Three Longneck Pears

The work on this is pretty much done. I'm happy with the outcome of the painting, but I am not happy with the way it scanned. That part still needs work. Notice on the left in the background. The brushstrokes really show on the scan, but you can't really see this in person. So, I need figure out why this happened (I don't recall having this problem with scanning before) and deal with it. This is the technology piece of what I do that can be most frustrating!

It measures 8 x 10" and it is done in oils on canvas. What oddly shaped pears these are! But, the painting is accurate!

I will repost the scan as soon as I have resolved its "issues"!!

While Paint is Drying .... an old favorite!

Sunflower Triptych - 14 x 48" overall, Oil on canvas ©2008, Helen Read

No need to frame, canvases are painted around the sides

For those who have been watching, the pear painting is now complete. However it is quite wet, so I'm waiting for it to dry some more before I scan it. I prefer scanning to get the colors right and also its truer to rectangular than when I photograph it. All of this is due to the fact that I really don't have the right camera equipment for excellent photography when it comes to the details of photographing a painting. While its drying, I'm reposting an old favorite from 2 years ago about this time. This triptych stretches 48" long and is very colorful. In this photo, it seems a little "warmer" than it really is. Ways to stay in touch! Also, I want to celebrate the fact that my Facebook Art Page now has 100 friends! If you are a regular Facebooker, please join us - you'll see regular updates and be able to interact with others there! The icon is on the left side of this blog. I also have a emailing list, the sign up is on the left side of the blog too! I send out email newsletters every few months which are newsy and interesting and quite visual. Your email info is secure and never shared! I also send out more frequent updates about things that are going on in the studio, latest works, contests, give aways, etc. Your in box won't be inundated, but you will hear from me!

The Progress continues

I'm still working on this - and have put in some of the values in the pears now. I need to continue adjusting and there's much more to be done on the background and the table top.
Its coming along, however. I'll post more soon!

Thoughts for Sunday morning

Cross, graphite on mylar
©2009, Helen Read

What an amazing thing, the cross of Christ is! I wonder, though, if because we've heard the message over and over again ~ or we've heard it and been put off by the morbidity of it ~ or perhaps never understood it ~ that it could lose its significance?

May that never be!! Understanding the motivation behind it ... A perfectly righteous and just God who is also a God of Love, and a God who has given us and respects our right to choose Him or to turn our backs on Him - that God sees the impossibility of those he has created and loves being able to make our way to him. He, Christ Jesus, trades his life for ours. He takes on the form of humanity - as one of us - yet never shedding his divinity. He speaks and lives God's message of love, and exposes the religiosity of his day as being full of flaws. And then he willingly lays down his life to be the payment for our sins. The story would be incomplete and nothing but tragic if it ended there. No! He conquered death completely. It was not capable of holding Him in its grasp. He rose again and as a result the world and all of eternity is changed forever!

So, what do we do with this story? Its a message that each of us must understand and choose! We can reject it. We can embrace it and accept it with joy. We can be indifferent to it.
For those who reject it, a choice is being made ~ and it is a choice that will follow through eternity... without God and also therefore, without any of the characteristics of God - goodness, love, joy, peace, kindness.
For those who accept it a choice is being made ~ it, too, is a choice that will follow through eternity ... with God, forever redeemed! To live with Him - as one of his beloved - with every attribute of who He is!
But what about those who are indifferent? Or even worse, those who expect God to welcome them because they've tried to fly under the radar? They've never rejected Him openly, but they've never embraced him and accepted His Gift of His death and resurrection for them? Isn't this really the same as rejection ... perhaps not hostile rejection, but an indifferent heart is certainly not one that chooses Him.

Now is the time to walk into his love and accept his gift of Life - for the here and now and for all of eternity! Its what He longs for... its what He traded his life for! He and Life! is only a prayer away!

"To all who receive Him, to those who believe in His name, He gives the
right to become children of God..." John 1:12

A new work in progress

I'm starting a small still life - 8 x 10" - of these 3 uniquely shaped pears! They have extraordinarily long necks and very unusual shapes, overall. I thought they would be an interesting subject - and be good practice for working in a realistic style. All in all, a great artistic exercise!

So, I've begun with a thin grisaille painting as you can see in the top painting. This was done in burnt sienna and I used both a paint in and a rub out technique. This is a great way to establish values and make corrections in the shapes of the objects. I have a few more corrections to make and then will begin the laying in of color glazes.

Check back - you'll see its progress develop!

Sold!

Tiger Striped Pumpkins
Sold!

This small painting will soon be on its way to Ohio! Congratulations to the highest bidder!

June Auction - 3 kitchen paintings!

Oh Look! Time is running out!
The auction will be finished on
Wednesday, June 23 about mid day!

See images and links in the posting below!

Its not too late to hang one of these small original paintings in your kitchen or dining room!
The perfect solution for that small space that needs a spot of color!

