Carola Helwing on the Art of Staying Present through Dance and Painting

For this interview on our Women in Arts Network, we spoke with Frankfurt-based artist Carola Helwing, whose work brings together her love for painting and her background in dance. In this interview, Carola shares how movement, expression, and rhythm find their way onto her canvases—whether she’s capturing the energy of a dancer or the presence of an iconic figure.

She talks about what keeps her going in the studio, how she balances family life with creativity, and why making art has always been a part of who she is. We also get a glimpse into how she starts a painting, how she knows when it’s finished, and what she hopes her work brings to others in uncertain times.

My name is Carola, and I am an artist from Frankfurt/ Main, Germany. With my background in art and dance education, I focus on dance and movement as a central theme in my artwork. I intend to make the power, strength, and beauty, as well as the emotions and accuracy, visible to the audience. Beneath dance and movement, I also focus on icon-portraits. It’s the unique power of these outstanding individuals that I convey to the viewer through my perspective and presentation. You can find my work in (online) galleries like artboxy, expometro, effetto arte fondazione and several more with exhibitions all around the world.

1. How did you get started in your art career?

My passion for creating and painting reaches back to my childhood and accompanies me, as intense as dancing, all my life. I studied art and dance education, and for several years, I have been focusing on my creative process and developing my art career.

I have a certain image in my mind when I’m starting to paint. It’s quickly clear whether it will work or not.

Carola Helwing

2. When you’re creating something new, what makes you pause and say, this is working?

I have a specific image in my mind when I’m starting to paint – it’s the idea of an artwork, a glimpse of a picture. It’s quickly clear whether it will work or not. If it takes me to a particular kind of concentration and flow, I know it will work. And it also needs this special point when you know you should stop, because for you it’s perfect. Maybe one or two brush strokes within the following days, and that’s it.

3. How do you balance your personal life with your art career?

Making art is an essential part of my life, so there is no question to deciding between one or the other. It was and still is a way of becoming the person I am now and was ever meant to be. But there are, of course, times when either one of the parties needs more focus. It’s a balance between family, dancing, art and each part cannot exist without the others. I try to enjoy all the possibilities, chances and profits of this developing art career, and I’m excited to figure out where it will take me.

4. How do you envision the future of your art and its impact on the world?

I want to create new artworks, experiment, develop, and grow. I want this crazy world to reveal and reflect its beauty during these uncertain times, allowing all the transience and fragility to shine and transform into strength and power.

Making art is a necessary part of my life. It was and still is a way of becoming the person I am now.

Carola Helwing

5. What mediums and techniques do you primarily work with?

I primarily work with acrylics and pastel on canvas. It allows me to show up both the fragility and the power that I want to highlight through my artworks.

6. Do you have any parting words of wisdom for our readers or aspiring artists?

Keep growing, developing, trust yourself and show up. Do what you love and let it be part of your being and your transformation.

Carola Helwing’s artwork centres around the idea of movement — not just physical, but emotional and intuitive. Through dance-inspired figures and portraits of icons, she brings attention to expression, presence, and rhythm.

Her journey reminds us that creativity can run alongside every part of life, from family to personal growth, and doesn’t need to be separated from it. What we learn from Carola is the importance of staying open to change, showing up for your practice, and letting the process guide you.

To learn more about Carola, visit the links below.