brushstrokes, etc.

February's Featured Painting - Robin's Nest!

2012-02-04T08:36:00.000-06:00

Robin's Nest, 5x5" Oil on canvas

ready to frame

$30.00
(Please add $10.00 shipping, IL residents please add 8.25% sales tax)

(until it sells - through the end of February 2012, then it returns to its usual price)

This is the month when winter seems to drone on and on.... and then, a robin shows itself as a messenger of hope that spring is on its way! The robin's nest when it contains its lovely blue eggs is like a small colorfully wrapped gift - waiting for its unveiling!

Please click here for a convenient purchase link!

Last Chance for this special price!

2012-01-30T20:52:00.001-06:00

Winter Bandit, 5x5" acrylic on canvas

Ready to Frame

Just 1 more day till this painting is no longer available for its

Featured Price of $30.00

Price in effect until Feb. 1st.

SOLD

A Secret Path

2012-01-28T10:17:00.003-06:00

Secret Path, 8x10" acrylic on canvas

ready to frame

Glade

2012-01-11T20:19:00.000-06:00

Glade, 6x8" Oil pastel on paper

ready to mat and frame $25.00

For a convenient purchase link, please click here.

There's something very mysterious about the deep shadows of the woods, and the bright light of a clearing. Here I've tried to capture with color the depth of shadow contrasted with the beauty of sunlight! Maybe its wishful thinking here in the middle of January!

January Featured Painting!

2012-01-02T18:50:00.001-06:00

January's Featured Painting!

$30.00

Winter Bandit, 5x5" acrylic on canvas

Ready to frame

Please click here to find out how this little painting can be yours at its featured price!

This is a little different approach for me. Its a highly stylized cedar waxwing ... with an abstract background. The colors are bright, which is just what is needed in the long stretches of winter grayness!

This little painting has been listed at its "featured" price just for the month of January. Its a great opportunity to own an original work of art for a great price. After January, if it hasn't sold, it will go to its regular price.

Happy New Year!

I hope you have a wonderful beginning to 2012!

More of 2011 in Review

2011-12-28T15:16:00.000-06:00

Miscellaneous drawings and paintings of 2011

Scroll down for a look at abstracts and landscapes of 2011


Light and Reflections, 8 x 12" Colored pencil on black paper

House Wren, 6x6" Colored pencil on gray paper


Wren in Grass, 6x6" Acrylic on canvas

Sold


Agave, 6x6" Acrylic on Clayboard

Please click here for more information on this painting.


The Edge of Shadow, 9x12" colored pencil on black paper

Please click here for more information on this drawing


Blossom, 8x8" colored pencil on clayboard

Please click here for more information on this drawing


Spiraling Leaf, 6x6" Graphite on Clayboard

Please click here for more information on this drawing.


Winter Resident, 6x6" Oil on canvas

Sold


Ship, 9x11" Pen and Ink on Paper

Sold

Its been a busy year! But not entirely busy with art.... I've continued to teach high school, full time and take a rather full load of graduate classes. In between these things and keeping relationships alive with children, family and friends, I paint!! And, thankfully, I have sold more this year than in recent years with our slow economy. Maybe this is a hopeful sign that recovery is on its way!? I hope so.

As I look back over the year in terms of art, its been a good year - with new and different kinds of work, larger sizes for many of the works, and new ideas!

Happy New Year!

May we enjoy the blessings of 2012 as we look back with gratitude on 2011.

2011 in Review - Landscapes

2011-12-26T12:18:00.000-06:00

Looking back, its been a year of quite a few landscapes! Most of these have sold, but several remain available...

Coastal Road, 5x7" Acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Dusty Landscape, 5.25 x 7.5" Acrylic on paper
This comes matted in a 8x10" off white matting. Ready to frame.

Please click here to find out how to have this beautiful, highly textured

painting come to your house!

Points North, 5x7" Acrylic on canvas

Please click here to find out how to have this beautiful landscape come to your house!

Sardinian Sunshine, 6x6" Oil on canvas

SOLD

Maroon Bells, 11x16" Oil on canvas
SOLD - Commissioned

Rosie's Pond, 5x7" Watercolor on Paper

SOLD - Commissioned

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T20:02:00.000-06:00

Wrapped, 9x12" colored pencil on black paper

Merry Christmas! It is a wonderful time of year to stop and celebrate with family and friends.

