Valisa Higman

Food systems require stewardship and prioritization.

Hoping for clear skies and clear minds. I am feeling so disappointed in humanity right now. Prove me wrong.

Have you noticed, the same people complaining about the service industry struggling to find workers are
1. All for deporting legal residents from other countries
2. Opposed to any public investment in health care for low income workers.

Attempting to make more realistic and site specific gravel. I love my job. #cutpaperart

I love my commute… and my rowing companion.

#tellertheadventuredog #seldovia #irowtowork #rowing #rowboat #alaskalife #bringyourdogtoworkday

Some process photos from today… I realize this may not clarify things for those of you asking about how I do things, but it is hard to document the process myself. I will have to get someone else to take photos at some point.

#process #wip #workinprogress #cutpaperart #papercutting #artbyvalisa

I am always working, even when I don’t show you all. Remember to support small businesses today and every day! Today I did my part, finding an eco-friendly yoga mat at Homer Jeans, and getting a little resupply at Homer Art and Frame! #cutpaper #papercutting #artbyvalisa #homeralaska

A day late for International Women’s Day: My mom was an amazing, inspirational woman:
She did things, not because she wasn’t afraid, but in spite of being afraid.
She didn’t dwell on the sacrifices she made, instead she chose to focus on the process and enjoying the rewards
#internationalwomensday

playing with knives this week… This might be my favorite part of my process, watching the picture in my head become a reality.
#cutpaper #papercutting #alaskanartist

This Friday, the 28th, I will be participating in a 24 hour economic blackout. I will buy nothing, close my on-line store for the day, and I decided I will go one step further and I not produce anything for sale. Instead, I will make a pair of earrings to donate. Please participate!

Though most of my art is Alaska inspired, I also travel, finding inspiration in diverse landscapes and cultures. Their influence may not be immediately apparent, but it is there in color choices, patterns and motifs, and in situational awareness and perspective gained in travel. #travel #alaskanart

My faithful companion is my dog Teller. She loves a good adventure, but also doesn’t mind just hanging out at the studio all day, as long as she gets to come with. #tellertheadventuredog #girlsbestfriend

I also encounter a lot of cool birds on my commute. Great blue herons, pigeon guillemots, kingfishers, oystercatcher, loons, harlequins, goldeneyes, and others will frequently make it into my feed. #birds #birding #irowtowork #inspiration

Seldovia is famous for sea otters, and because I spend so much time in the harbor and rowing to the studio, I get to know the otters pretty well. #seaotter #otters #otterlove

To get to my studio I row from the Seldovia harbor around a small headland, to Schooner Beach. This beach was the site of a salmon cannery in the early 1900s. I love my daily commute, and share lots of the cool things I see, a constant source of inspiration. #irowtowork

Born and raised in Seldovia, I lived out of state after high school. When it was time to move home I asked my dad if I could turn his wood shop into an art studio. For the last 10 years I’ve worked on this space, making it my little art paradise on Seldovia Bay. This summer it just got a new roof!

aa small town at sunset with ice on the beach in front of it.

Snow filling with a view of houses on pilings alone a tidal slough.

Sunset view of a calm bay with tree covered points and some houses

View of a small town from the water with partly cloudy skies, and calm water making a nice reflection of the sky.

I live and work in Seldovia, Alaska. Seldovia is a small town of (I guess) around 350 people. It is not on the highway system… which means you have to fly or take a boat to get here. We are all just trying to get along, do what we love, and get by while surrounded by beautiful mountains and ocean.

artwork depicting a woman with long gold hair holding a salmon. There is a blue halo around her head with gold flecks and tiny gold flies. There is water and trees in the background.

unfinished artwork showing a woman’s head coming out of a field of lupine. The picture is cut out of black paper and it is being held over a work surface.

Unfinished artwork showing a picture of a man with a beard and a hat on cut out of black paper. The artist is adding a layer of gray paper with a cut scribble texture behind the man’s hat.

Unfinished artwork showing a woman’s head coming with a crown of wildflowers. The artwork is cut out of black paper and there are layers of colored paper adding color to the flowers and her face. The artist is adding a layer of blue paper to the woman’s vest with a cut paper texture.

My cut paper artwork starts as a sheep of black paper. I cut away everything but the lines, then layer colored paper behind and add details and shading with paint.

I am new here and trying to get excited about finding a new network of people, but it feels like a lot of work. For now I will start by introducing myself: I am an artist living and working in Seldovia, Alaska. In my first series of posts I will give you a taste of what to expect in my feed.