Highland Library Arts Shows Features Works By Barbara Hevener

Monterey, Va – The new art exhibit at the Highland public library features four Highland County artists including Monterey resident, Barbara Hevener. She has had art and illustration in her life since her days in college. She attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York and then went on to study fashion illustration at Parsons School of Design in New York City. After finding out that fashion illustration was not what she wanted to do, her career took a different path.

“I went to JC Penney and worked as a layout designer for their advertising pages, and then went to a large advertising agency and became an assistant art buyer” she says.

She and her husband Jim Hevener, who met in art school, then moved to Highland county where he became a full-time artist. Barbara Hevener settled into a life of raising two kids and teaching nursery school. Her husband encouraged her to keep her hand in art.

“I started to make cut and pierced paper shades, and went into business, here in town” says Hevener. “When Jim died, and I got older, I was looking for things to do that weren’t quite as active as I had been before.”

Returning to her artwork seemed a natural thing to do. Then she joined several artists working at the Highland Center. She works primarily in watercolor, but may move into using acrylics. She’s also toying with the idea of moving from still life to more abstract patterns. Whatever she’s working on, she says she’s thankful to have the support of her fellow artists.

Barbara Hevener has 5 works in the show including some striking watercolors of flowers. This show will continue at the Highland Public Library through most of the summer.