A Little About Celeste J. Heery, The Abstract Painter

I have always hesitated to paint because I felt that I was never good enough at it.

For a long time, I appreciated the art of the masters and felt that if I couldn’t paint like
they did, why should I bother? Not surprisingly, my favorite artists are abstract
expressionists like Kandinsky, Gorky, and de Kooning. I think part of the reason I have
been drawn to these artists is because on some level, I feel that these works are so
subjective and abstract that I could paint something equally aesthetic.

Finally, after some spontaneous experimentation, I developed my own style. I used
wax and acrylics and just focused on having fun and using colors that reflected my
mood. For once, I actually liked what I had created and focused on what I felt was
“right” about it instead of what was “wrong.” Once I had let go of my preconceived
notions about what a finished artistic product should look like, I was free to finally
create something special and intimate to me.

I moved to Asheville in July 2007 and I love it here.

I have works in private collections throughout Virginia and North Carolina. My work
has been featured at Silent Poetry in Burnsville, NC, The Appalachian Artisan Society
Gallery in Old Fort, NC, Mountain Java in Candler and Asheville, NC, Adorn Salon &
Boutique in Asheville, NC, The Garage in Asheville, NC, Green Hands Healing Center,
Asheville, NC, Razcal’s Restaurant in Asheville, and Neo Burrito on Patton Avenue in
Asheville, NC.

I have been featured as Global Art Collectors Artist of the Week as well as nominated
for Facebook’s World Art Critics Artist of the Month.

You can read an article about my work in the August 2008 issue of Out in Asheville.