This year, may I take a moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

I wish you a warm and wonderful celebration, and I wish for you "the best gift of all"

the Gift of our Savior, Jesus. A gift equally open to all who will receive it.

Psalms on Note Cards

2011-12-21T20:36:00.002-06:00

A new set of note cards? I'm not sure yet if I will produce these.

They use some of my abstract works with words from the Psalms.

I'm open for comments!

The Year in Review - abstracts

2011-12-18T17:40:00.000-06:00

I've worked on several abstracts this year. I continue to be intrigued by abstractions and how to make them compelling by simply using the elements and principles of design well.
These were fun to do, and while working on them, I feel like I learned a lot about my materials and how to use them.

So this post is about the finished abstracts this year.
I am still working on a few that have not yet been finished.
The top two are rather large - 22x15" Both are acrylic on paper.
The third one is smaller, in fact, its roughly post card sized; also acrylic on paper

and the last one is a medium sized piece, and acrylic on rice paper that is mounted on foam core.

What intrigues me about these are the repetitive shapes and the somewhat poetic colors. I hope to continue working out some of these ideas in the new year.

Pond Reflections

2011-12-05T18:49:00.000-06:00


Rosie's Pond, 5x7" watercolor on paper ©2011, Helen Read

SOLD

I love the tranquility of a pond. This one seems to reflect just that kind of tranquility. It brings back so many memories of my childhood. This is a small commission ... a Christmas gift, on its way to an unsuspecting recipient!

Winter Resident

2011-11-30T18:03:00.002-06:00

December Featured Painting!
$30.00
Through 12-31-2011

Winter Resident, 6x6" Oil on canvas

Here, where I live - we have cardinals that reside with us all winter. Their bright colors are so evident on the snowiest and coldest days. I often wonder how they survive, but they seem to do quite well! I also see their presence as a beautiful expression of how God provides for our needs in the not-so-plentiful seasons of life!

For just this month of December, I'm featuring this painting at $30. That's an amazing discount! After December, if it hasn't sold, it will revert to its usual price of $100. Now's a great time to purchase for Christmas giving or for your own home! It's an eye catching spot of color to brighten winter!

What I've been up to lately

2011-11-14T21:39:00.000-06:00

This is actually a commission, but its kept me busy for the last few weeks. It measures 11 x 16". I started by making the canvas. I prefer to make my own; there's a great craft in stretching a canvas, sizing it and priming it. It is painted with oils (Gamblin).

It will be out of the studio very soon ~ off to its new home. I'm happy with its outcome! Its been a fun thing to do ~ I hope the client likes it as much as I do! I'll post the final picture when its completed.

For more information on commissioning a painting - please email me!

Spiraling Leaf

2011-11-09T17:05:00.000-06:00

Spiraling Leaf, 6x6" graphite on clayboard

Ready to Frame

For more information about the purchase of this drawing, please click here.

This small drawing is pencil on clayboard. I really like the way clayboard and graphite work together! It is a very smooth surface on a rigid board, about 3/8" thick.

The curl and shape of these kinds of leaves intrigue me. This drawing starts to lean toward abstraction as I tried to emphasize the wonderful shapes it has. This would make a very nice addition to a small space! Its easy to have it sent to your house! Click the link above to find out how!

Autumn in full color

2011-11-05T15:44:00.000-05:00

Autumn's Glory, 10x8" Acrylic on Canvas

Ready to frame

To find out how to hang this colorful abstract on your wall, please click here.

This painting is one of a set of 4 depicting the 4 seasons. To see the set, please click here.

Autumn is here! It is really quite beautiful, although I always feel a little sad about saying goodbye to the warm weather, the birds, & the leaves. In this painting, it seemed the best way to comment on the season was to allow the canvas to explode with color! Where I live, the color is glorious!

email Helen

November Featured Painting - Sardinian Sunshine

2011-10-29T21:18:00.002-05:00

Sardinian Sunshine, 6x6" Oil on canvas

ready to frame

For the month of November only, this painting is featured for

$30.00

Sold

This painting is one that I did for Virtual Paintout. One uses Google Street View to find a spot worthy of painting - and then a painting is done (thus the name - Virtual Paintout)

I really liked this view particularly for the dramatic shadows on the side of the white wall.

The whole thing gave the feeling of being in sun drenched Sardinia!

