Heather N. Schaaf

Based in Calgary, I obtained my Bachelors with distinction at Alberta College of Art + Design (now AUarts) in 2014. My paintings focus on the concept of 'playfulness, vagueness and whimsy'. Together these themes create a feeling of childishness as I explore the idea of landscapes in the context of mapping out ideas or thoughts as bodies of land. These thoughts; much like in our day-to-day, interrupt, conflict, collide, merge, mix, harmonize, overlap and settle into what I like to call "dreamscapes". Using the technique of poured paint to showcase the interactions of the inks and paint as they mix and merge becoming bodies of land, mapping out the processes of layered paint. Much like the process of thinking where ideas become a landscape of thought, layered and mixed becoming it's own landmass. I would describe my paintings as abstract “dreamscapes”, as the final piece focuses on process of mapping and layering. The final pieces become places that form feelings of ‘can live in’ or ‘can’t be live in’. Like the mess of ideas that often run through our heads. As I continued my art practice I noticed that I wanted to further my understanding of 'art and play' so I turned to 2D animation. Animated film and TV shows often target younger audiences, and the concepts of 'play, imagination and creation," are present and taken advantage of because of the targeted audience. In 2021 a diploma for 2D Computer Animation and 2022 a diploma for Concept Art from VANAS (Vancouver Animation School).