This month on Inspired by Beatrix, we feature calligraphic artist Heather Held. Heather is from St. George, Ontario, Canada, and her work includes pointed pen calligraphy, offhand flourishing, illumination with 23k gold leaf, watercolour painting and coloured pencil illustrations. She teaches extensively and has traveled throughout the world to share her love of pointed pen calligraphy and ornamental art. Heather’s work features Victorian line and wash technique. Her calligraphy is usually done first, followed by some sort of decorative ornament or illustration to augment the calligraphic work. Once the inking process is done, often gold leaf, watercolour or coloured pencil is added to the design.
Heather’s illustrations are inspired by the Victorian era and a sense of nostalgia for days gone by. Heather tells us that she has never given up the sense of wonder with the natural world, and her walks in the garden keep her hoping that she will see a little country mouse or jacketed rabbit peeking out at me. (This sounds like an author and illustrator we are all particularly fond of here at the Beatrix Potter Society…)
We asked Heather to share her thoughts on Beatrix Potter, including her artistic influence and overall inspiration.
I feel as if Beatrix Potter has always been with me. Her stories were part of my childhood. As children, my sister and I were tucked into bed with one of our parents reading us a bedtime story. I remember the pictures on the pages of my beloved Beatrix Potter books and loved seeing the world she created.
The watercolour illustrations and the expressions of her animal characters keep me going back to study her work. Potter was a keen observer of life and beauty and could capture the essence and spirit of her animal character with incredible efficiency. She worked in ink and watercolour and the results she gets in her illustrations are masterful.
My favourite work always has an element of childlike wonder in it. Whether it is a literary quote that appeals to me or trying to draw a rabbit that is bounding over an acanthus vine, I try to combine my love of ornament with a gentle illustration. Potter’s illustrations are timeless. Even if the story has an element of risk or danger in it, she knew how to capture beauty and transport the reader into the world of the character. Beyond that, even as she continued to create her “little books”, most of the time she painted to “please herself.” When I create work for classes or for my portfolio, I follow her example and choose subjects that are meaningful and bring me a sense of joy.
Heather’s art has been heavily inspired by Beatrix Potter. We asked her to share her thoughts on her artistic techniques and themes and how they relate to Potter.
Without realizing it, I have been using Potter’s line and wash technique for over two decades. I used ink in my illustrations because it merged the lettering medium with the illustration. Things just seemed to look better if I had a faint ink outline and then filled in the painting with watercolour. Her soft colour choices for the rabbits, birds and squirrels have influenced my own paint palette. If there ever was an artist that I wish I could sit and observe their process from start to finish, it is Beatrix Potter. Her early work of Fungi contains a lot of dry brush watercolour. Dry brushing was my entry path into watercolour painting, and I continue to combine it along with the line and wash technique.
The theme of Nature itself resonates with me through her stories. The prancing movements of Squirrel Nutkin are rooted in the illustrator’s ability to really observe what was around her. She understood nature. She understood the natures of the animals themselves. During my childhood, I never knew anything about Beatrix Potter herself, but I wanted to know her world. I wanted to be able to see the scenes she was depicting on the page.
Heather is also a teacher, and hopes to leave a legacy of teaching. She connects with Beatrix Potter’s stories, and reflects on how much work that Potter did on her “little books” that gave her a sense of purpose and anchored her life before her move to Hill Top. As an instructor, Heather states, “I can see that same sense of worthwhile purpose in the eyes and work of students who are creating art. There is something so meaningful, profound and peaceful that can be found as we work with our hands”.
Want to see more of Heather’s incredible art? Check out her socials below!
Instagram: @heathervictoriaheld; www.instagram.com/heathervictoriaheld
Website: www.heathervictoriaheld.com
Teaching Schedule: https://linktr.ee/heathervictoriaheld
Monthly Blog Posts: https://inkflourishes.blogspot.com
