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Sarah Heimann | Episode 125
Sarah Heimann is a studio potter in Lebanon, NH. She is a part-time instructor at Dartmouth’s Davidson Ceramic Studio, and a 2014 recipient of Northern Clay’s McKnight Artist Residency Grant.
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WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START CARVING?
There was this marvelous platter that had fish that were eating one another going around and it was heavily carved. It was in my kitchen at Watershed, so I saw that for two years before I went off to grad school. Also, Pete Gorfaine was doing a big Last Supper piece, I was so taken and moved by the work that that stayed in my head as I went to grad school. Probably half way into my first year I started doing sgraffito, I did this piece and I thought, that’s kind of beautiful and things grew from there.
WHAT TOOLS ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU TO BE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR CREATIONS?
The tools that I love for carving are the cheap wood-cut tools. They are for printmaking. I can do almost anything with those. Over the years, of course, I have more tools than that. I often need a very specific tool.
WHAT PART OF THE PROCESS DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST?
I like it all. I mean I love the carving, but I love throwing. I mean ,I don’t have to throw.No, I don’t adore rewiring my kiln, but I actually kind of do love that too. I like it all.
IS THERE A PIECE THAT STANDS OUT TO YOU AS THE PINNACLE OF YOUR WORK?
Oh, I hope not. Thank God I do have some pieces where I think, that was good, but no, it’s always the next piece. I mean, that’s why I keep doing this. That’s what I love about this, is that I can get better.
HOW DOES A PERSON GAIN CONFIDENCE TO ASK A FAIR PRICE AND TO MAKE PROFIT OFF OF THEIR WORK?
What a good question. When I figure that out, I will let you know. I think it is something that potters in general wrestle with. Especially potters who do not have a back up.
IF WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO HAVE A DO-OVER, WHAT MISTAKE WOULD YOU AVOID AND WHAT WOULD YOU ABSOLUTELY REPEAT AGAIN?
I don’t know, I guess I’m not someone who thinks very much in terms of mistakes because I have learned something from everything I’ve done. I mean there are certain small shows that I have done that I would not do again, but I had to do them to find out. It is a good question, I hate to say it, but I would probably do everything that I have done, just because this is a pretty good place I am in right now.
WHAT WAS THE BEST ADVICE SOMEONE GAVE YOU?
Someone said to me, keep your costs down and then you can do it. That was probably the best advice I have ever gotten because it has allowed me to keep making even during lean times.
BOOKS MENTIONED
Art and Fear
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