Today we’d like to introduce you to Heaven Durbala.
Hi Heaven, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was younger, I was made fun of a lot, and anything creative was my outlet to channel all those emotions. My hometown was like Footloose. 3 bars, 3 churches, and nothing to do. Having an imagination was my only option. Years later, I moved to St. Louis and realized there were so many weird creative people just like me. Everyone was so open with their talents, and the city truly inspired me. From people singing under stairwells to people dancing in the Delmar loop, I was taking it all in, and they all inspired me to be myself and do what I love. Networking with all these amazing people and word of mouth is how I got to where I am today.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I was never good at painting and hated it in school because it was difficult to control the paint. I told myself I would never do it again and stick to pencil drawings. One day, I watched Bob Ross; he made it look so easy! The more I watched him, the made I wanted to try again. Happy accidents! Learning light and shadow was a struggle, especially with portraits, but I’m learning and always growing. It was a lot of trial and error.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an artist, and I specialize in portraiture and bright colors. I am proud that my kids love art just as much as I do. It is something that I can pass on to them, and I hope it brings them joy through tough times. I wasn’t always able to communicate what I felt when I was younger, and art gave me that voice to say what I felt. What sets me apart from others is that I don’t have just one specific painting style. I never know how a painting will turn out or what style it will be, and I’m always trying to find new ways to incorporate different materials like glass, fabric, and Swarovski crystals. I let whatever music is playing at the time take me in the direction I need to go.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk-taking is necessary when you are following your dreams. It’s scary to put yourself out there. It’s the only way to evolve in your craft, though. The risk I took was leaving that small town and moving to the city. I had only learned what I was doing or wanted to do once I was around other creatives who pushed me to keep doing what I loved and was passionate about. I would never have met and have been able to work with all of the amazing photographers, videographers, music artists, dancers, and makeup/ hair artists that I know. They have played a part in certain art pieces I have created over the years.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artbyheavenlee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbyheavenlee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artbyheavenlee/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxSCS6df6yeyWDEiVSl5-EQ
