Meet Dan Heskamp

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Heskamp.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I received my BFA from Northern Illinois University in 2012. In 2013, I moved to South Texas to work toward my MFA from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. I have been a proponent for animal rights for a long time and had begun to merge that philosophy into my artwork. I noticed that Corpus Christi, Texas had a lot more stray animals than I was used to seeing in Illinois. I would take my dog for walks around the neighborhood, but we avoided higher traffic areas because he was aggressive towards other dogs. We would often come across the remains of animals which had died, but no one had bothered to pick up. I had been studying the way human beings treat the bodies of the deceased and thought the animals deserved similar treatment. I began collecting animal remains that I would find and learned to macerate them in order to preserve the bones. I built reliquaries out of local flora and cast them in metal. I started thinking about the characteristics of different animals and how those characteristics reminded me of biblical narratives I learned about growing up. I created woodcut prints depicting those animal remains along with symbols of their character. This would create imagery with the purpose to show appreciation for the lives of animals that exist beyond our domesticated environments; those considered insignificant, forgotten or discarded. During my thesis exhibition, I donated half of all proceeds to a local no-kill shelter to try and help with the stray animal issues of the community.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Graduate school was one of the most exhausting experiences of my life. It taught me a lot about myself, my artwork, and the direction I wanted my life to go in. I wanted to teach art at the collegiate level. I struggled to find work immediately after graduate school. I worked for a year a full-time screen printer. This helped me learn more about the screen printing process and color theory. I was offered an artist residency in New Zealand which I accepted and spent almost two months there. I had become emotionally drained from working with animal remains and decided to focus on botanical studies for a while. The process of taking clippings from local flora, studying them, drawing them, allowing them to decay and drawing them again was less stressful for me. Of course, I began finding animal remains there as well and I felt obligated to create works involving those as well.

In 2017, I was offered a job as an instructor at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California. I moved across the country again and began teaching. I continue to work with local flora and fauna here. Studying them and creating artwork has helped me adapt to this new environment. I bring my work into the classroom to show my students. I try and teach them to be mindful of the reasons they create their own art and to explore their environments as well.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
As an artist, I focus on printmaking, photography, drawing, and sculpture. I’m best known as printmaker specializing in woodcuts and screen prints. I’m proud of the fact that I show my work both nationally and internationally. I’ve received some recognition and awards for my art and continue to practice my craft daily. I’m proud that I can make artwork that I care about and that others feel a connection with.

As a teacher, I instruct at College of the Sequoias where I teach Color & Design and Drawing classes. At California State University-Stanislaus, I teach Printmaking. I love sharing my knowledge and techniques with others. Seeing someone create a piece of artwork that they are proud of and did not think they were capable of is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever felt.

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
During my thesis exhibition, I displayed the reliquaries I built to house the animal remains I had been recovering. I invited viewers to leave tributes at the reliquaries as memoriam for those they had lost. This action really connected with the audience and created a very powerful and emotional response. I am proud that something I had created was able to bring about such a positive reaction from the viewer.

I’m proud that I was chosen for an artist residency at Auckland Print Studio in Auckland, New Zealand. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life and probably the most adventurous I had ever been. I was able to explore and make artwork in a completely new environment I may have never visited otherwise.

I’m also proud of the connections I’ve made with students over the years. Several students have transferred on to get earn their BFA or MFA after taking classes with me. Some have chosen to make their living in creative fields after taking classes with me. I like to think I had a positive impact on their life decisions.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.danheskamp.com
• Email: dan_heskamp@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danheskamp/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dan.heskamp

Image Credit:
Dan Heskamp

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