Helena van Emmerik-Finn's family emigrated from Holland a few weeks before she was born and settled in the countryside of upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She attended the Philadelphia College of Art, where she studied graphic design, photography and film. After college she traveled extensively, youth-hostelling through Europe and North Africa and studying meditation in India. Nowadays she prefers to travel in comfort with her husband, Bob.
Helena spent many years as a quick-sketch portraitist at the New Jersey Shore, in London’s Green Park and at Sesame Place but she found her medium and direction when she discovered pastels. Their vibrancy and immediacy of application suits her spontaneous, impressionistic style. She paints many scenes local to her, and loves to depict Longwood Gardens, Cape May and Bucks County as well as scenes from her travels. After studying with Master Pastel-Artist June Maxwell and with Daniel Green Helena added still-lifes and portraiture to her repertoire.
Helena exhibits at many shows, including the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Annual, and the Yellow Springs and Immaculata College Art Shows. She has won “Best of Show” awards at the Lititz Art Festival, The Cape May Promenade Art Festival and the Award for Representational Art from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Artists Professional League at the Avalon Arts Festival.
Helena maintains a web site and an extensive mailing list to stay in touch with her numerous fans.