Artist: Heidi Oberheide
Heidi Oberheide is an artist whose style has long intrigued me. Lamentably, I’ve only come upon a few romance covers illustrated by her. Most of them have been stepbacks, making for a delightful sight when one opens the front. Oberheide’s covers express a soft sensuality, often displaying a glorious abundance of bright flowers.
She was born in Germany in 1943. However, Oberheide has lived most of her life in the Pacific Northwest, both in Canada and Washington State. She attended Southern Illinois University, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1969. She also earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in drawing and printmaking from the same institution in 1971.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Oberheide found her inspiration from the environment. Her art emphasized the relationship between nature, humans, and animals.
 With her drawing, painting, and lithograph skills, she created images that demonstrate great sensitivity, depicting beauty and light in dark, unexpected spaces. Oberheide has referred to her creations as “color shape paintings,” as she focuses on color more than form.
“[Oberheide’s] work…reaches out to a…universal humanity and experience. In the simple mobility of outport life, she has found greatness.“
Peter Bell, Gannets and Tidal Pools publication, Memorial University Art Gallery, 1978
Her pieces have been shown in exhibitions across Canada and the United States and various private and public collections.
Heidi Oberheide lives in Washington, US where she continues to create and display her fine art.
The Covers
All but one of these stunning covers portray a man and woman surrounded by an exquisite kaleidoscope of flowers. Just in time to celebrate Spring and May Day!
From Monday, May 1, 2022, to Sunday, May 6, 2022, Covers of the Week spotlights the romantic illustrations of Heidi Oberheide.
Top to bottom:
- Annie’s Song, Catherine Anderson, Avon, 1996
- Texas Lily, Patricia Rice, Topaz, 1994
- Lilacs on Lace, Linda Ladd, Topaz, 1996
- Paper Roses, Patricia Rice, Topaz, 1995
