Artist puts on many hats
Dana Bowen
Northern News Services
Monday, March 21, 2016
THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
Since her childhood of making baskets out of a dough-like substance with her mother, Heidi Selzler has been pursuing the arts in its many forms.
Fort Smith resident Heidi Selzler is a multi-media artist who works in several crafts, including painting, sculptures, basketry and photography. - Isaac Hillman photo
Heidi Selzler used her photography skills to capture an image of the tiki totem poles she created last year, which she made out of recycled laundry and milk jugs. - Heidi Selzler photo |
Living in Fort Smith, the artist works in a variety of mediums, ranging from graphic design and painting to sculpture and music.
"I like to try anything I can get hands on," she said.
Selzler's interest in the arts first formed as a child, doing crafts with her mother, aunt and cousins.
She recalls spending a summer with her aunt as a young teen in the craft room with her cousins, where she drew and created whatever projects she could.
"I guess family got me into it," she said. "I always just wanted to do it for fun and for me, first."
As she grew older, her creativity became a larger part of who she is from sketching and painting to graphic design.
Selzler grew up in both Cambridge Bay and Yellowknife, before studying digital production at the Vancouver Island University and graduating in 2007.
She then moved to Fort Smith where she eventually gained a position in town with Western Willow Ventures Inc., where she utilizes the skills she learned in university.
There, she focuses on design along with photography, videography and editing, adding that the latter has lately brought her particular joy.
"I love video editing," she said. "It's so neat to get a video from someone else and to have someone else's perspective, but I put it together and it's really rewarding."
Among the types of media she delves into, Selzler said she finds inspiration in the landscape she lives in.
"I've definitely done lots of Northern lights in my painting and definitely nature," she explained.
"Lots of my photography is of Northern nature and animals, so definitely most of my stuff has a Northern twist."
However no matter what Selzler is working on, the artist said she finds ways to express herself in everything she does.
"I integrate art into every aspect I can in my life wherever I can," she said.
"My intention is to express myself, whether it's cooking, my gardening or putting food on the plate. I express myself everywhere, wherever I can."
