Astrid Heimer

I choose to work with clay for more than forty years ago. I mostly do versions of coil techniques. Pinch techniques make me calm down and go deeper into the rhythms of the making.

Q&A

What craft do you work with?

I am a ceramicist, and the sculptures I make are figurative as well as abstract. Sometimes I also work with functional ware as cups, plates, and vessels. I choose to work with clay for more than forty years ago. I mostly do versions of coil techniques. Pinch techniques make me calm down and go deeper into the rhythms of the making.

What inspires you to work with this craft?

Working with ceramics gives room to experiment with both forms and surface qualities in many ways. The plasticity of the clay fascinates me, and I often take advantage of the characteristics of the clay in the sculptural expressions. I have at times worked a lot with glazes and various firing techniques. The clay’s formability and large variations of surface qualities make me see ceramics as a very rich medium.

How do you start your creative process?

As a ceramicist, it is natural to think that the forms arise as in dialogue with the material. I can have ideas of forms, nevertheless the forms develop often through the process of the making. The most difficult part is all the interruptions – difficulties to have time to concentrate (I work 80% with teaching and research).

How would you best describe your workspace and what tools could you not do without?

My studio is a quiet room in the basement of my home. I use mostly hand techniques. My favor tool is a fork. I also like to have a knife, modelling tools (wood), scrapers (hard plastic and thin metal) nearby.

Are there new techniques you would like to try?

I would like to try out casting techniques – casting some of my figurative sculptures, using metal e.g. bronze.