A delight in form and pattern
- Heidi’s ceramic pieces feature multilayered geometric patterns
- She has developed her own technique of layering motifs on clay
- Her work is often playful and metaphorical, drawing on global influences
Heidi Tarver began her journey towards creating distinctive, hand built stoneware in high school when her father made her a potter’s wheel. Captivated, she experimented with various materials before returning to clay as her preferred medium. Heidi’s approach to ceramics is uniquely pattern-focused. She first designs graphic patterns on her computer to create stencils, then uses slip printing, the process of printing with liquid clay, to layer colourful motifs onto flat slabs with liquid clay or slip. Once the surface designs are in place, Heidi builds the printed slabs into vessels and sculptural objects, letting the patterns guide her forms. “I am always trying to push my technique and move the materials towards something new,” she says. Heidi’s vibrant pieces consider the value of human craftsmanship and the power of a singular object.
INTERVIEW
Geometric patterns are the basis for everything I have done, from making jewellery to collage and paper sculpture. I wanted to transfer that approach to clay to create more substantial objects with colourful, intricate patterns.
It was there from early childhood. My mother came of age in the Middle East, living in Turkey and Iran. When she came to the USA, she brought many densely patterned objects with her. I remember sitting on the carpets, feeling and inspecting them. That experience resonated with me.
Initially, I joined a community studio and I got a lot of support. I refined my process there, making over 100 cups before moving on to larger objects. When the pandemic hit, I moved my studio to my home, which turned out to be a good thing as I had more space and was able to really focus.
I feel a responsibility in the sense of creating handmade objects. In our contemporary era, grounding our lives at the level of the human body with real materials feels particularly important. I do not want to worry too much about technology, you cannot stop it, but I do not want to lose human touch in the process.
