Heather Weter, B-47715 and currently the head of a high-school visual arts department, studied art at Missouri State University and earned her master’s degree in studio art and theory at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. Two years ago, at age 47, her life changed when she started skydiving. She found a sense of freedom and new opportunities to learn, grow and meet amazing people. She also found new artistic inspiration.

It started when Weter, who enjoys painting animals, visualized a zebra losing its stripes in freefall. So she went to her easel and put her vision onto canvas. Satisfied with her work, she posted it on social media and was overwhelmed with positive responses. She started receiving requests from her sky family to paint specific animals and specific gear. As she worked on these pieces and others in her animal series, she also imagined a painting that featured multiple animals in freefall. After a few months of research, drawing and painting, “Zoo Dive” came to life.

Weter said, “I’ve been having a lot of fun with these paintings and plan to create more in the near future. I have had so much support from my husband, my family and my sky family, especially Penny and Gary Fletcher at Glidersports, and for that I am very thankful. I hope you all enjoy them!”