Harvest!

Happy Thanksgiving!from my studio to you....
May this season find you enjoying family and friends. And may you remember many good things in this year past, for which you can truly give thanks!

 

Apples on Damask,  6 x 12" Oil on canvas

©Helen Read 

 Ready to Frame

 

Light, shadows ... shiny fabrics.  This painting presented a challenge.  The white on white weave of the fabric and the way the light played on it required close observation and attention to detail.  This will make a colorful and interesting addition to a kitchen or dining room.  Let me send it to you!

It is ready to frame. 

Barely there.... The last of fall

Barely There, 10x8" oil on canvas
©Helen Read

Framed in a simple black frame (see below) and comes ready to hang! 

Fall leaves are almost completely fallen here now.  We've actually had very wintery weather in the midst of November.... its come a little early.  This painting captures the last clinging leaves and the lovely colors that remain.  It is framed and ready to mail out!   The perfect, unique gift for the coming season!  It can be in your hands in just a few days! 

                                                           

Landscape commission ~ progress report

These last few weeks, I've been working on a landscape commission pretty steadily.  Scroll down a bit and you'll see some earlier renditions.  I am now working on the foreground and on the right side, I have a little more background to work on.  Then, I'll begin working on the foliage for the tree.  It is progressing!  Slowly, but then, its a larger landscape (20"x 24") so there's simply more canvas to cover!  It will be finished before long, though, and on its way to its new home out east!

Friday night

Friday evening  .... and it's gotten cold here in the Midwest.  It seemed a good thing to start a fire in the fireplace and begin a new painting.   It's been a long week with teenage students, early mornings, grading, professional development, faculty meetings, etc. 

I'm welcoming the weekend!  

November Gathering, again!

November Gathering, 8x8" Oil on Canvas
©Helen Read 

A few Novembers ago, I posted this painting... which I still love! The hostas had turned a beautiful yellow which was juxtaposed with the deep violet of the mums.  All of these were growing in my yard.  The colors vibrate with fall colors.   This painting is ready to find a new home!  It may be just perfect for yours! 

Landscape commission on my easel

I've been busily working on a commission just lately... also trying to do a few other things at the same time, but this shows the progress I'm making on the commission.  It gives a good progression from rough sketch to beginning to apply paint - and now beginning to get some details put in. 
It measures 20 x 24" and I started by toning the canvas a tint of violet.  The rough sketch is made from a group of reference pictures I was given.  The rough sketch is at the top.  Then, I did an oil sketch on the canvas and began blocking in some shadow areas.  Finally I painted the sky, trying to pay attention to the altering colors of blue withing a clear sky.  Then, I began putting some details in with the trunks of the tree in the foreground.  It is weathered and gnarled, but yet quite graceful.  And in the last picture, you can see some of the back ground mountains and cliffs.  Its obvious I have a lot more to do, but it seems to be taking shape.  I will post the progress I make in the coming weeks. 

Egret watercolor ~ Throwback Thursday!

Knee Deep - Snowy Egret, 7 x 11.5" watercolor/acrylic on paper
©Helen Read
Matted in white and ready to frame in 11x14" frame

From a few years ago!
The reference picture for this painting was one I made on a recent trip to South Carolina.  It was beautiful to watch this stately bird slowly, methodically watch for small fish to happen by - and then - suddenly! .... captured.  

Great gift idea! 

A little autumn color

Autumn Color, 7 x 4.75" watercolor on Yupo paper 

©Helen Read 

matted in white to fit a 12 x 9" frame

 

A view from my backyard this fall..... I caught the beautiful palette of colors just as the sun shown through the leaves, lighting up everything in sparkling light!   Every color in the spectrum made itself known in the dazzling light!   I painted on Yupo paper, which is very smooth and gives a very loose feeling to the work.  You will also see the application in a few areas of salt, which give an interesting texture to the final outcome.  This is matted in white and ready to frame in your frame! 
Add a little color to your decor!