Artist's Statement

My paintings express personal experiences and have become a catharsis for healing. About five years ago I started gravitating to the healing arts and began intensive training in Yoga, Reiki, Massage and other holistic practices, particularly those that pertain to women’s wellness. This period of spiritual introspection and transformation are the impetus of my artwork. I began to paint and draw women on a journey of self-discovery and liberation, mirroring the personal path that I had begun to investigate.

The mixed media paintings that I produce have become a reflection and celebration of divine femininity. In my art, I experiment with merging color, form, and abstraction in a style that portrays the physical and subtle worlds as one. The expressive faces and gestured movements that are reflective of a woman’s femininity are interwoven with abstracted wombs or “life force energy.” As the viewer’s eyes drift between form and abstraction, the viewer shares a similar experience to the portrayed woman who, in turn, is searching for her own feminine essence. In some works, the colorful figures are placed in flat backgrounds, the dulled environment allowing emphasis on the vibrant forms.

My objective is to create contemporary works of art that give meaningful insight into the healing process. Being of Ethiopian descent, I have seen how visual art has been traditionally used as visual medicine in the land of my ancestors. I want to make art that is not only therapeutic to my soul through the process of creating, but is healing to others through the process of viewing.

 

-- View online articles about Helina's Artwork --
Canvas Paper Stone Gallery Article
Rain Tiger Article

Works of art from the Journey Woman series:

Constructed

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

20" x 27"

2009

sold - part of the permanent collection of Baltimore Medical System's Highlandtown Healthy Living Center

Revived

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

20" x 27"

2009

sold - part of the permanent collection of Baltimore Medical System's Highlandtown Healthy Living Center

Complete

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

20" x 27"

2009

sold - part of the permanent collection of Baltimore Medical System's Highlandtown Healthy Living Center

Resolution

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

20" x 27"

2010

Gather

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

20" x 27"

2009

Transit

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

20" x 27"

2009

New

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

20" x 27"

2009

Moved

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

20" x 27"

2010

Ritual

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on canvas

9 panels of 10" x 10"

2010

Ritual (detail: panel 1)

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on canvas

10" x 10"

2010

Ritual (detail: panel 2)

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on canvas

10" x 10"

2010

Ritual (detail: panel 3)

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on canvas

10" x 10"

2010

Ritual (detail: panel 4)

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on canvas

10" x 10"

2010

Ritual (detail: panel 5)

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on canvas

10" x 10"

2010

Ritual (detail: panel 6)

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on canvas

10" x 10"

2010

Ritual (detail: panel 7)

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on canvas

10" x 10"

2010

Ritual (detail: panel 8)

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on canvas

10" x 10"

2010

Ritual (detail: panel 9)

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on canvas

10" x 10"

2010

Meditations

acrylic on canvas

2 panels of 20" x 60"

2010

5D Girl Rising

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

34" x 10"

2008

5D Girl Walking

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

34" x 10"

2008

5D Girl Searching

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

34" x 10"

2008

5D Girl Flowing

acrylic, colored pencil, ink and cut paper on board

34" x 10"

2008

Works of art from the Lessons from Mother/Earth series:

All is One

acrylic, pastel, colored pencil and charcoal on paper

22" x 28"

2008

Discipline

acrylic, pastel, colored pencil and charcoal on paper

28" x 22"

2008

Spirit

acrylic, pastel, colored pencil and charcoal on paper

20" x 16"

2008

Clearing

acrylic, pastel, colored pencil and charcoal on paper

30" x 40"

2008

Blood, Sweat, Tears

acrylic, pastel, colored pencil and charcoal on paper

16" x 20"

2008

Discernment

acrylic, pastel, colored pencil and charcoal on paper

28" x 22"

2008

Be Natural in Unnatural States I

acrylic, pastel, colored pencil and charcoal on paper

17" x 11"

2008

sold

Be Natural in Unnatural States II

acrylic, pastel, colored pencil and charcoal on paper

17" x 11"

2008

Works of art from the Finding Womban series:

Free Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

22" x 28"

2007

sold

limited edition giclee print available

Intuitive Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

22" x 28"

2007

sold

Water Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

25" x 35"

2006

sold

limited edition giclee print available

Flesh Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

22" x 28"

2005

Deep Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

25" x 36"

2006

sold

limited edition giclee print available

Tree Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

20" x 25"

2006

Dream Catching Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

25" x 35"

2006

sold

Opening Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

22" x 28"

2007

sold

Inner Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

22" x 28"

2006

sold

Forgiving Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

22" x 28"

2007

sold

Blush Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

20" x 25"

2006

Whole Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

48" x 69"

2007

Red Moon Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

22" x 28"

2007

sold

Fire Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

25" x 35"

2006

sold

Compassionate Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

22" x 28"

2007

Found Womban

acrylic, pastel, and charcoal on paper

22" x 28"

2007