June Auction - 3 kitchen paintings!

Only through June 23 3 small original oil paintings by auction! 

Coming Soon! - Kitchen Still lifes auction!

Red Velvet (pictured here with the suggestion of a frame) 5x5" Oil on canvas - ready to frame ©2008, Helen Read 

 

3 Lemons (pictured here with the suggestion of a frame) 6x6" Oil on canvas - ready to frame ©2008, Helen Read

SOLD

 

Tiger Striped Pumpkins (pictured here with the suggestion of a frame) 5 x 7" Oil on canvas - ready to frame ©2007, Helen Read 

 SOLD

 

I have a few too many of my old paintings sitting here. So, I'm announcing several auctions to begin very soon! These 3 will be first! There's a theme here - small paintings that would look great in your kitchen or dining room! They are original, oil on canvas - and are ready to frame. The great thing about an auction is that the prices start very low, at a fraction of what this size painting usually sells. The end price is never a certainty ... but there's the possibility that you can buy an original painting for very little. I hope you'll participate!  

 

Its not too early to start thinking of that perfect gift for Christmas giving! And you can be quite sure that the hard-to-buy-for person on your list doesn't already have this! These are 1 of a kind, and will always be that!

Stay tuned!! The auction will begin in a few days!

Dried Roses - watercolor

Yesterday, 10 x 6" watercolor on 300# paper ©2010, Helen Read  

I hadn't worked in watercolor for awhile - nor had I done anything in a tighter style - so it was time to return to that for awhile. This one was one I'd had on my mind for a matter of several weeks. The shriveled appearance of the dried roses was so visually interesting ... getting the feel of it with color and value was challenging. But, I'm happy with the outcome. Hope you get the sense of yesterday by looking at it!

Worship - The Lord Speaks

Worship 4 - The Lord Speaks, 9 x 12" mixed media on paper
©2008, Helen Read

Another abstract art work representing a very abstract concept, Worship. This one is mixed media - and it seemed to evoke the idea of the poetic and beautiful words of our loving creator. The idea of "logos", or word, runs deep through scripture. By his words, he spoke everything into existence. He gives us his word in the form of scripture for all he wants us to know about his character and his intent to love us at a cost to himself. And most wonderful of all - he gives us his Word - another name for Jesus whom he sent to "speak" to us as one of us ... and yet in his human-ness he was also completely God - as part of the Trinity. It is an incomprehensible mystery but the truth of it does not depend on our ability to understand. The Lord Speaks also communicates the idea that he reaches out to us to know and be known! Pretty amazing!

It's Time to Join My Email List!!

The Latest Give Away from my Studio!

This week, I gave away 12 small prints of a Japanese Iris! The offer I made was very simple. It was sent to everyone on my email list ~ for the first 12 responders I will send a free small print of the flower above. Nothing more! It was only offered to those who are on my mailing list, and of course I am encouraging anyone, everyone, to invite their friends to join us! So, this small print give away is over, but there will be more things coming soon!

So today, I'm sending these little prints from Nova Scotia to Hawaii!! As a way of saying thank you for being interested and watching the work that comes from my studio! I like to do these kinds of things from time to time. Its fun for me and I think its fun for those who participate!

So, if you are here reading this blog - maybe its time to join us!? Its easy. Just go to the box at the right of my blog and put your email address in. You will hear from me, though I will not flood your inbox. I will send updates on news from my studio, previews of my work, and occasional drawings and contests with give aways and fun ways to interact from afar!
And just so you know, your information is held it tightest confidence - it is never shared!

Summer in Color

Summer in Color, 10 x 8" Acrylic on canvas ©2010, Helen Read
 

This one continues my recent series with abstraction to show the seasons of the year. I still have Autumn to complete! I love the way that color alone can imply a season. This work in abstraction gives me the opportunity to think about composition and color without the added element of representing anything in particular. Abstraction stretches my artistic skills by making me think deeply about using the elements and principles of art to create a visually appealing and interesting piece.

 

Worship III

Worship III, Glory - 20 x 15" Oil pastel on paper
©2008, Helen Read

To see the whole worship series, please visit my website.

As this work came from my hands, done without preconceived planning ~ but simply as an act of worship ~ the idea of the shining glory of God began to come forward in my thoughts. There are references to it through the Old Testament, as seen at times by the children of Israel. It was also evidenced on the face of Moses when he entered into the presence of God (and yet, not ever seeing him face to face for it would have been too much to survive). This is a concept that we cannot begin to imagine - it is totally outside our realm of experience. Imagination is not a sufficient vehicle for what the Glory of God was, is, or will be! But for this earthly realm, it is the only vehicle we have! Soli Deo Gloria!

Echoes of Winter

Echoes of Winter, 10 x 8" Acrylic on canvas ©2010, Helen Read