True West Artistry of the Heath Family
Custom Leather Designer, Sherri Shelton Heath, is the creator of "Quill Painting" of which in 1989,was discovered while sitting around an open campfire with a knife tip, earth paints and scrap leather. She been doing leatherwork since early childhood . Although Tsalagi-CHEROKEE, by Father's bloodline, her lifetime craft has been spent under the direction of many different Nations, primarily with the Plains and Southwest Indian influence where she spent most of her life. She has been honored with the teachings of Quillwork, leatherwork and beadwork. Her own Quill painting is titled from its resemblance to Native American quill work. The artwork involves a careful and precise burning technique with the added application of hand mixed dyes and paints. The colors are always "old world, earthy" colors. The end result creates a textured effect. It could never surpass the beauty of actual quill work or beadwork, but it comes pretty close in the look. It WILL, however surpass in longevity under any stress or wear.The items, Originals, reproduced with the Honor of the Native American, from Custom Leather Clothing, Accessories, Collectable handmade leather Dolls and Horses, Fancy Rodeo Western hats, to Ranch and Lodge furnishings which are all hand stitched with a "flat stitch" for extreme durability, hand laced, and hand painted. Some of their worked can be viewed at their gallery in Cherokee, Texas, on Hwy 16 in the Texas Hill Country . (During the Spring, the drive alone is worth the time)Because of worldwide demand for her custom work, she is also accompanied by her family, which are also artists in their own right. Her husband creates unique antler and leather work such as fancy quirts and beaded medicine bags. Their son Blue does custom leather braiding and leather tooling to fancy up western hats. The work has been purchased by many entertainers, seen in movies and WILD WEST SHOWS. The art has appeared in books and magazines,( Cowboys & Indians , SASS reference books and mags, travel guides, decorating magazines ). Several dolls have been purchased for museums, Costumes at Bill Berman's Movie Museum, Solvang California, Silver Saddle Entertainment, Bransom Missouri for their Buffalo Bill Wild West Characters , Maverick Trading Post Ft Worth, Zapotec Art Gallery Houston to mention a FEW. She was listed for several years in the Texas Film Commission for her Leather costume design / construction and for the use of many of their own personal props. Was a long time dedicated Buckskinner and ONCE the Mayor of "No Name CITY". Her most current work involves painting Murals, Western & Victorian flair on the walls of Col. Crow's Trading post in Llano and a "Jungle Room" in Fort Worth. The HEATH FAMILY strives for perfection and uniqueness, to create not just art but heirlooms to pass down for generations to come.... and always with honor and respect of the TRUE WEST at heart.
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