Heather VanDyke

Artist Statement

I am a mixed-media acrylic artist whose work is rooted in earth, nature, and lived experience. My paintings are built rather than simply painted — layered with intense color, heavy texture, and physical presence. The surfaces invite touch because the work itself is tactile, inviting you to look closer.

Nature is my visual language, but memory is my subject. Each piece carries accumulated life: moments of joy, loss, growth, and time passing. My work holds layers ,some visible, some buried ,shaped by weathering, pressure, and persistence. Color strikes first, but what lingers is recognition: a feeling, a place, or a memory viewers didn’t realize they were carrying until they encountered it.

I aim to create a deep emotional connection between the work and the viewer. These paintings are not meant to explain or instruct; they are meant to be felt. When someone stands before my work, I want them to see traces of their own experiences reflected back and to feel that quiet moment when art becomes personal

My professional life included a 35-year career in women’s and men’s health care at Planned Parenthood, then Mental Health Care Manager. Also volunteering as a Life Skills Youth Advisor, supporting teens through Harrisena Community Church. These roles reflect a deep commitment to empathy, listening, and human connection—values that are inseparable from my creative practice.

Without a predetermined endpoint, my intention is always to create a deep emotional connection—art that invites not only viewing, but feeling, memory, and recognition.

Contact Heather at 518-796-1856, Studio by appointment