Rising Stars: Meet Heathyr Calderon of Aurora Colorado

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heathyr Calderon.

Hi Heathyr, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have a long and complicated story like anyone else. I was born and raised here in Colorado. I have been creating for over 30 years now. When I was five I won an art contest and had my drawing put into a time capsule at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. It was a cat I think, which still makes me laugh. But that set me on a path for a long life filled with art. I spent my childhood listening to the stories my parents and their friends created while playing dungeons & dragons. So much of my childhood was based on fantasy, mythology, and sci-fi. I went to starcons as a kid and the Renaissance festival every year. These things would ultimately heavily influence how I would create in the future.
I did struggle in middle and highschool due to being undiagnosed ADHD. I had burned out academically, but art was always something I was good at and always something I could do whether it was good or bad. I did start seeking outside stimulation by high school and got myself into quite a bit of trouble. Needless to say, it was not conducive to continue on that path in my life. I ended up at a “troubled teen program” in rural Montana. And it was a very hard period of my life. I was not allowed to create or make art during this time and when I was allowed to it was heavily monitored to ensure that it was appropriate. So there was no way for me to take my normal outlet to express how I was feeling through art. I was there until I was 18 and when I left I did spend a brief period of time homeless. During that time I traveled and stayed as safe as I possibly could. My journey would lead me to Northern California and then further into Oregon. Where I began to study mycology. I found myself fascinated with the nature of mushrooms in general, so much so that they became an integral part of my artwork.
Many years later with the support of my amazing husband Sergio and the unending and unequivocal support of my three smart, nerdy, & beautiful children, I was able to begin creating again. My children inspired me to find myself again through my art.
It was not always easy. But I am very lucky to have had the support that I didn’t have at other times of my life.
I struggled heavily with postpartum depression. It truly wrecked me. It took its toll on my mind, body, and ability to create. It almost felt like I had lost everything in me that I had fought so hard to gain again. It took many years to pull myself out of that but every day I would sit down and doodle with my kids. We would just draw little things. We would draw dancing tacos and marshmallows on fire running around and silly cartoons that made them laugh, and sometimes those giggles healed everything. As I taught my children the things that I knew, I started to see how they saw me. And I desperately wanted to be that person. So I sought help. And things took time but they changed.
I set up a small art studio in my home and I began creating paintings. Small at first and simply other space scenes that rapidly developed. My paintings grew larger and so did the stories and feelings that went behind them. They were heavily influenced by mythology, outer space, and the drive to repair the injustice that women have felt throughout human history. My kids taught me how to channel the childhood version of myself that loved to create again.
I’ve learned how to take a whole memory or a simple feeling and leave it on a canvas so my soul no longer carries it.
I could not afford college, so when I would take my kids to the library, I would get books about art reference, painting composition, classical art teachings etc. I studied Bernini statues to understand shadows and lighting. I studied layering, techniques, oil and acrylic. All of these elements I was able to hone and tune to my specialty. And without all of these little moments and long years spent gathering and gaining this knowledge,I would not be able to create like I do today.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been the smoothest of roads, but I am aware of how lucky I got.
I have faced obstacles like any other person. My biggest obstacle was getting out of my own way after trauma took my voice for a long time. After spending far too much time at a “troubled teen program” in Montana I signed to speak to others, and shortly after became homeless. I had spent so much time being brainwashed and manipulated that I couldn’t create anymore. It took years for me to paint again. A few amazing people are the only reason my life didn’t stay that rough. I was able to come home to Colorado and try to restart.
Years later I met my husband, had my children, got married and settled down. I had started to heal and create again but began struggling deeply with postpartum depression. So much so that I felt the spark that had taken so long trying to return, simply burn out. It wrecked me. It took quite a few years of desperately trying to get better to get back to myself for their sake. But art itself is what bright me back to them. I began doodling with them. Teaching them what I knew and it slowly drove me to be better. The way they looked at me and up to me, changed everything. I began using my postpartum depression in the only effective way I could. On days that I felt good I would draw with my children I would paint create, we would laugh, and have joyous times. On days that I felt bad, were days that I encouraged my children to create something on their own with only the beautiful parts of their own mind. Watching them do this brakes so much if me. What really helped pull me out of that time, was seeing the amount of happiness if my children’s artwork. They drew pictures of all of us together and drew pictures of how wonderful their life was. It genuinely changed how I viewed myself in the world around me. Since then, I have used the dark parts of that depression and the things I learned from it to create paintings even now all these years later because it was such a trying time for me. My three children are My biggest reasons to never stop creating or learning.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in nature-based mental health artwork. My work is heavily influenced by mythology, story telling, and my undying love of mycology. I always try to have an underlying theme in my artwork that is mental health based. Whether the art is to help someone heal from depression or is there to help a person learn to be angry in a healthy way, it is my main focus that my art can help you feel something. Anything. A lot of my subject material is pulled from things that women deal with everyday. I wanted to empower women who saw my work. To show the beauty and the rage.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Be kind. That’s my advice. If you want mentorship, take it seriously and remember the person teaching you is basing it on their own lived experiences. Listen and take what you can into your life. Discard what doesn’t apply so you don’t get stuck on what didn’t fit.
As far as networking, keep in touch. Be the one that reaches out and show that you are interested in working with that person but and I’m stress this, walk away from those who do not help. Networking is tricky and takes time. Walk away from what doesn’t fit for you without remorse.

Pricing:

• $20 a print of my hand drawn art
• $50 small paintings
• $200-$1000 for custom paintings(based on size&design)
• Mural pricing- based on size and design

Contact Info:

• Instagram: HeathyrCalderonArtistry

Image Credits
-Heathyr Calderon Artistry –