On the Cover

On the Cover: February 2018

By Staff

“Eternal Companion” by Lucia Heffernan.

Anthropomorphism, a common theme in Lucia Heffernan’s work where she combines Trompe l’Oeil techniques and uses animals as characters, tells a pretty convincing story. “Nature, human and animals are the most fascinating things our planet has to offer,” says Heffernan. “I believe by painting animals doing human things, it brings awareness to them and gives them a voice and personality.

“My inspiration comes from the things I encounter in our daily lives—nature, humor, comics, social media, illustrations, movies. YouTube videos and the countless quirky and charming moments that unfold if we take the time to notice them. By imagining what animals might do if put in human situations, I stage tableaus that shine a spotlight on both their innocence and their raw instinct,” she continues. “This collision between animal and human sensibilities creates a whimsical, theatrical and often humorous world that viewers can relate to on a visceral or emotional level.”

A graphic designer by trade and an oil painter by design, Heffernan is continually experimenting with different styles of contemporary realism that balance her artistic sensibility, technique and unique sense of humor.

Heffernan is represented by the 15th Street Gallery in Salt Lake City, and also by Mountain Trails Galleries (Park City and Jackson Hole, Wyoming). You can also see her work at the Art and Soup celebration in March at the Salt Palace.

www.LuciaHeffernan.com

This article was originally published on February 1, 2018.