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FEATURED
ARTIST - CHLOE HEDDEN
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Anything
is beautiful when seen with loving eyes. Robert Henri said, "Paint
the spirit of the bird rather than its feathers." I always
paint from my heart in the hope that I can find the still
point in every moment where the essence exists forever.
To paint this moment and yet make it immortal is to acknowledge
the ancient wisdom in all things.
I make
use of archetypes from the cultural and mystical history
that connects all humans and all life forms. Joseph Campbell
said that artists are the shamans of our time. I believe
that we have the ability as well as the obligation to find
and share truth and offer direction to the greater community.
It is with this inspiration that I delve into the riches
of the collective unconscious and the imagery and symbolism
of my dreams to draw out something bigger and more magical
than myself to share with the world. |
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For
me, illustration is a process of fellowship in which the client and artist are
fully engaged in creating something greater than the sum of the words and images.
Each project requires a fresh approach, new inspiration and excitement.
As an art student
in Rome, I often spent days below ground in ancient Mithraic
temples hidden by the modern city above. Sketching the mysterious
drawings, sculptures and paintings, I felt I was rediscovering
a forgotten world and uncovering tremendous truths that had
been lost. Library research suggested some meanings for the
ancient art, but I always preferred my own versions of the
stories. It was a natural step for me, then, to want to reimagine
the great works of Leonard da Vinci, adding my own personal
thoughts and twists.
Mona Lisa's smile is mysterious because she seems
to know something we do not. I was reminded of this when
I met Julia Butterfly Hill, who has had an experience most
of us cannot easily grasp. She lived in the canopy of an
ancient redwood tree, named Luna, for 738 days without
coming down to the ground even once to help make the world
aware of the plight of ancient forests. Her life was threatened
numerous times and, though she is a powerful activist,
in person she radiates an immense stillness and wisdom.
Something in her demeanor reminded me of da Vinci's famous
lady and I decided to combine the two portraits.
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Da Vinci's remarkable drawings of horses
spurred me to explore these mythically symbolic beasts. "The
Cosmic Horse" combines my take on the master's drawings with
Pegasus and the Horse Head Nebula found in the constellation
Orion."
"Chloe --
You truly are one of the most extraordinary human beings
I have ever had the privilege of knowing. This process,
this collaboration has been such a joy working with you.
Honestly. You are amazing in your strength, your vision,
your determination, and your capacity to listen and grow
and transform all of us in the process through your love
and leadership."
Terry Tempest Williams (Author of the Illuminated Desert,
a children's book that I illustrated)
"Chloe Hedden's
personal warmth, integrity, and ethereal charm is clearly
evident in her artistic work. She is that rare balance of
focused business women and creative spirit we all hope to
work with."
Cindy Hardgrave, Executive Director, Canyonlands
Natural History Association |
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I have always loved Leonardo's drawing
of the "Antique
Warrior." John Lennon was a warrior in his own non-violent
way and combining the two made the "Peaceful Warrior."
"Working
with Chloe designing and developing my logo, business cards
and website has been tremendously satisfying. She had been
both a leader and a collaborator, an initiator and a great
listener. She has always responded to requests or questions
promptly and thoroughly. Chloe has a great eye and accomplishes
a great amount in the time she puts in. I have worked with
many designers in different capacities in the past and Chloe
rises to the top of the A list. I am grateful to be working
with her."
Kate Luna (Jewelry designer, business
owner)
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Melina as the
Virgin of Guadalupe is
the portrait of a ten-year-old girl commissioned by her
mother in hopes of keeping her little girl sweet and innocent
forever. She posed for me with her mother's bathrobe draped
over her head. Melina is a firecracker and everyone who
knows her laughs at the irony of the painting.
"Were
it not for Chloe's intuitive and literal artistic sense,
Sassybax would not only lack identity that every company
needs in this era of branding, it would not have the
visual appeal her artwork provides for my product. Working
with her from the inception of my company was a pleasure,
as she was flexible, patient and understanding of my
needs as an entrepreneur and a woman just starting out
in business. I wouldn't recommend Chloe to my competitors!
However, I have recommended her to friends and acquaintances
for the exceptional addition I know she would make to
their businesses."
Amanda Kennedy, president of Sassybax
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Sam
and the Mermaid was part of a series that I did for the Humanity
Foundation's Folklore Initiative. Mermaid folktales are present in
almost all cultures. For such a common archetype, they are still
a complete mystery to us. In painting this story of a sailor on the
Great Lakes who is kidnapped by a mermaid, I really wanted to explore
the watery world from her perspective.
“Chloe's
work exposes hidden beauty, wonder, stuff we have stopped hoping
for...brings it to the surface, to the canvas...with such a gentle
touch that the locus of that beauty seems shared equally between
the subject, the viewer, and the artist. When I spend time with her
paintings I can't help but want to believe, to have faith. Her work
somehow embodies wishes for the past and hope for the future, bringing
a moment of beauty to now, to here.”
Eric Muehlmatt
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The
Vitruvian Woman is
the logo for H.E.R. (Hormone Education and Research Inc.) I took
liberties with Leonardo's Vitruvian Man and developed a symbol of
balance and feminine strength for an organization founded to achieve
those same qualities for all women.
"Chloe
is an amazing artist to work with. She seemingly effortlessly combines
her immense talent with an excellent ability to attune herself to her
client's needs. I feel incredibly lucky to be working with Chloe on
my ongoing project, to which she brings all her inspirational, artistic
and practical abilities. She's made the impossible seem possible."
Kimber Simpkins (Yoga Teacher and Co-Owner of
Namaste (a Nepalese Restaurant in Berkeley, CA) |
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