One of the parts of my job that I have always loved the most is collaborating with other creatives.
I find that my work gets enriched by their ideas, and the way they approach the same project. It is very important to keep expanding your creative horizon constantly so you can let new ideas enter and nourish your own creative world. This is why I love partnering with other creatives on projects.
On commercial projects, I get to work with creative directors, stylists, interior designers, architects but also with marketers, founders. So a day at the office is usually packed with creative ideas that we all channel into a single result: the campaign picture or the editorial spreads people will pour over in a magazine.
Some people are classically trained, having gone to art school for instance, while others just follow their creative dream and others simply end up doing a creative job they excel at without realising they always were creatives to begin with.
I love talking about the creative process with people I work with because it allows me to understand how we will best work together to create something unique and artistically satisfying for all.
As people always ask me how I find my inspiration, I thought I should share with everyone a few conversations that I am having with some of my favourite collaborators on being a creative and creating together in a new blog series called Creative Conversations.
I have used my lockdown time to chat with very talented creatives so I hope you enjoy the upcoming blog posts.
A sneak preview: my first Creative Conversation will be with a talented stylist who inspire me every day. You will want to read this one, this creative pro is full of wisdom and seriously cool too.
See you very soon,
Helen x
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I am thrilled to kickstart my Creative Conversations blog series with an insanely talented stylist with whom I love to create visual stories.
Melle Van Sambeek (also known as @sailor_and_scout_home on Instagram), is an Australian- born, Auckland-based multi-talented stylist who I met a few years ago on a photoshoot.
Whether it is creative writing, goals setting, poetry, recipes or simply doodling, I hope my notebooks give you a sense of freedom at a time we are craving it so much.
Auckland-based artist Helen Bankers has always been attracted to the natural world. Her work has taken her around the world for a myriad of publications and brands, but when she’s not on assignment Helen loves exploring the creative side of photography.
“Throughout my career I’ve learnt a lot about the importance of leading a balanced life,” says Helen. “I realised that I have an overwhelming desire to produce a more artistic and illustrative side of work.”
Outside of her magazine and commercial projects, Helen can be found in her home studio creating work that celebrates the natural world. She has a sharp eye for detail and particularly likes working with flora and fauna.
“I’m inspired by the paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe, and Australian florists such as Saskia Havekes at Grandiflora. I enjoy looking at the fine form and intricacy of flowers and plants,” says Helen, who lives with her engineer husband Dan and daughter Isla, in the eastern suburbs.
“From that passion grew a series with a focus on botanical studies.”
The abstract images, which often combine close-up detail, colour and texture, form the basis of Helen’s Limited Edition Fine Art Prints collection.
As well as having a passion for photographing nature, Helen has a talent for interiors and portrait photography. “I have a love for people and interiors,” she says. “I love telling the story of someone’s life journey through their homes and how their homes reflect the lifestyle they lead,” she says.
*From my experience shooting interiors, I’ve been inspired to create a range of botanical images that people can enjoy in and around the home.”
Helen’s Limited Edition Fine Art Prints are available on this site.
For art work leasing, please contact www.artassociates.co.nz
Available for private commissions – please enquire helen@helenbankers.com