Art & Life with Helena Julin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Helena Julin.

Helena comes from a family of creative artists.  They were painters and craftsmen. Some professionally and others as a hobby.  Her mother was a watercolorist and weaver, her father a master woodworker. She started with watercolors and pastels at an early age.  Later she moved into oils, acrylics and mixed media. Her parents were always supportive of their children’s artistic endeavors. They looked at such work seriously. Because of that, Helena has always looked at her art seriously, too.  “Art is a media that communicates well to people without being too pushy. Art can communicate and start a dialog with the viewer without interference. The dialog is on the viewer’s term. I like that.”

She has won awards in both as a traditional watercolorist and in her mixed media adventures. 

Helena has exhibited at the Art Share LA 2018, The Brewery Art Colony 2016/17, Sunland-Tujunga Open House 2017.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Currently, I am intrigued by mixed media and assemblage – the fusion of painting and sculpture. To build up a picture to a more 3-dimensional object makes it more inviting to the viewer. I enjoy experimenting with new materials: acrylic gels, dried plants, recycled objects and materials. However, to relax I always have the watercolor pad close by for a break.

My art reflects Nature: The beauty of our natural world and the respect we should all have for our environment. Even when the work is abstract, the love of nature and concern of the environment is evident in my art. Many art pieces have pieces of trash in them. They are put there in a tasteful way, but as a reminder that it is nearly impossible to go anywhere nowadays and not see trash around.

What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
The invention of the Internet has changed the artists’ world completely. We can reach out and connect over long distances in a short time. It is easy to find like-minded artists, exchange ideas, get inspired and share thoughts. I find it positive. However, nothing can replace the good feeling of personal contact that it gives being a member of a local art organization. They supply you with networking opportunities and announce local events that might be of interest.

Local and international issues do affect us, even if we are not aware of it. Artists are by nature more sensitive to this. The artist’s work is to take the issue and change it into something more understandable to people. I think cartoonists are the essence of that. My art is more subtle.

I am very concerned about the environment. The way we are destroying it and making it unlivable. Global warming is included in this worry. My art always has an element of “conservation of our beautiful planet” in it.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I have a piece, “Gaia” at DIGGS, a real estate office in Montrose, CA, until Dec 3. The office offers local art organizations use of the space for art exhibits. This is a nice way to get the public to see your work in a more relaxed setting.

I am also exhibiting a piece, “Niki Medusa” at the “Pop Art” exhibit at the Geo Gallery in Glendale. This is a gallery for the Burbank Art Association. The show is up until Dec 6, 2019.

I will be in Galeria Gitana, a wonderful gallery in San Fernando: “Big Ideas in Small Settings” Dec 7, 2019 -Jan 10, 2020. Reception on Dec 7, 6-9pm. My piece is “Canned Nature”.

I will enter an artwork at Betsy Lueke Creative Art Center “Fine Arts Federation Show” in February 2020, (about). 

Contact Info:

• Phone: 818-383-0108
• Email: helenasjulin@gmail.com
• Instagram: @helenabluebell

Image Credit:
These are my photographs. Helena Julin

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