Helena Kotnik approaches art as a psychological journey, where color and composition become a language for human experience. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from Barcelona University and Akademie der bildende Künste in Vienna, along with a Master’s degree, she has honed a practice that blends introspection with bold, expressive aesthetics. She describes her work as “psychological human landscapes,” reflecting both personal and collective experiences. Helena’s process is deeply mental, starting with conceptual reflection before translating thoughts into images on canvas. Her work invites viewers to engage not only with the visuals but also with the underlying themes of identity, society, and emotional depth. In this interview, Helena shares insights into her creative process, the role of personal experiences in her work, and the challenges of sustaining an artistic life. She also offers her perspective on how viewers might connect with her paintings—whether through self-reflection or a broader contemplation of the human condition.

Here is the artist’s interview.

What is your creative process like?

Helena: Before I create a work, I spend a lot of time thinking about it and paying close attention to
the idea, the concept and the image I want to convey. It is more of a mental process that
requires a bit of effort from my mind because it requires energy and concentration. During
this time I pay a lot of attention to the variety of details in the images. I am also very aware
of the experiences I have had before. All these things help me to create an image of my
work that will not be finished, it will only be the starting point.

After this first step, I move on to the next one and start creating my work. Sometimes I
have physical references of images to start with, but in any case I have my finished work in
my mind, although I do have a strong mental process before I start. I don’t work with
sketches except to try out colors or materials. The final shapes and colors of the painting
emerge by working with them.

Do any personal experiences shape your work?

Helena: I practically always capture personal experiences in my work, I believe that personal
experiences are part of the creative process. In my opinion, personal experiences play a
very important role in the creative process and it is not something we can control, they just
appear in the process. In my case, I also pay special attention to them when I create,
because it makes it easier for me to communicate a message.

What challenges do you face as an artist?

Helena: To live from my art or to make my art a place of my own in my life where I can dedicate
time to it without worries of time and money. I think that achieving this is a big job that as
an artist we have to assume in our process of making art.

What do you want people to feel when they see your art?

Helena: I think there are two things I want people to feel when they see my art. First, the reflection
of their own life experiences: everyone knows their life, because they are the main
character in it. Looking at other stories conveys a lot of feelings coming from our own
experiences. Secondly, in my works there is always a message that can be discovered or
read that speaks about us as a human species, about our society and our world. Just let
me to say that it’s only up to you if you get it ;))

Helena Kotnik’s art is more than just a visual experience—it’s an invitation to engage with emotion, memory, and the subconscious. Through her deeply personal yet universally resonant works, she encourages viewers to explore their own narratives while reflecting on the broader human experience. Her approach to art, rooted in both intellectual rigor and emotional honesty, speaks to the complexity of life itself. Whether through her intricate color choices or layered themes, Helena leaves room for interpretation, making each encounter with her work a personal journey.