Biography
R. Heather Ropes has lived border to border and coast to coast in the United States and rarely travels without her drawing supplies. Her exposure to art began at an early age in Montana and Santa Fe. Her great-grandmother’s readings from Unity Church’s Daily Word made affirmative text another early influence. Prayer partners of many faiths encouraged Heather to write a book of prayer and affirmation. Others encouraged her artistic expressions. Joyfully, she presents her unique mix of hand-drawn art, uplifting affirmations, and text to ponder in Pencil Strokes: An Affirmation Coloring Book.
Unconventional Education
Born to teenage parents, they were surprised to find Heather’s childhood adventures included attending some college classes at Montana State College in Bozeman with her student babysitters. Mom worked. Dad attended school and worked. Then Heather attended six elementary schools before getting to stick with the same group of friends from eight grade through high school graduation in Lakewood, Colorado.
She piecemealed college credits together until landing in Lincoln, Nebraska where, as a non-traditional sophomore, Heather worked toward her BA in Great Plains Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “What will you do with that?” was echoed by strangers and people she knew were actually in her corner. Ropes said, “I didn’t know what I would do with the degree. I just knew I was passionate about my studies and felt like the luckiest student on campus. My mother thought they made the major just for me. Exactly!” Heather was the fourth person to graduate with this unique degree. Great Plains Studies became part of her professional path thereafter.