Heather Van Raden

I don’t have a ‘mind’s eye’ in the traditional sense due to aphantasia, which is an inability to voluntarily create imagery in my mind. When envisioning an apple, I see the color, feel the texture, and remember the taste rather than seeing an apple in my mind. My art reflects this in how the light falls, how the colors change, and how the pavement meets the plants.

I work with acrylic, gouache, and watercolor paint to make my art. I love the various textures these paints offer and each one allows me to express light, weight, and depth differently. I enjoy using these textures to depict moments where the natural world comes into contact or conflict with the manmade world.