The pandemic drove Helena to study
Helena Ýr Steimann recently passed her journeyman's examination in painting with outstanding results. She received a ten in both the theoretical and practical parts of the exam, something that hasn't happened in years.
Her father, Jóhann Viktor Steimann, is a master painter, but Helena had never considered working in the trade until the pandemic hit.
“I was running a bar at the beginning of the pandemic, and when gathering restrictions started affecting the business and we were facing constant closures, I couldn't just sit idly by. I talked to my dad and asked if I could work for him, and I decided to start studying painting. I pretty much fell for the trade right away, and it suits me very well. It's a creative and calming job. I completely stopped working at the bar and now this is all I do.”
What qualities does a good painter need to have? “I'm very patient and can potter around endlessly. I'm also very interested in the trade and enjoy experimenting with colours and shapes. Over the years, I've dabbled in painting pictures. I think when patience and interest come together, it yields great results.”
Helena says she was actually surprised by how rewarding she finds working as a painter. “I had never considered working in this field, even though there's a tradition of it in my family. My sisters worked for my dad, but I never did. I was always doing something else.”
And Helena isn't looking back, as there's plenty to do in this rewarding job. “It's just crazy busy, especially after COVID; everyone is sprucing up their homes. I'm not struggling with idleness anymore; now I'm actually struggling with having too much to do.”