Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Reynolds.
Hi Heather, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always enjoyed sketching on whatever was around me. I was the kid in high school with their jeans completely covered in drawings, the edges of notebooks, etc. But I never thought it would lead anywhere.
I picked up a pencil again after many years as a way to keep my hands busy and found some henna designs online while looking for doodling inspiration. I started diving into research and was fascinated by the art form. I jokingly told my husband that it would be a way to get to work under a palm tree one day.
That Christmas, he bought me a henna kit and told me to get practicing. Luckily, my husband had done the research, and that first kit started me on the path of learning to make my own natural henna paste. I taught myself based on the small book that came with the kit and the information I could find online for the first few years. Making my own paste allows me to ensure the quality and know exactly what is in the product I’m putting on someone’s skin.
Once I found a community of henna artists and attended my first conference in 2019, my designs evolved into what I create today with the help of so many other artists willing to share their knowledge.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say a smooth road. Henna has its challenges. I did, and still do, vend at a lot of outdoor events throughout the summer, and the weather can be the biggest challenge. Temperature and humidity play a part in both attendance at these events and how the paste reacts. I learned a lot of lessons through the years on how to make my paste less affected by the weather, but there was a lot of experimentation involved in that.
Through the years, my business has grown from just providing henna at events to being hired to attend a variety of events, from ladies’ nights, birthday parties, and end-of-school-year celebrations to Diwali parties, Bat Mitzvahs, and various retreats.
I enjoy the private appointments and events because I have had the chance to sit with some amazing women through the years and listen to their stories. That moment of connection during henna is special and very personal, whether I get extended time through private appointments or the few minutes we share in my chair at an event. I hope each person leaves feeling that they had a moment that was just for them.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My henna style incorporates a lot of florals, swirls, and vines. I would be considered to have a non-traditional style of henna, as I incorporate design elements from a variety of sources rather than following one particular style.
Through the process of learning to create balance in my henna designs, I began creating mandalas, which grew into its own business. I’m now taking that skill set and trying to work it back into my henna practice as a full-circle moment. It’s an ongoing process, as one form of art informs the other, and I love that process.
I think what sets my work apart is that I’m not trying to keep the different forms of my art seperate. I’m constantly learning from one and bringing that knowledge into the other, and I’m proud of how that has allowed both my henna and mandala work to continue evolving.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t believe it’s luck. I believe it’s timing and understanding how to take advantage of that timing, whether it’s pushing me to grow and expand or telling me to pull back and learn more before stepping forward.
I have a quote on one of the doors in my office: “The work that goes into every wish that came true is seldom appreciated.” I am always learning and trying to incorporate what I learn into any piece I am working on. When there is no growth, the “luck” runs out, so I keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://PhoenixInspirationsHenna.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/phoenixinspirationshenna/
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/PhoenixInspirationsHenna
- Other: https://ArtistHeather.com
