. It was hard, but it was also wild and fun, and there were no cell phones. So, even though it was hard, I could keep under the radar if I needed to. But today, that doesn't exist, which makes life that much harder. I think it's important to align yourself with a good community. Get access to mentors, counsellors and coaches. Educate yourself as much as you can and build a support network of friends, family, framily, and whoever loves and supports you. Always keep the people in your life who support you and let go of the ones who don't. Never think an opportunity is missed; it never is, and always just keep going. Never shoot for happiness; it's fleeting, and always go for what makes you feel content. The rest will follow.