A Secret Path

Secret Path, 8x10" acrylic on canvas

©2012, Helen Read 

ready to frame

Please click here for full details on price and purchase!

This one may look somewhat familiar to the post below, Glade, which is done with a different media and technique.  The basic landscape is the same, but I've used some of my abstraction ideas of circles and dots to create a less than abstract landscape!   I love the chance to mix colors by juxtaposing them right on the canvas.   To me, though a tedious application method, really does give a somewhat joyous and carefree outcome! 

Glade

Glade, 6x8" Oil pastel on paper

©2012, Helen Read 

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!

January's Featured Painting! 

$30.00

Winter Bandit,  5x5" acrylic on canvas

©2012, Helen Read 

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

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

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!

Wrapped, 9x12" colored pencil on black paper

©2010, Helen Read

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

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

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

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

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

Winter Resident, 6x6" Oil on canvas

©2011, Helen Read
ready to frame
(Please add $10.00 shipping in US, IL residents please add 8.25% sales tax)

SOLD!

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

 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

Spiraling Leaf, 6x6" graphite on clayboard

©2011, Helen Read 

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

Autumn's Glory,  10x8" Acrylic on Canvas 

©2010, Helen Read 

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

Sardinian Sunshine,  6x6" Oil on canvas

©2011, Helen Read 

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!