Her subjects included her family and friends, animals, as well as animal-human hybrids.
[3] As a child Outi Heiskanen (nee Kanervo) traveled often with her father, who was a veterinarian.
In addition to her artistic career, Heiskanen worked as an art teacher in schools in Oulu, Jyväskylä and Helsinki from 1959 to 1973.
[1] Heiskanen's travels have had a great impact in her work, especially the trips to Tibet and Afghanistan.
[5] Heiskanen died on 30 September 2022 at the age of 85, after suffering from dementia for several years.