We recently connected with Helen Plenert and have shared our conversation below.

Helen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

We artists have a tendency to think in the present moment. Planning for the future is really top of mind, unless it’s art supplies. Looking back, it might have been nice to have a good retirement plan.

My whole life revolved around being creative no matter what it was; from sewing and knitting my own clothing when I was younger to painting on paper, canvas or walls. I am always happiest when I’m creating. The downfall is that I believe I was born too soon. I was repeatedly told, all through college, that I was wasting my time. This whole art thing was no place for a woman. I know it seems strange to hear that in 2024 but up until the 1990s it was really a man’s game. That only fueled my desire to learn more and work harder.

At 16 I got my first job in retail. I’ve worked odd jobs ever since. Most jobs seemed completely unrelated to each other or art. Those jobs gave me the time to be creative when I got home.

Folks I grew up with got “great jobs” working for the state here in Sacramento. I looked at them and all I saw was how miserable they were; like they had lost their souls. It made me run the other way and worked 3 times as hard.

I fell into many art related jobs over the years. While living in San Francisco, in the ’80s, my friend’s theater group needed a painter. I was happy to help and soon became a stage, costume, and graphics designer for multiple theaters in SF at a time.

Teaching art was one of the many things I sort of feel into. While volunteering to help the art teacher at my sons’ elementary school a friend mentioned that I could get paid for what I was doing. Next thing I knew I was running art camps for kids and creating 15 murals around Sacramento. This led me to working for a local art program. After 10 years of Program and Art Director, I retired and stepped back into teaching weekly classes at the local galleries, all the while creating in my home studio and showing my art work.

Did I mention I have sons? Yes I have 3 sons. Now all in their 30s, they grew up with artistic minds, each in their own ways. My husband of almost 40 years is also an artist who works with wood. I will be 70 years old this year and, Yes, a big fat pension would make life easier but I would have missed out on so many artistic adventures along the way. I look forward to more adventures ahead

Helen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am Helen Plenert, an accomplished artist, born and raised in Sacramento. I attended American River College and CSU Sacramento, where I had the privilege of studying under notable instructors such as John Kaneko and Gary Pruner. However, it was the influence of teachers like Mel Ramos, William Wiley, and Wayne Thiebaud that had the greatest impact on my artistic style.

During the 1980s, I moved to San Francisco and took on various professional roles at theaters throughout the city. My experience in set, graphic, and costume design, as well as my work as an artistic advisor, technical director, and producer, gave me a new perspective on how my art could impact the public.

My stage design work for David Henry Hwang’s F.O.B. even toured the 1984 Singapore and Hong Kong Theater Festivals. It was a transformative experience that helped me realize my obligation as an artist to educate and energize my viewers, providing uplifting moments in their everyday lives.

In 1988, I obtained my general contractor’s license, giving me the ability to pursue my art without limitations. Since then, I have collaborated with my husband and other artists on numerous projects.

In 2000, I shifted my focus back to Sacramento, creating 15 murals in just four years while teaching elementary and junior high school students. In 2006, I became the director of a women’s art program, where I was responsible for staffing 14 art classes per week.

After years of teaching and sharing my artistic talents with others, I retired in 2016 to focus once again on my own art. My commitment to uplifting and educating others through my artwork is an inspiration to artists everywhere.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

A Pivot in business starts with a in pivot in your life circumstances. To be clear, I’ve always had some sort of low pay “day job” just in case. They were always part-time allowing me time to be an artist.

At the end of 1999 I was in a vehicle accident. At the time I was working, one of my life’s many odd jobs to pay bills, as a school bus driver. The job suited me perfectly since I had 3 children in school and I had time off between routes to be an artist. One morning the bus I was driving was rear-ended by a semi truck. I was thrown forward across the steering wheel resulting in me needing to have 2 back surgeries which ended my bus driving days in a matter of minutes.

Suddenly I had to figure out a new way to pay bills along with making sure I had time to create. During my recovery I contacted my friend at the local Arts Commission. He immediately put me to work at a local elementary school teaching as an Artist in Residence. This changed the whole direction of what I thought was my life. I taught from 2001 to 2016 at elementary and junior high schools as well as local galleries and this led to me spending 10 years as the Artistic and Program Director of a Women’s Art program in Sacramento. One tragedy and one phone call became a pivot of my life’s direction.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I once had a teacher who spoke of talent as mearly a starting point. It takes hard work to develop talent into something useful. In the ’70s when I decided I wanted to be an artist I had very little support. My parents did not approve after growing up during a time of book burning and the arrest of many artists and writers by the Nazis. Fellow students and teachers were skeptical of a “girl” taking art classes in a primarily man’s world too. Like many female artists, I had to make my own path.

Many years later that same teacher took me aside and told me he admired my tenacity to keep working hard. It took me years to admit that I was an artist. It still feels funny even today. I’ve always worked hard and still feel like there’s so much more to learn.

The ability to be creative is one of the most important things you can hope for in a child’s development. It doesn’t matter the medium, it’s all about thinking beyond what is in front of you.

This world would be a completely different place without the arts and those who create. Without artists we would all be wearing the same clothing, eating the same foods, walking the same way. Our homes would look the same, most likely cars wouldn’t exist, and no music or dance either. We need to foster creativity in children and honor the artists who have been innovative enough to go beyond what was in front of them and dream bigger. Art makes you think, makes you feel, takes you to a different place, to dream, to wonder, to laugh, to cry, to love. I choose to paint representational uplifting scenes. I really admire those who paint with an expressionistic touch or even more abstract. One is not better than another, just different.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://helenplenert.com/
• Instagram: helen.plenert
• Facebook: https://helenplenert.com/
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Helen Plenert