Sunflower Basket

 Sunflower Basket, 10x8" Oil on gessoboard

© 2017 Helen Read 

SOLD

You've probably guessed it!  Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers to draw and paint.  They are big and bold and they radiate a lot of color!   Aptly named for the sun, don't you think!

Bring some cheer into your home - all it needs is a frame and it's ready to hang!

* Includes domestic shipping - US Priority Mail.  International shipping costs will be quoted by location and additional shipping charge will be applied.

How I got from here to there.... my process

Its always kind of interesting to see a process, don't you think? 
This week, I've been working on a new painting - which is not quite dry yet ...  not quite ready to post in it's final form.  But I took pictures of it along it's journey from first strokes of paint to its near finish.    You'll see I did not start with a drawing - I just began laying in layers of transparent color where they should occur within the painting.

Then in the wet paint, I "drew in" where I wanted the basic shapes to be.

With both transparent and opaque paint, I began to lay in color and form, shadows and light to bring this painting to life.  It's a little different approach than I have typically used - but it gives the final painting a lot of freedom in the way paint is applied and the way color mixes.  

Here's a little better view of the end.... I'll be posting this one soon!  (It will be looking for it's new home!) 

Star of Bethlehem, (Chicago Flower Market), 8x10" - Oil on gesso board
©2017  Helen Read

Abundance and Diversity

Chicago Flower Market, 5x7 oil on gesso board 

©2017 Helen Read 

 

SOLD

This little painting is going to its new home in North Carolina! 

This spring, I painted this from a visit I made to a small but delightful flower market in Chicago. There was every color and size of flowers in complete abundance. There was every iteration of green and so many textures in the foliage! Abundance and diversity - hallmarks of God's creative hand!

It's easy to bring home a colorful, vibrant and original work of art!  

You can visit my website to see much of what is available, or scroll down through this blog.  

The wonderful thing for the artist about creating art is that we get to share  our vision - what we see in our own unique way - with others.  Hopefully, this artistic vision bring joy, beauty, and delight to it's new home! 

Framed! The final touch!

The value of framing!  

A painting always feels more finished - more presentable when the right frame is found, 

the painting is secured in it, and finally it is displayed. 

The wrong frame, however, can have the opposite effect. 

What makes the frame the right one? 

A lot depends on the picture being framed as well as the taste of the one who will display it. 

But, here are a few things to keep in mind: 

1.  You do not want the frame to "speak" more loudly than the painting. 

Simplicity is a good rule of thumb. 

2.  Consider the colors in the painting.  What kind of frame enhances them best? 

In this case a simple black frame.  

3.  Consider the style of the painting.  This painting is more contemporary in style, so 

a very sleek black frame seemed to work better than a natural wood colored one. 

4.  Finally, consider the subject matter in the painting.  Depending on the subject, you may have a type of frame that is more appropriate than another.

Personal taste is also a factor, but the considerations above are perhaps more important guidelines. 

Enjoy the process of choosing the right frame!  The right frame makes a world of difference and puts that finishing touch on a lovely work of art!  

Lovely Lavender

Lovely Lavender, 6x9" Oil on gesso board 

© Helen Read 

It's almost magical - a whole field of lavender!  Not only is lavender beautiful and it has a lovely old fashioned scent, did you know that it has been used for centuries as an insect repellent!?   But - back to the painting! 

In this scene, you see rows and rows of it's beautiful color with little peeks of green showing through.  The shadows are also quite interesting and full of color.  All of this within the view of distant hills and trees. 

Delightful display of color! 

This one is still drying, but will be ready to send within a short time.  

It is ready to frame and will look stunning on any wall!