Meet Helen Mask | Illustrator & Graphic Designer

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

Hi Helen, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in Vermont in a small ski town. My Dad worked in the ski and snowboard industry, and I got to go into work with him often as a small kid. At his work I would hang out with the graphic designers and clothing designers, and I was introduced to artists who’s illustrations were turned into snowboard graphics. Being around the commercial arts like this at a young age I always knew I wanted to make art that could be applied to every day things a person might use. A shirt, a iron on patch on your favorite jacket, a sticker on your water bottle, or a poster hanging in your bedroom.

Growing up in Vermont I spent a lot of time playing outside with my family. We gardened with my parents, went on long hikes on the mountain bike trails we built behind the house, we went on midnight snowshoes in the winter, the list goes on and on. This passion and respect for being in nature still fuels me. I often have a botanical elements within my artwork.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have always drawn, it makes me happy. My goals as I have ventured into my creative field have changed over the years and I think thats a happy healthy thing. I always want to be changing and growing. When I started my carer after graduating from SCAD in Savannah Georgia I was desperate to have a full time job. I ended up working remotely as a tshirt designer for a small company and then working at my parents hardware store, bussing tables at a local restaurant, and working at a bakery. The first year after graduating was hard, I panicked. I had student loans how was I going to pay them? So I worked all the time. In the small amount of time I was not working I had to teach myself to make art for me again.

Going through art school I wanted to get good grades, so I made art to please the professors. But I did not make art that pleased me. When I graduated I knew I needed to find out how to make art like I did when I was a little kid. Sometimes it’s just a doodle of my favorite cartoon character, or some warrior princess I made up in my head. I need to play and have fun. When I started making art that I connected with and I shared it on places like tumblr, and instagram (back in the early days) I found that more people wanted to reach out to me and be excited about the work I was making. I started to understand connecting with others through art in a different way.

Once I started making making art that made me happy I began to find my style. (which is also a ever changing thing) Finding my style made it easier for people looking for a certain type of work to hire me.

I would not say I am a brand, I am also not an influencer. I am an illustrator sharing my work on social media, looking to make connections with people. I want to make art that I hope brings a smile to your face, that has a sense of whimsy, that reminds you of your favorite tv show growing up.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Portland Oregon, there is always a lot to do here. I could give you a stacked list of things to do here day to day, but the best thing I can tell you to do is wander the neighborhoods. Each neighbor has its own thing going on. You do not need to go downtown to go on an adventure in the city. Go to the Alberta arts district wander around in the galleries, there’s lots of great places to eat. If you have a car get out of the city go for a hike at hood river checkout one of the many waterfalls off of the Columbia river gorge scenic highway. Walk through the Chinese and Japanese gardens.

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 Teachers at many stages in my life. Especially in elementary school. I really struggled to learn and approaching learning in a creative way really helped. Having a teacher tell me at a really young age that they could see how much I loved art and that I was good at it meant a lot. Looking back at that work as an adult I have a hard time seeing it as anything different than what any child at that age would create. That being said I was not a creative genius. Just a kid who wanted to make art and that was encouraged and supported in my local public school system, and at home. The arts are important, teachers are important.

Website: https://helenmask.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hemask/

Other: https://helenmask.tumblr.com/

https://bsky.app/profile/hemask.bsky.social

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaskIllustration?ref=shop_sugg

Image Credits
All images are copyright to Helen Mask