"The reason to paint any picture is to share my feelings about life itself. When I paint I tell the viewer what I like, what I believe, and what I'm concerned about."
Heather Kertzer paints the rocks, water, pines and wildlife of Georgian Bay and Northern Ontario, often outdoors, right where the scene is. From her studio in Tiny Township, Ontario she works mainly in acrylics and watercolours, with some pastels and mixed media.
With degrees in fine arts, geography, and cartography from the University of Waterloo and Seneca College, Heather worked for many years as a professional cartographer and turned to painting full-time following a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 1992. Her love of maps still shapes her work. Her "Mapscapes" combine painting with nautical charts and maps of the different regions of Canada, most focusing on the Georgian Bay area where she lives.
Born and raised in Toronto, Heather has lived and worked across Canada, from the Rockies to northern Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. She has studied with artists including Sergey Malina, Terry Andrews and Martin Price.
Selected exhibitions and collections
Toronto Outdoor Exhibition · Stephen Leacock Gallery · The Link Art Gallery · Art Aurora · The Manse Gallery, Muskoka · Markham Art Show · Society of York Region Artists · solo exhibitions at the Markham Theatre. Her award-winning work is held in private and corporate collections across Canada, the US and Europe, the Bowman Collection at the Newmarket Public Library, etc.
Commissions
Heather accepts commissions, including paintings of your own lake, cottage or favourite place. Contact Heather to talk about an idea.
Art classes
Heather currently offers private and semi-private adult classes in her home studio near Penetanguishene and Midland. She believes art should be fun: a relaxing, meditative way to explore and express yourself. Contact Heather about availability.
Also by Heather: The Tale of Keiko the Rescue Pup, an illustrated children's early reader.