For the month of November only, this painting is featured at $30. If it doesn't sell, it will revert to its usual price of $100. Maybe it would make a nice gift! Or maybe it would be perfect for that small space or shelf that needs some original art! Either way, its ready to be shipped to its new home!

LAST CALL! $30 for just a few more days!

2011-10-28T06:05:00.001-05:00

October's Featured Painting is almost over!
$30.00
through the end of October.

Green Agave, 6x6" Watercolor and Acrylic on clayboard

(ready to frame. Shipping $10.00 in US, IL residents, please add 8.25% sales tax.)

Dried Flowers

2011-10-25T20:36:00.000-05:00

Dried Flowers, 10x8" Oil on canvas

To find out more about this painting, please click here.

Well, this has been an incredibly busy month! I have a small painting drying, which I'll be able to post soon. I've also been working on a commission.... and then a million things with my semester at school too. So, while I wait for paint to dry, I'm reposting this fall painting from a couple years ago.

I tried to depict the paper thin, dried white flowers of this vine I found in my neighborhood. It also had some very interesting brown berries. I'm sure the birds enjoy it through the winter time. Fall seems to be rapidly overtaking us now... it won't be long till all we see are dried remnants of summer!

still working .....

2011-10-17T18:17:00.000-05:00

I haven't put this aside entirely, though it has been awhile since I've worked on it. Lately, I've done more work...

Its large! 28 x 27" And entirely abstract. I'm using acrylic on canvas and have attached some textured materials. It is painted in acrylics and really, I've only just gotten a start (mostly just an under painting so far) - it will be much more painted. My inspiration? The cosmos! I'll be posting updates as I make more progress.

Fall is upon us...

2011-10-11T16:57:00.000-05:00

Barely There, 8x10" Oil on Canvas

Please click here for more information on this painting

Where I live, fall is definitely upon us. Its been gloriously warm this last week, but all the colors are beginning to show and vibrate with color. It won't be long until just a few leaves are left clinging to nearly bare branches.

I'm currently working on some larger paintings in between all the other things that seem to keep me very busy with work and family. I hope to post some updates soon.

Featured Painting for October! Agave.

2011-09-29T16:02:00.000-05:00

Agave, 6x6" Acrylic and watercolor on clayboard

For the month of October - $30.00

after 10/31 - $100.00

Ready to frame

(Shipping $10.00 in US, IL residents please add 8.25% sales tax)

The latest from my studio is offered at the very low "featured price" of $30, just for this month or until it has sold! This one is done on clayboard, using acrylic and watercolor.

I love the shadows and jagged edges that show up on the leaves and in the shadows.

Please click here to find out how to have this shipped to you right away!

Points North Landscape

2011-09-26T20:41:00.001-05:00

Points North, 5x7" Acrylic on canvas

Please click here for full information.

Agave, once again - in progress

2011-09-20T18:18:00.000-05:00

This is an experiment! I have used clayboard for graphite and colored pencil. But, I was intrigued by the info on the packaging saying that it would be suited to water media.... so..... this is watercolor on clayboard. Perhaps the subject matter is familiar? Yes, its the same reference picture as the colored pencil I just posted!

I'm finding out that clayboard does not take the paint like paper! It does seem to soak in and it isn't easily pushed around - but I also like the way the paint disperses! So..... this is just a start. I'll finish it and post it and give my final analysis!

Agave - The edge of shadow

2011-09-16T13:56:00.000-05:00

The Edge of Shadows, 9x12" Colored Pencil on black paper

Please click here to find out more about this colored pencil painting

with its 2 options - one matted and one unmatted.

This came from reference pictures I took when visiting Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, CA. The beautiful shadows and sunlight hitting the leaves were especially startling just after a sudden shower.

I was intrigued by the interesting edges and how the shape of them was repeated in the shadows as well. I am always intrigued by the beauty of botanical subjects. This one attests to my interest!

Blossom - finished work

2011-09-06T17:29:00.000-05:00

Blossom, 8x8" Colored Pencil on Clayboard

Ready to frame

To find out more about how to purchase this original art work, please click here.

Its finished! I learned a lot about working on this surface with colored pencil. Actually, I think clayboard is better suited to graphite than to colored pencil - but I am happy with the outcome.

It is a pretty vivid piece, and would look fantastic framed and hanging in a small space! I'd love to send it your way! Click the link above to find out how.