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Helana Zagami

@zagsterr

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more artsy, less fartsy these days
⇨ @helanamakes

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Be nice to the cats in Istanbul, always carry sunglasses in Split, pick the electric bike in Budapest, steer clear of the Warsaw youth on Friday nights and, most importantly, bring good luggage.

Istanbul, Turkey (2-4)
Split, Croatia (5-7)
Budapest, Hungary (8, 11)
Warsaw, Poland (1, 9-10) taken in Istanbul Türkiye by @zagsterr

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4 months ago

Me and my plus ones this wedding szn by @zagsterr

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a year ago

Wins Chinese Mahjong one time... taken in Brooklyn, New York by @zagsterr

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a year ago

Top 4 Artworks in 2024

1.
Subject: Beach, deconstructed
Medium: Acrylic on bristol paper 24x19
Notes: Completed in a mixed media and collage class at VisArts. Assignment consisted of taping off 6 sections, adding wide strokes of grey paint to each section, then applying 3 colors with no more than 3 applicators (I did paint brush, brayer, paper towel). Left panels were done with my left hand, right panels with my right, and center panels a combination of both hands (just cuz). Thank you to my teacher @stephanecalvin.art for helping me avoid the pitfalls of overworking this piece.

2.
Subject: Leaves in an archway
Medium: Acrylic and modeling paste on canvas 18x24
Notes: This painting was the product of feeling insecure about another painting for the Bare Wax Co commission (both pieces are now loved at the store). It was made toward the end of my 100 hours and I like how it displays my growth with modeling paste, which I used for the first time on that project.

3.
Subject: A couple in Paris
Medium: Watercolor 8x6
Notes: This piece posed many new challenges for me, starting with the background's reference photo being an oil painting that I had to translate to watercolor. The piece held a lot of significance to a friend's family, so it was an emotional process on top of a challenging one. In a lot of ways this piece showed me "I can".

4.
Subject: Dried leaves
Medium: Acrylic and ink on canvas 18x24
Notes: Amidst commissions, this was a personal piece inspired by a brief and impactful relationship. 2 dried leaves that had fallen from a houseplant became the subject of weeks of catharsis wrestling with purity, femininity, masculinity, desire, and darkness. I don't know if the piece will ever feel done, but I can envision Stephane yelling at me to put the brush down so for now it is.

Grateful for all the opportunities I was given to create in 2024 :) by @zagsterr

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2 years ago

Closure was gained, art was made, and bonds were formed on my solo trip to Rome
🛫🌍✨

Closure came in the form of retracing steps, picking up on old conversations, and passing scaffolding in places once remembered. I had left my study abroad experience in Rome 5 years ago, unknowingly manic and with many unsaid goodbyes. Coming for my school's alumni reunion in many ways felt like coming home, while also letting go.

Art felt like a constant companion. A rest on a bench turned into 2 hours of painting, seconds passing a tree trunk became 4 hours sitting on it creating (photo 6). Alone I painted in hubs bustling with people from all over this floating rock, but I never felt lonely. Through creating art I felt like I was defining a new home within myself.

Bonds with family, friends and strangers brought balance to my journey. Mary and I met when she printed out my school badge 5 years ago and saw my last name (photo 8). With some research, we discovered we had familial ties and have maintained communication since. Seeing her and her family breathed life into my connection with Rome.

Mermie was one of my hostel roommates and closed out my trip with me (photo 9). In the same way painting gave me pause, I found myself sitting with her for hours wholly immersed in talks of life and love. Thanks to her, I had company walking down memory lane and reliving tender moments.

The flight attendant became a pivotal marker for my journey (photo 10). On my first flight, I woke up feeling funny and by the time I made it to the back of the plane I started to pass out. She caught me mid-collapse and helped stabilize me. On my flight departing Rome at the end of my trip, I was struggling to stow away my carry on when the same flight attendant appeared to help move things along. With a line of people behind me, we embraced one another and did not make any effort to contain our joy. She became my witness that I had survived it all.

A 22-hr layover in Reykjavik rounded out the trip (last 3 photos), and as I made my way back to Maryland I carried with me the sounds of transformation in the form of hellos and goodbyes.
✨🌍🛫 by @zagsterr

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2 years ago

an art page finally!

From a young age l've loved being a student of art, and one of my favorite ways to learn is by making meaningful work for others.

Despite exploring different creative forms for much of my life, something I neglected along the way was developing confidence in my art.

Growing up I was very hesitant to share my work - my dad often had to sneak people into different rooms of the house to showcase pieces I would never reveal on my own.

Only recently have I realized that to be an artist is to have a skill, and providing that skill sparks joy, healing, solutions, and more to the people I choose to share it with.

Gone are the days of my father's hushed art tours.
At Helana's Art House, everyone is welcome to explore. by @zagsterr

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Some of 2023's favorites:
1)acrylic on slate, for a husband mourning his wife
2)watercolor, for an Airbnb homeowner/renovator
3)watercolor, for a fur mama's birthday
4)acrylic on mini canvas, for a grandma's best friend
5)watercolor, for a business owner's sign off
6)watercolor, for a forever (remembered) home
7)watercolor, for a fur family's Christmas
8)watercolor, for a homeowner historian
9&10)acrylic on canvas, an aunt's paint and sip reimagined (work in progress) by @zagsterr

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3 years ago

Headed off insta for some time because my algorithm is dangerously good at distracting me from my own life. Mostly impacts my core meme exchangers... may we "LMFAO" "😂" again some day taken in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina by @zagsterr

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3 years ago

Got cheesy for my 24th, shit was straight gas 💨✨ taken in Scrabble School by @zagsterr

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4 years ago

Looking in and looking out taken in Greece by @zagsterr

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4 years ago

So much to sea 🏖 taken in Ocean City, Maryland by @zagsterr

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4 years ago