Meet Heather

Hi! I’m Heather Bondorew Sawtelle. I have been a lifelong learner especially when it comes to my passion for art. My journey as a professional artist has encompassed many different facets of art. Working as a textbook illustrator, high school art teacher, muralist, and fine art painter has taught me both the wonder of learning new things, and the true joy of passing on that knowledge to my students in art lessons here in my studio in Collinsville.

Growing as a painter is my great passion.  Painting is so much more than drawing with a brush. Capturing light and edges on paper and canvas constantly motivates me.  

Teaching art and sharing what I have learned has been one of the great joys of my life.  Most of my time over the past 20 years has been dedicated to teaching students the fundamentals of art and showing them how to expand their vision and grow in their knowledge of technique and materials to produce realistic artwork that is truly spectacular.

My philosophy

In moments of obscurity there is often a defining picture to be found. I think that is because most of our most intimate motivations are hidden inside our most common activities - making the irrelevant most relevant. It is in the framework of finding those thoughtful moments that I am compelled to paint. 

I love paintings that make me want to know the people in them - that remind me of similar things I have felt, places I have gone, and things I have done. The human experience, both uncommon and common, is full of these stories and it is for this reason that I love to paint people as they go about the daily tasks that make their stories unique.

About Art Lessons

Seeing is truly believing.  My goal from day one in lessons is to look "deeply and profoundly” at our subject matter.  To take a fresh and fearless look at what is really in front of us.  Talent is overrated.  Patience, diligence, and acquiring the correct thought process enables each artist to attain the true skill of seeing, observing, and creating masterful works of art.

We all have creativity inside us but learning the techniques to showcase our creativity and skill is imperative to achieve quality artwork.  Most people don't know where to begin, but EVERYONE CAN CREATE MEANINGFUL ART.