We had the good fortune of connecting with Helena Julin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Helena, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
The most important work ahead of us is of taking care of our Environment. This includes our fellow travelers on our planet. A trust that the next generation of humanity has the power to follow through what has been started now. Fairness and respect for us all. I dream of Equality between men and women and with no stigma attached to skin color or cultural background. True to my art. I intend to include more people in my work. This, to further the support of change that has started in our society towards equality. I do not usually include people in my art but realize it may give a stronger message. I spend more time now looking at my art with an eye of the purpose of the creation. It has always been there, but in a more subtle layer, but now I feel I must focus more on it. This reflects my hope and inspiration that the future will be brighter.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is Nature oriented. I often mix in recycled objects in my artwork to show my concern for the destruction we do to mother Earth. I am confident now in my ability to do art I feel is right. It is very important to me that I am satisfied with my work before I show it in a show. The process to learn to trust myself and my art was not fast or easy. The realization that “I was good enough” came when my art started to sell. It is an exhilarating experience and warms my heart that someone shares the love for my art and buys it. Currently I am working on a piece called “Tejon Ranch” a unit of twelve small tin cans. It is in response to the “Centennial City” project out in the Mojave desert. I am also visiting my old love of geology by making art showing futuristic sediment where our civilization’s trash shows up. I call them “20 Million Years AD” I plan to make bigger work in similar materials. The little octopus escaping the fish tank, “The Great Escape”, is one of my fun pieces I did in response to the COVID19 “lock-down” at home this spring!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Los Angeles has so many wonderful places to visit. I like to start the day in Old Town Pasadena. Breakfast at Urth Caffee on 594 E. Colorado. Or, going down to The Village Bakery and Café on 3119 Los Feliz Blvd. Another fun spot is Figaro Bistrot, a charming old-style café on 1802 N. Vermont Ave. The City Center with the Disney Concert Hall and the Broad Museum is a great place to get a feel for LA. Then lunch at Philippe’s 1001 N. Alameda St. Other fun places in LA is The Last Bookstore on 453 S. Spring Street, and Los Angeles Central Library on 630 W. 5th Street. Both places have art galleries to explore! Then, there is the Brewery Art Walk on 2100 N. Main Street. A visit to the beach is a must. I enjoy visiting the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro, and the Point Fermin Lighthouse, 807 W. Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro. There are several fun eating places close by, the Lighthouse Café on 508 W. 39th St. For longer walks, I can recommend Ballona Wetlands in Playa Del Rey. Or, there are several places along Los Angeles River that has walking paths: Glendale Narrows, LA River Greenway Trail and Sunnynook River Park.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The art associations I joined have been a place of learning. There I was taught how to show my artwork. The late Arleen Helm taught me how to set up and run gallery shows. Great fun! The support and excitement that the members in these organizations give each other is invaluable. To create art is often a solitary occupation, so to meet and get together with other artists is essential for our development and to grow. It is difficult to pinpoint the time and place where my art changed. I will credit it to the Lisa P. H. Caddel, the president of the Burbank Art Association 2010-2013. Her abstract work in acrylic media was amazing and I was intrigued. She taught me to dare break out of the traditional painting methods and work in mixed media. It was a revelation to me that I could mix anything to make art; watercolor and acrylic, glass and acrylic gels, glue objects on a canvas. The options are endless. Amazing! Other influences on my art has been Sharon Dellamarie. She works in mixed media, building angels of tissue paper on canvas. Newer influences come from the internet, Instagram and Youtube. There are artists who paint in tiny tin cans. I have started a series of work I call “Canned Nature”.

Instagram: @helenabluebell

Image Credits
Photographs by Helena Julin