Heather Perkins: An Artist and Ethically Sourced Gemstone Provider

Heather is an artist, metalsmith, lapidary artist, rockhound, and educator whose creative practice is deeply rooted in her lifelong connection to the landscapes of the American West.

Drawing and painting from the age of two, she grew up in mountain communities throughout the West, following her father's Forest Service career, and later returned to Southern Nevada, where her family has roots going back five generations. Her relationship with nature is therefore not simply an artistic interest, it is part of the landscape that shaped how she learned to see the world.

Heather's work begins with curiosity about materials and the natural processes that created them. She mines and collects stones, cuts and polishes her own gemstones, and incorporates them into one-of-a-kind jewelry and sculptural pieces. She also works extensively with reclaimed and repurposed materials, finding value and beauty in objects and materials that might otherwise be overlooked or discarded.

Her process is intentionally hands-on and comprehensive. Rather than beginning with a finished product in mind, she enjoys discovering what a material has to offer and allowing its natural characteristics to influence the finished work.

Before focusing primarily on her own studio practice, Heather worked as a professional art educator. Teaching continues to be an important part of her work, and she particularly enjoys introducing people to creative processes that may initially seem inaccessible or intimidating.

For Heather, making is ultimately a form of paying attention.