Heidi Fairall (HF): So, I have a very broad definition of art. Pretty much anything that somebody creates and that makes me think or feel. I even think tagging on the side of buildings if it’s done well, that’s art. People throw stuff at the wall and take a picture, that’s art. As long as it’s kind of interesting and makes me think what were they doing here? or that’s beautiful or that’s scary.
There was that one picture I had done on my Instagram of the death in the mall. So, I found this picture where somebody goes into broken down buildings and takes pictures and they took a picture of this run-down mall where the ceiling caved in and there was snow on the side, and it was the most beautiful picture I had ever seen. I don’t know what it was about it. To me, that’s art. I was trying to figure out what I was so fascinated by this one picture to the point where I made it my own. I incorporated it into my own art.
Anything can be art. Anything can be a tool. Colored pencils. Crayons. I am just generous with my art.
MM: How long have you been creating for and how have you seen your art evolve?
HF: So many years ago, I told myself, I’m going to teach myself how to draw, because my dad taught himself how to draw and my grandfather taught himself how to draw. So, I got these books on how to teach yourself to draw. I realized I am not a type A personality. I am more of a type Y or Z personality, so I put them on the bookshelf. Finally, I realized if I am ever going to learn to draw more than just stick figures, I need to take a class. I need that structure.
So, I went to Seattle Central Community College, October through December of 2022 and I took a class there. I thought I was going to be hopeless…I felt like art was too intimidating. The teacher helped me realize I was looking at the whole picture and helped me break things down into smaller chunks and look at what shapes are making up what I am looking at. She was able to put it in such a way where something clicked in my brain to where I was able to start producing stuff that looked like people and animals.
It may not be realistic by any stretch of the imagination, and it may be simplistic and cartoony, but when I show someone a picture of a bird, they know they are looking at a bird. Before, it would be what is this blob you drew for me? I feel like because I had a good art teacher who was able to put art into words that my brain can comprehend, I was able to grow.
MM: Where do you get your inspiration from?
HF: I do my best drawing when I am drawing for someone that I like. I’ll pay attention to what my friends or loved ones are saying. Someone might say I like bluebirds or I like sloths and I will file that away until I start looking up pictures on the internet and see one that blows my mind to where I am going to attempt it but I am going to make it my own. My inspiration is my friends and the things they like.
MM: How do you decide what you are going to create?
HF: One factor in the decision is what I am capable of. If something is super, super complicated, I’ll look at it and try and break it down. Sometimes, I’ll realize it is a bit much. I’ll back off a bit and try and simplify it so that it is something I can take on in the future.
I could do a complicated beach scene just to do it, but I really do a better job when I’ve got the energy of wanting to give something to this person and see the joy on their face, so they know I was thinking of them.
