Painted from life,
built on classical method.
Heather Collins is a representational oil painter working between the studio and the open air — portraits, figurative work, and coastal plein air studies grounded in traditional technique.
Plein Air & Coastal Studies
Small studies painted on location along the Indian River Lagoon and the Space Coast — worked quickly, direct from observation.
A studio built on observation.
Heather Collins trained in the classical atelier tradition — building each painting from careful drawing and a full tonal foundation before color is introduced. Her work spans intimate portrait commissions, figurative studies, and plein air paintings made on Florida's Space Coast.
“A painting earns its light. Nothing goes in until the drawing and the values can carry it.”
From Drawing to Final Glaze
Careful measured drawing establishes proportion and structure before any paint is mixed.
A full tonal grisaille or imprimatura sets the value structure of the piece.
Color is built in transparent layers, working from dark to light, cool to warm.
Final glazes and accents are added once the painting is fully dry to the touch.
Browse by Gallery
New work, first look.
New paintings are posted to the store before they're announced anywhere else. No spam, just the occasional new piece.