Meet Heather Eck | Synesthesia Artistic

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Eck and we’ve shared our conversation below.

I didn’t set out to start my own business; it just happened. I worked full-time as an HR manager and a coach for a videogame company. I’ve heard many people say this recently – that they feel like there’s something more for them and that they are unsatisfied with where they are in their lives even though they have an excellent job relationship or family. I felt that, too. I had a great job, a great family, etc., but each morning, while driving to work, I couldn’t help but feel like there was more I could do for my life and spirit. I was knee-deep in self-improvement and spiritual books, podcasts, and more, but I couldn’t grasp what was missing. After a conversation with my spiritual teacher, we uncovered that as a kid, I was very creative and always sketching and drawing. She told me that our gifts show up when we’re small; mine was art and creative expression.

I immediately felt inspired and renewed when she mentioned that – it was like a lightbulb went off. Throughout the years, I had always had little creative outlets like crafting and painting wine glasses, etc., but I hadn’t connected the dots. Work was my life, and I had no creative outlet then. I picked up some art supplies and instantly started painting in my garage. I uncovered that I had a form of synesthesia that enabled me to experience the world through color, and it was as though I had been wearing blackout glasses for years but could suddenly see. Once I acknowledged that experience of synesthesia, combined with art, it was a bit like hearing the song, “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone…” That’s totally cheesy, but it was like the lights turned on, and I was permitting myself to explore this aspect of myself that had been lost for many years.

After that, I started ‘reading’ people and their colors. I’d create paintings for them based on what I saw around them and within them. My work was being collected, and suddenly, I found myself with a business. I continued to work full-time until 2019, when I decided that I felt more fulfilled using my gifts and making art than I did as an HR manager. I felt incredibly stressed about leaving but also apprehensive about staying. One of my favorite passages from A Course In Miracles is, “What seems to be the cost you are so unwilling to pay [for peace].” I knew the price I’d pay for peace was very high; it would cost me a lucrative job and some relationships. It would cost having to answer why I’d do such a crazy thing. It was a leap of faith that I’m still sometimes shocked that I would even dare to take, but it was the one that I believe saved my life.

I suddenly became a business owner: CEO, IT, HR, Marketing, Producer. And I’ve been doing this now for four years.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Each day is new. While I try to maintain some semblance of routine, for the most part, I surrender control over that because I can’t reasonably predict what my days will look like. They combine painting, marketing, writing, shipping, teaching, recording, and exploring.

My art is a vibrant tapestry of colors, and my connection to the chakra system, spirituality, and the mysterious Universe profoundly influences it. My synesthetic ability sets me and my work apart, allowing me to perceive and express colors through the senses beyond sight. This extraordinary gift has given birth to what I call ‘Spirit Portraits’ and paintings that offer healing and insight.

I’d say that they are what keeps me most busy. “Spirit Portraits,” which are my color readings and paintings. An intuitive artist and painter, I interpret people, places, and experiences through color, a condition known as synesthesia. Like an enormous box of crayons, my gift operates by categorizing through intricate but specific shades of color. While this condition enables me to experience color, I respond to these encounters with people, things, emotions, and spaces by understanding the particular shade of experience that a person dwells in. I then use my gift to detect the most healing color for them to remedy their wounds. Guided by the chakra system and inspired by spirituality and the mysteries of the universe, I transform these vibrant energies into captivating paintings that uplift, inspire, and, ultimately, heal by using my gifts of clairsentience and claircognizance to receive messages about the person, the colors, and what the portrait tries to communicate to them.

Each canvas becomes a symphony of color and emotion, a visual representation of the unseen connections that weave through our lives. In that way, my artwork is more than art; it’s a medium of healing, a testament to the profound influence of color on our well-being.

After the painting is complete, we hop on a Zoom call where I deliver the messages, share the painting, and answer questions. With my background in coaching, this is one of my favorite experiences ever. Meeting with people and talking to them about color, their messages, and what I see is humbling and an honor. It’s a powerful time to hold space and share in an extraordinary moment. These conversations uncover so much for the client and me. We laugh and sometimes cry and connect at a beautiful spiritual level. I love it.

I’m most proud of my commitment to using art as a medium for self-improvement and spiritual growth. My work isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about tapping into the hidden energies of the soul and the universe, transcending the ordinary to reach extraordinary places we might not have remembered.

My professional journey to where I am today hasn’t been without its challenges. When I left my full-time job as an HR manager, I was terrified, and some days, I still can’t believe that I took that massive leap of faith. It has been far from easy, but these challenges fuel my determination. At one point, I had five side jobs to make ends meet. Each day, I do what I can to provide for my family while at the same time nurturing my spirit. I overcome obstacles by staying true to my vision and my spirituality. I am constantly learning, evolving, and finding inspiration in the stories of those who connect with my art. That keeps me going.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way is that art has the power to heal and inspire. It can serve as a bridge between the tangible and the spiritual, connecting people profoundly. I’ve also learned the importance of perseverance and believing in the unique value I bring to the world. That’s one of the biggest things, actually: believing in ourselves. One of my favorite shows is Ted Lasso. It’s so heartwarming and inspiring. One of Ted’s well-known quotes is, “I believe in believe.” There have been so many times when I’ve doubted myself or my abilities. Every day, I have to wake up and trust that God has a plan and to believe, have faith, and have courage. To believe in, believe.

What I want the world to know about me is that we are not just artists; we are conduits of healing energy, using color as a universal language to elevate consciousness, promote self-improvement, and inspire spiritual growth. We can harness a great power within us when we pay attention to that. My story is a testament to art’s boundless possibilities in our journey toward a more harmonious and enlightened existence. My mission is to help heal the world, one color at a time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is so fun! We love hosting friends and family. We’d grab a delicious breakfast from NY Bagel in Cary (my favorite is the salmon and cream cheese, but you can’t beat bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel). We’d go to the North Carolina Museum of Art to walk around their outdoor exhibition and take in some fresh air and art exhibits. This museum has the best rotating exhibitions, and when I need some inspiration, I pop in to spend some time with my favorite piece by Robert Motherwell. After some art, we’d hop over to one of the many breweries in the area; one of my favorites is Bombshell Brewery, a women-owned brewery in Holly Springs. After that, we’d probably shop in downtown Apex, which has great boutiques, restaurants, and shops. We’d grab a yummy Italian dinner from Cristos Bistro in Holly Springs and share a little tiramisu. We love downtown Raleigh and other fun spots around town, but Holly Springs boasts so much to entertain friends!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family and everyone in the Emerge Group! My husband and my son are my biggest supporters and fans. They always cheer me on and encourage me to keep going even when sometimes it feels like every answer is ‘no.’ They may not always understand me, but they always accept it.

The Emerge Group is one of the most supportive and loving communities I’ve ever participated in. They have each been genuinely supportive of my complete pivot in life. They offer me shoulders to lean on, support, and encouragement when I need it, and they drop truth bombs on me when I need them, too. They challenge my faith and spirituality by pushing me deeper into the actual work, and they show up for one another in ways I didn’t know were possible. It’s a true community of grace, love, acceptance, and encouragement, and I am genuinely grateful for every single person.

Website: www.heathereckstudios.com

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Image Credits
Emily Winters