Michael Hepher: Busy Hands, Calm Minds

Michael Hepher

I’m Michael Hepher, a full-time artist, printmaker and writer living and working in Fernie. Articulate is committed to sharing artistic voices from across the Columbia Basin, and I’m one of the lucky people who has been invited to contribute my thoughts every other month. I’ll be sharing what’s on my artsy mind, give you glimpses into life as a rural artist, and talk about what’s going on in the cultural scene in the East Kootenay. Thanks for reading!

I believe there are two kinds of people in this world: artists, and people who don’t yet realize that they are artists. Not everyone is imbued with equal passion, time or ability to create, but I firmly believe that the impulse to do so is innate. As children, myth and magic are such a part of our world that make-believe just flows from us; it’s built in. At some point, the demands of “real life” cause many of us to push aside this inherent imagineering for one practical reason or another, but that doesn’t mean it’s gone—it’s just dormant for a while.

A handful of us have defied the odds and continued exercising that creative muscle right through the parts of our lives that made it impractical. When others turned to work or school, I just kept drawing—it felt more like a compulsion than a choice. Art has always been an integral part of my life, but my journey to a career in the arts has been pretty winding. When I landed in the Kootenays around the turn of the century, I worked as an artist blacksmith, then elbowed my way into graphic arts, but promptly missed working with my hands so I bought a printing press. In 2011 I moved my family from Cranbrook to Fernie to open Clawhammer Press, a printmaking studio and retail gallery where I nurtured that craft, eventually adding oil painting to the quiver. Rising lease prices in Fernie’s downtown core eventually chased my presses and I home, where I continue to explore new ways of engaging my creative life.

Every artist has to find their own way, which isn’t easy but it’s always rewarding. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. The ability to get lost in the process is what keeps me engaged in my art. When my hands are busy, my worrying mind fades and all I know is the thing I’m working on. It’s a very active form of escapism that often produces a tangible piece, but the point is the process, not the piece. After being lost in the zone for a few hours, I feel refreshed and ready to tackle whatever the world has to throw at me.

The silver lining of moving my studio home is that I now have the flexibility to travel and teach a variety of workshops throughout the Kootenays. Every group I meet includes people who are at a stage in their lives that affords them a bit of extra time. When we have time, we seem to dig up the urge to make things again—explore that long-lost imagination. Whether you’re a parent whose kids are off to college, or a retired mechanic who needs to keep their hands moving, or a serial creative, when you find yourself at the workshop table, I love to see the bright light of imagination in your eyes.

These days it’s easy to find ourselves shuffling through life looking at the ground (figuratively speaking) and miss a bunch of the colour (literally speaking) that surrounds us, but creativity is infectious. Once we start making, our minds shift into a new gear that helps us see the full spectrum of life. Imagining something from nothing opens up new eyes to the richness of each moment. It’s easy to be present in the now when we are in the midst of making.

If the idea of learning a new creative skill appeals to you, you’re in luck. The Kootenays are full of arts organizations that have a winter calendar of workshops to suit any interest. Looking to hone your drawing skills? I am teaching a perspective-drawing class through the Fernie Arts Station in January 2026, as well as the Cranbrook Arts Council in February 2026. For those who would rather throw a pot or carve a block, there are plenty of offerings there as well. Have a look at the links below to find the public-access space that’s nearest you. For those not quite ready to get their hands dirty, but who want to connect and be inspired through the dark winter months, there are plenty of art openings and concerts going on, so check out your local events calendar—or the calendar of the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council—to get those details.

Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year to artists and artists-to-be alike. Get out there and make something!