The first time I wrote about Jaap Eduard Helder’s fabulous art was in 2020 and his solo show at Studio 53, “The Wordless Stories of …” and I had a wonderful time viewing and writing about the tales I saw within his paintings. Fast forward to 2024 and his new show, also at Studio 53, “Recent Paintings” for more intuitive short stories told by Jaap, and interpreted by my and your imagination.

There are 25 paintings in the show, four of which are from Jaap and muse Wanda’s collection, and new collage and mixed media 8” x 8” and 6” x 6” – most created this year with others back four years.

Jaap (pronounce ‘Yawp’) is an interesting (and funny, very funny) guy who grew up in Holland, The Netherlands. He’s an abstract artist that likens his process to a geological expedition. “I do so much banging, scraping, sanding and layers of paint.”

He works intuitively, in concert with the piece he is creating preferring board/wood panels rather than canvas. And there are a few reasons for that – first, there’s all that banging, scraping and whatnot and painting on these materials allows the viewer to actually touch the textures within the wood parameters. He once used museum glass (no reflection of light that way), but didn’t like it because it kept the work spatially apart from the viewer.

When he is in the role of artist/creator he listens to Jamaican, African and jazz tunes. He likes the rhythms that often inspire painting titles.

“Everything starts with black Gesso (as a base). I choose a color and just begin, break the ice; smearing the paint around the canvas with my hands,” Yaap said. “It’s a constant dialog between artist and painting until it is finished. There are always interesting stories between us (during) the painting, the name, and the history.”

The result of those dialogues have provided all of us with paintings and mixed media work with a variety of tactile and color-filled images for endless imaginative experiences! For example: Some of his paintings appear to be affording the viewer an aerial view inside.

“Slow Drive”: At first glance, it appears to be the undercarriage of a race car… black and yellow racing flag shapes mid-way ... huge brown tires. Has it been flattened by a parade of other racing cars? In that case, we’re talking a permanent “slow drive.” And, before I move on to “Watusi,” am I the only one hearing Foghat when I read this title?

“Watusi” is a small collage on cardboard and it is fabulous – it also sold at the opening reception on First Friday, too. It looks like a figure holding open a coat or cloak in a red patterned dress with orange round the bottom. The white and blue just make this piece sing … And with the blue and yellow color blocks where the head would be, perhaps it is symbolic of a Ukrainian who will not let her or his spirit, his or her light be extinguished?

And you will love the textures and kinetic energy of “Siesta.” That’s really all I’m going to say about that one. Go see it – and the other lively works of Jaap’s.

“Recent Paintings” runs through the end of August at Studio 53 at 53 Townsend Ave. in Boothbay Harbor.

Yaap says after all these years it still jazzes him to walk into a room with his work.

He’s not the only one.

For more information on Jaap, visit www.helderart.com