GARY HEISE 83 PT

Gary Heise Watercolors

Based in West Milford, NJ

How does your current creative practice tie into your time spent at RISD?

As a graduate of RISD’s Painting Department, I bring my skills and experience as a 21st Century painter to my approach as a landscape watercolorist.

Tell us about some of your main sources of inspiration.

My main theme in painting has been my personal experience of the American landscape. My main inspiration of subject matter is the area where live – the highlands of Northern New Jersey, a semi-rural watershed of hills and streams along the western edge of the Hudson River Valley. I feel an affinity with the 19th century painters that drew inspiration from the same landscape, including Jasper Cropsey and George Inness. My inspiration also comes from traditional Chinese landscape painting, from the monumental ink paintings of the Northern Song Dynasty (10th-12th centuries) to the works of Zhang Daqian and Huang Binhong of the 20th century.

What are some of the most important practices for your creative process?

For over twenty years I’ve been working on merging my love of Chinese ink and brush painting with my focus as a contemporary American landscape watercolorist. I feel that every year my work has matured creatively in this pursuit. It is especially rewarding to see my work appreciated and cherished by friends and collectors.

Is there a work/body of work that you are particularly excited about sharing with us at RISD Craft this year?

Frankly, I’m always most excited about my most recent work. An artist’s life is a life of journey and discovery. As of this writing, I have recently completed a set of the Four Seasons. Each painting measure 27 x 18 inches and incorporates an imagined arial view of the landscape in each of the seasons.

How have you dealt with the challenge of maintaining a creative practice that feeds your soul but also helps pay the bills?

I am lucky to work in an environment that is very supportive of me and my work. I work with considerate, creative friends at the Westwood Gallery in Westwood, NJ, where I’m able to use my skills as a creative designer. Finding the time and energy for my own painting has always been a challenge, but now that my children are grown, my wife and I have more time for our own personal pursuits, such as painting, music and hiking.

To see more of Gary’s work, visit www.ggarrettgallery.com