Whoever said childlike whimsy had to stop when you become an adult? Well apparently Kerstin Hiestermann never got the memo. The German Instagram artist has risen to prominence in the photo sharing community for her art pieces that display everyday items in collaboration with her own minimalist drawings. These two components combine to create something that can only be described as magical. Hiestermann discusses her introduction to Instagram, her creative process, and more when we interviewed her recently.
What first inspired you to do iPhone art and then to share it on Instagram?
I learned about Instagram from some friends. They used the app and invited me to join. I was excited by the opportunity to be able to post and share my pictures so quickly and easily. I was also fascinated by the pictures of other users from other countries, cultures and ways of life.
How did you get started with your art concept?
The idea of combining a concrete object and my own free hand drawing came to me rather randomly. Around Christmas time I was baking biscuits and cookies with my youngest son and the idea popped in my head of a little man running from the biscuit. So I put the biscuit on a white paper, lined with simple lines to a landscape and took this picture with my iPhone. So gradually I added more and more of these images in my Instagram gallery until I eventually wrote in the caption of one of my photos: “I cannot stop with this”, because at that point I had an endless stream of ideas flowing out of me.
What came first – your art or Instagram?
Instagram. I do not know if I would have ever created my art without Instagram.
Have you always been an artist?
No, not at all. I am a teacher as was my mother. There is a very large, childlike part of me, I have reserved unto myself. But now, I can express that through my pictures.
Tell us about your teaching. What makes you smile? What your goals are for your artwork, Instagram.
Children, with their unique view of the world, make me laugh. I love my work with the children and at the same time I myself have a head full of fun and funny ideas. I think that’s a good combination to have. Its good to laugh over and over again and see the world with a smile and a wink.
What is your creative process? How did you come up with the concepts for BLANCO?
In my paintings I always work with individual objects that speak to me and fascinate me with their shape or appearance. I like my work to be very minimalist. The particular style of Blanco was perfect for my work. The elegant stainless steel surfaces and the design of the accessories such as a faucet, a cutting board or a drain cover have a very high visual appeal for me.
Where do you find your real life props to go with your drawings?
The are no limits, I find my items anywhere in my environment. In my garden, in the house, in the kitchen, at work, at school. My eyes are always open and looking for a beautiful new object, an idea or an association.
Which is your favorite BLANCO piece?
Definitely the CapFlow Stainless Steel Drain Cover. I love the brushed stainless steel, the simple design and the engraved Blanco logo. Thus, it is also the image that is created with this object (the globe) that is one of my favorite pictures.
What other comments would you want to share?
I never thought or knew I had so much creativity in me, but I always had the courage to try things. Instagram gave me a wonderful opportunity to come in contact with people all over the world. The imagery is so universal that it does not matter who you are or where you come from, you can always find someone who understands.
In honor of Kerstin Hiestermann and her whimsical approach to using objects and illustration created in her own kitchen, BLANCO has decided to team up with the German Instagram artist in creating a photo caption contest.
Enter the #BLANCOsmile contest to win an iPad Mini.
There will be 7 images and 8 chances to win over a 7-week period. The winner of each week will be awarded 1 of 7 iPad Minis and the people’s favorite caption across all 7 weeks will win the 8th iPad Mini. Modenus will join us to help spread the word and to help judge the winning captions weekly (www.modenus.com). Also don’t hesitate to head on over to http://www.spielkkind.de/ and instagram.com/spielkkind to check out more of Kerstin Hiestermann’s artwork.
BLANCO employees and sales representatives are not eligible to participate.