Henriette Heiny
German-born Henriette holds a doctorate degree in Art History and has practiced her brand of art since an early age.
During most of her adult life, Henriette worked in higher education. She received her formative years' education in the German school system. She studied Anglistics, Art History, and Archaeology at the University of Cologne, and Sports and Sports Sciences at the German Sports University in Cologne, finishing with M.A. degrees.
1974 Henriette moved to the United States.
1975 she was employed as coach and instructor at the University of Oregon.
1982 she accepted the position of Associate Director at the Oregon Bach Festival (University of Oregon).
1987 she completed her Ph.D. in Art History (1987).
1992 Henriette became Director of the International Institute for Sport and Human Performance at the University of Oregon
2006 Henriette retired.
Despite her busy schedule at the university, Henriette found time to express herself through art. She has experimented with a variety of art forms including lithography (with Ken Paul), relief and intaglio printing (with LaVerne Krause), as well as mixed media.
In the last 15 plus years, Henriette has dedicated herself to painting with acrylics, often employing unlike media. In her paintings she investigates the interplay of paint opacity and transparency, viscosity and flow to create beautiful color expressions that delight the senses.
Henriette is currently represented by the D Gallery on El Paseo in Palm Desert. She has a growing list of followers from Arizona, New Jersey, California, Oregon, and Washington.
Click on any image below to see an enlarged view.
My Art
I aim to create intriguing abstract expressions where both shapes and color are unrestrained. My paintings portray depth, contrast, and vivid color, which stimulate the imagination.
Process and Technique
Currently, I am working with acrylic paint, enhanced with a variety of pouring media, which I liberally spread on the canvas and then shape. This means, I apply the acrylics in a variety of patterns using the force of gravity to disperse paint or spread color by air swiping.
I also work with mixed media, employing newsprint, mortar and other materials to give structure and texture to my acrylic compositions.
Both processes are driven by improvisation, invention, and discovery. I am always challenged by the choices of adding or letting go; forcing a desired direction or allowing the flow of color to find its own way; and, among others, by freeing the right amount of negative spaces so that other areas in the image can speak louder. My paintings are the result of a very energy driven process, which shows in the final images.
Website: henrietteheiny.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Henriette.Heiny
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haheiny