I’m Heidi Wirtner, aka The Fishing Artist, a mixed media artist and lifelong art educator from western Pennsylvania.

A woman with short hair, earrings, and a turquoise jacket stands outdoors near a river, holding a colorful painting of a fish underwater scene.

Art has always been part of my family’s DNA—my grandfather was an artist and teacher who filled our home with oil landscapes and still life’s, while my grandmother created intricate needlework. Those traditions of creativity and craftsmanship shaped me, just as much as fishing with my dad on the Allegheny River shaped my love for water and wildlife.

When I paint, I’m not just creating an image. I’m carrying forward memories of my father, who passed away more than 20 years ago; of my mother, who encouraged my creativity even though she never stepped into the boat; of my grandfather, who taught me to draw trees and rabbits. My art is about honoring those who came before me while holding onto the wild beauty that still surrounds us.

A painting of a fish with numerous smaller fish inside it, placed on an easel outdoors.

For me, nature is sacred. I feel closest to God when I’m watching a trout rise to the water’s surface or standing still at the edge of a small stream. As the Tony Blake saying goes: Some men go to church and think about fishing, and others go fishing and think about God. That sums up my art. Every painting is a prayer, a reminder that creation is worth protecting.

That feels especially urgent now. We’ve seen chemical spills devastate communities, fish populations decline, and waters polluted with chemicals. My work is a response to grief and memory, but also about reverence and responsibility. I paint fish because they carry both fragility and strength. They remind us of what’s at stake if we neglect the waters that give us life.

A smiling woman with short gray hair outdoors in a forest, holding an open book and pointing to a page.

Collectors tell me my work resonates because it connects beauty with responsibility. For me, loving this country means caring for its land, its waters, and its creatures.

If you believe memories matter, if you see God in rivers and forests, if you want your home to reflect both beauty and the values you live by, then my art was made for you. Let’s find the piece that tells your story, honors your values, and becomes part of your legacy.

Explore my available work and start your collection today.

Person fishing in a river, holding a green fly fishing reel and line. Wearing a turquoise jacket with orange sleeves and carrying a beige and orange fishing gear bag.