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NATIONALLY-ACCLAIMED ARTIST FEATURED AT HVCA RECEPTION, SILENT AUCTION MARCH 4

Whether he’s using his artistry to craft jewelry, monumental sculptures, watercolors, pastels or colorful oil paintings, nationally-acclaimed artist Heiner Hertling puts everything into it and it shows.

Hertling’s work, Brush with Nature, is featured in March at Huron Valley Council for the Arts, 205 W. Livingston Road in Highland.

He’s known for making generous donations to organizations intent on preserving the environment such as Boy Scouts, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and the Grouse Society, as well as various art groups to help them to generate income and further the arts.This event is no exception: Hertling’s gallery reception and a silent auction will take place from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, March 4 at HVCA, which will offer those attending a chance to meet the artist and bid on his work.

Though drew and painted from a young age in his native Germany, Hertling chose commercial art and advertising as a means to make a living, but also continued to create personal artwork. He completed a graphics apprenticeship in Hamburg, Germany, and was off to see the world, enjoying the United States’ open spaces and glorying in its wildlife and nature, a theme that still resounds in his artwork.After a brief sojourn in New York as a commercial artist, he moved to Detroit, where the auto industry employed the best of the best illustrators and artists. He joined a studio, working for 20 years before owning his own studio along with his wife, Diane.

Hertling always had loved fine art, and, as computers replaced brushes and paint in the commercial art field, he chose to “just paint and sculpt for pleasure,” a simple transition because he’d never really stopped creating. He gathered up first places in national art competitions and that, combined with featured artist honors and seven conservation stamp wins, convinced galleries to represent him.

The founder of Michigan Plein Air Painters, he’s happiest with the accolades of other artists; he’s a member of the Society of Animal Artists and has received invitations to the Birds in Art Exhibition in Wisconsin in addition to numerous other honors.

In addition to receiving national recognition, his talent, discipline and enthusiasm for art also has made him a household name as a teacher and mentor. Hertling hosts a television series, “Your Brush with Nature.” It’s a plein air painting show that’s given him a means to share his knowledge with viewers all over the world. He’s received an Emmy nomination for his on-air teaching as well as numerous letters, emails and phone calls from his viewers thanking him for sharing his knowledge.

He has written a plein air painting book, “Your Brush with Nature: A Painting Guide for Everyone” as well as having illustrated several wildlife books.

When not traveling and painting, he enjoys the four seasons in his home in Howell, Michigan where he built himself the studio of his dreams in 2012.

Gallery hours for Brush with Nature are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays March 2-26.