Summer 2010 in the Studio - a retrospect

       Fall is here.  I can feel it in the air - its much cooler now, and the humidity is gone.  So, it seems a good time to look back and see what I accomplished this summer.   It might have been a lot more work, but balancing this with weeks out of town in various places of the country, and taking a graduate class, and spending important time with my family - this seems like a reasonable amount of work to have accomplished.    

     Now that fall is here, I hope to be able to work consistently - though it will be balanced with a full time job as a high school teacher, and staying busy with various things at my church, and friendships that have an important place in my life, and the daily-ness of life!   

Brokenness

Brokenness, 5x5" Oil on canvas 

©2010, Helen Read 

For more information on this painting, please click here.

I've been wanting to do a still life in white ~ a personal challenge, I guess.   These egg shells had intriguing shapes, interesting shadows, and even some color within.  I'm not 100% happy with the outcome, but its interesting.  I think it would be good to do some more and work on a smoother surface, as you can see some of the texture of the canvas which seems to detract from the idea. 

Marigolds in a Bottle

Marigolds in a Bottle,  7 x 5" Oil on canvas 

©2010, Helen Read 

ready to frame 

For more information or purchase link for this painting, 

please click here.

I've grown some marigolds again this year in my small garden.   I always grow these hoping their strong smell will deter rabbits in the garden.   I'm not sure if that has happened (probably not), but they are quite pretty - especially in cobalt glass!

Helen's email

New Beginnings

New Beginnings - Hibiscus Buds,  8 x 10" graphite on clayboard

©2010, Helen Read
ready to frame 

Please click here for additional information on this drawing.

For those who care to look back in the previous posts during August, you will see the creation of this drawing.   The reference picture was a little more complicated than this, with various leaves and stems going on underneath the buds.  So, it has been simplified.    

It was fun to do a drawing just for the sake of a drawing!  I haven't done that in awhile.  I was also trying the new (to me) surface of clayboard.  What a great surface to work on!  I highly recommend it. 

Next, I would like to try colored pencil on this surface.  But, that's another project!  

Helen's email

Summer Rerun -Green Grapes

Green Grapes,  5 x 7 " Oil on canvas

©2008, Helen Read 

ready to frame 

 For more information on this painting and a convenient purchase link, please click here.

Still working along on some new paintings in the studio, 

so in the meantime, I'm posting a few older ones!  

This one was done a couple summers ago - but its rather timeless.

Green Grapes = summer!

Another Old Favorite - Old Tree

Old Tree, 8x8" Oil on canvas 

©2007, Helen Read 

(Private collection - Austin, TX) 

Just posting a few older ones as paint dries on some current works in my studio.  I really love the shady feel of this one.  It was sold very soon after painting it.  And now, it resides 1800 miles away from me!    But, it will always be a favorite  -  reminding me of the state where I was born and raised! 

Soon - new works will be featured here.  The semester is now underway, my summer travels are over,  and I'm working in my studio much more regularly again!   (:-))   I like that!   Check back soon! 

Picking Tomaotes ~ Old favorite

 

 Tomatoes in a Basket, 6x6" oil on canvas

©2007, Helen Read 

This is what I have going on in my garden!   Tomatoes.... small ones!   Lots of them! 

Even with the lack of rain and crazy heat this summer, I have a lot of grape tomatoes, for which I'm grateful!  They have a flavor like no other!