Helen Lewis is an Ohio-based encaustic and cold wax artist whose contemplative works reflect a deep connection to the Maine coast. Her process involves building up and excavating countless layers of pigmented beeswax—carving, scraping, and revealing visual remnants that suggest place, memory, and feeling. “I love the luminosity, depth and textures that emerge,” she explains. “These techniques allow me to capture subtle nuances… that may reference an allusion to a place, an object, or simply a feeling.” Deeply influenced by natural decay, old brick, lichen, and ephemera, Helen often embeds vintage materials—book spines, script, piano rolls—into her abstract compositions. These inclusions create rich surfaces that reward close inspection and invite quiet discovery. Her minimalist palette and organic textures evoke a meditative atmosphere. “My creative process is an extension of my contemplative nature,” she says. “I want my work to bring peace and stillness into the viewer’s space—the same calm centeredness I find along the Maine coast.” Helen’s life story infuses her art with depth and emotional clarity. Her studio practice is deeply prayerful and intuitive, offering moments of focus and expansiveness that mirror her personal journey. As Star News critic Justin Lacey writes, “The process is organic and intuitive, the results are very natural, like the embodiment of emotion.” Helen’s work has received national recognition. She was featured in The Art of Expressive Collage by Crystal Neubauer and in multiple issues of Maine Home + Design, including the “Ones to Watch” and “Notable Maine Artists” profiles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, and is a featured artist at the Portland Art Gallery. Learn more about Helen’s creative process and story on Radio Maine.