ABOUT THE ARTIST


Heather Van Dyke is a mixed-media acrylic artist whose work is deeply rooted in nature, memory, and lived experience. Born and raised in the Adirondacks of New York State, her early life was shaped by time spent outdoors—climbing trees, exploring forests, and forming an enduring bond with the natural world. That connection continues to inform her artistic voice, serving as both inspiration and language.

Heather’s creative path began in high school, where the art classroom became a place of freedom and discovery. Largely self-taught, she explored a wide range of mediums, including drawing, painting, jewelry-making, pottery, and photography. This early openness to experimentation laid the foundation for a lifelong, intuitive approach to art-making.

Her professional life included work as a newspaper photographer, and portrait photographer, followed by a 35-year career in women’s and men’s health care at Planned Parenthood alongside community service as a Life Skills Youth Advisor supporting teens through Harrisena Community Church.She later served as a Mental Health Care Manager. These roles reflect a deep commitment to empathy, listening, and human connection—values that are inseparable from her creative practice.

Close-up of a woman with blonde, wavy hair and glasses, wearing a green sweater, looking at the camera.

Nature, particularly trees, plays a central role in Heather’s work. She views them as living sculptures whose reaching forms echo the human body. Bare trees, stripped of leaves, symbolize vulnerability and emotional exposure, mirroring experiences of joy, loss, release, and resilience. Through these forms, her art becomes a bridge between the natural world and the emotional lives we all share.

Heather’s process is intuitive and exploratory. Working primarily in mixed media acrylics, she builds her pieces through layers of intense color and rich texture, allowing each work to evolve organically. Without a predetermined endpoint, her intention is always to create a deep emotional connection—art that invites not only viewing, but feeling, memory, and recognition.

Affiliated with the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council (LARAC) ,North Country Arts, Saratoga Arts and Lake George Arts Project, Heather has exhibited her work in regional galleries and supports her community through ongoing art donations to local charities. Her work stands as an invitation to slow down, connect, and see ourselves reflected within the textures of nature and lived experIence.