The Graduates 2012 presents Grace Helmer and her narratively deep paintings

Date
5 July 2012

There is nothing “still life” about Grace Helmer’s paintings. The Camberwell College of Arts illustrator adopted oil paints over traditional drawing modes as her narrative vehicle of impossibly rich, dimensional scenes and abstractions. The permanence of the paint compliments the nature of text – especially the likes of Primo Levi – whose stories frequently reach beyond literal interpretation but are wonderfully figurative nonetheless.

Grace applies heavy consideration to her compositions; adopting comic book panelling in one instant and an uncommon landscape perspective in the next, in each case bearing in mind a unique readers experience. The subjects of each frame are frequently the product of some intense research into every aspect of the brief or text, but then, as she freely admits, this will all be promptly forgotten as the painting takes over.

When telling us a little more about herself she had this to say: “I highly rate working in the studio with others so usually when I’m working I’m surrounded by people making stupid jokes and binge-eating biscuits.”

Above

The Graduates 2012: Grace Helmer – One Night by Primo Levi

Above

The Graduates 2012: Grace Helmer – One Night by Primo Levi

Why or who or what made you go to art school?

I’m from Brighton where you can’t swing a paintbrush without hitting an art student so I never really considered doing anything else. I feel very lucky in that going to art school wasn’t a conscious decision, it just sort of happened without having to think about it.

What’s the best mistake you made when you were studying?

A few times I was advised by tutors not to paint but ignored them and persevered. Their advice was so valuable and ignoring it could quite easily have been a mistake – my first paintings were definitely a bit rubbish – but learning to defend my ideas and developing a bit of self-belief was very important.

If you could show you your work to one person, who would you choose and what would you show them?

I asked my mum and she said I should pick Primo Levi. It would’ve been nice to show him the books I made based on his short stories, or just to thank him for writing them.

Can you give us one prediction about your work for the next year?

Absolutely no idea. I want to carry on oil painting. I want to try and paint a different kind of haircut. I want to be making work in a shared studio with some friends from college, eating biscuits, and organising something.

What’s the best thing you saw in the last three years?

Anything and everything I saw in Japan last summer. A small group from our class went to Kyoto and then Tokyo to film a documentary about Manga, as part of a project with Kyoto Seika University. In one of the hostels we stayed in we discovered “Woody Unbalance”, previously known as Jenga. My main ambition is to go back there and play it again.

Above

The Graduates 2012: Grace Helmer – A Tranquil Star by Primo Levi

Above

The Graduates 2012: Grace Helmer – The Fugitive by Primo Levi

Above

The Graduates 2012: Grace Helmer – A Tranquil Star by Primo Levi

Above

The Graduates 2012: Grace Helmer – The Fugitive by Primo Levi

Above

The Graduates 2012: Grace Helmer – The Fugitive by Primo Levi

Above

The Graduates 2012: Grace Helmer – The Fugitive by Primo Levi

Represent

We are delighted that once again top creative recruitment agency Represent has teamed up with us to support our search for the cream of this year’s crop. Represent Recruitment Limited help some of the worlds most talented graphic designers find new work. We work with designers at all levels, from Junior through to Executive Creative Director. Our business thrives through the networks we develop and our impeccable eye for great work. Formed in 2003 Represent operate out of offices and gallery space in London, EC1.
www.represent.uk.com

Share Article

About the Author

Bryony Quinn

Bryony was It’s Nice That’s first ever intern and worked her way up to assistant online editor before moving on to pursue other interests in the summer of 2012.

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.