Today we’d like to introduce you to Teri Heidemeyer
Hi Teri, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve’ always been a creative type, always drawing and making things. I took the usual path or art school after being the weirdo in high school. Graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute and did various creative work but life happens and I got a “normal job”. Did that for years with art as more of a hobby but with the birth of my youngest kiddo ( who is 12 now) I started putting more time into my art and started getting a following online. I’m blessed to have a supportive husband who encourages me and friends who have been my cheerleaders as well. Once Covid hit and I was home more I decided to work on my art full time.. I remember telling my mentor, calligrapher Michael Sullivan, I was quitting my job to do art full time and he replied, “Good. You should have been doing that the whole time”. From being known as an illustrator I was asked by the Casper Children’s Theatre to paint sets for a production my son was in. Now not only do I paint sets for them and other local theatre productions, but I also make props and even full scale puppets for their shows. I have also taught puppetry workshops in the Summer.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life is never a smooth road. It doesn’t matter who you are. There are times when it feels like nobody knows my art exists and times where I am so swamped with work I worry I cannot keep up. I’ve had some really great moments like celebrity commissions and shout outs and being published that help balance out the lean times and that keep me mentally afloat when I work way out of my comfort zone. I swear I never expected to cry making a puppet but making Olaf for a stage production of Frozen was so incredibly frustrating. He’s such a weird shape as well as being all white and needing to stay pristine. As an illustrator sometimes what I see in my head does not translate to 3D. I have a good support system and thankfully a husband who is way more technical than I am and we made it work.
You have to see the positives in everything even the hard times. It sounds cheesy but attitude is everything especially for creative types. Bad energy will stop you in your tracks. Learn from whatever happens and keep going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
First and foremost in my mind Im an illustrator. Im old school, I draw on paper with markers. I have no clue how to draw digitally and I’m ok with that. I am known for my portraits (especially my drawings of my favorite faces from British TV) but I have accidentally become known for my pet portraits. It just kind of happened. I thinks it’s because I love dogs so much and I try to bring that out when I draw them. I donate a portion of what I earn from each commissioned piece I do to rescues like Cindy Lou’s Legacy Sanctuary. They do so much to help these dogs it makes me happy to be able to help them do that. That’s part of what sets me apart I think. I’m not making art to just sell stuff I’m trying to help make a difference. Locally I’m mostly known for what I do at the theatre with set painting and of course the large scale puppets I made. The theatre is a non profit and such an amazing experience for kids in the arts. It’s amazing getting to be a part of that.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
You just have to keep going and do what makes you happy. Life is so damn short. I’m a two time SCAD heart attack survivor and it has been a big reminder that we can spend our time doing things that bring us joy or we can wallow in what isn’t working. I read an article in The NY Times recently about Huey Lewis who has lost his hearing due to Ménière’s disease and yet has a musical coming out on Broadway. He said his mantra is “Whaddaya gonna do?”. Things happen. Life happens. You have to choose whaddaya gonna do. I choose doing things that bring me joy and bring others joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.DegoPunk.com
- Instagram: I Instagram.com/degopunk
- Other: https://linktr.ee/DegoPunk
Image Credits
Me