A Little Bird ... a little December gift!

This month I'll be giving this little bluebird mini painting away!

Little Bluebird, 3x3" oil on canvas + a small easel
©2017 Helen Read

 That's right!   For those who are subscribed to my monthly newsletter, all the details will be given in a few days when my newsletter is sent!  You'll want to be signed up (see below) so you receive my email and can take part! 

It's easy and fun to join my circle of friends... every month I send special offers, hold a contest, give away a freebie, and give some discounts!   If you love art, and if you like gifts... this is for you!!  

All you need to do is click the button below, it will take you to a form  and you'll be signed up.  I'll be sending my next newsletter (and the information about this little bird) within the first few days of December!  

Sign Up Now

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The Joy of Beautiful and Affordable Art

Now available in Fine Art Giclee Prints!

Please scroll down for more information about archival giclee prints, which can be printed on either canvas or paper. Giclee prints are beautifully printed with archival inks and papers and available at a very affordable price!

PLEASE NOTE: 
Shipping more than 1 item to the same address allows me to discount shipping.  However, it isn't possible to have that happen until after check out, when I will refund the discounted amount through paypal.  I'm sorry for that inconvenience; I tried multiple options to avoid it. 

Lovely Lavender -  fine art giclee print
©Helen Read

Lovely Lavender, (originally oil on gessoboard) is now available as a fine art print
in 2 sizes: 8x10" or 11x14" and on either stretched canvas or as a matted print or mounted on a rigid support. 
And the original is still available, as well at this link! 

 

Descanso Iris -  fine art giclee print
©Helen Read

Descanso Iris (originally a watercolor painting) was purchased for the set of the TV show, Chicago Fire.
It boasts a beautiful array of colors in pinks and greens.  

It is now available as a giclee print on watercolor paper.  

Nest Eggs -  fine art giclee print
©Helen Read

Nest Eggs, (originally oil on canvas) features a robin's nest - containing the promise of new life and varied colors of turquoise in light and shadow.  It is available as an 8x10" print
on stretched canvas or as a matted print or mounted on a rigid surface and ready to frame.
available with 3 options:

Two of a Feather -  fine art giclee print
©Helen Read


 Two of a Feather  (originally oil on gessoboard) is available as a fine art print
8x8" and with several options

 

 

 

 

Callas at Sunrise -  fine art giclee print
©Helen Read

Callas at Sunrise (originally oil on canvas) is now available as a fine art print

in 2 sizes: 8x10" or 11x14" and on either stretched canvas or as a matted print or mounted on a rigid support. 

And the original is still available, as well at this link! 

  What is Giclee Printing? 

Giclee is a printing process that uses archival papers or other supports and inks.  Because of this, these prints do not fade, discolor or deteriorate over time.  I use a printing company that focuses on fine art prints done to high standards.  I know you'll be pleased with your purchase.  However, if for some reason it does not meet your needs, you may make a return within 14 days.

   When you make an order, I am notified and your order will be printed and shipped.  I ask that you allow approximately 10 days for receipt, although for most domestic addresses, your prints will arrive sooner!    Prints can be sent to international addresses as well, although shipping costs are higher.  Please email me for an estimate on shipping outside the US.   

I'm excited to be able to offer this option!  It is a great way to hang beautiful art in your home or to give fine art as a gift.  The affordability of fine art prints adds another way to bring beauty into our lives!  

Birds of a Feather

Birds of a Feather, 6x6" oil on gesso board 

©2017 Helen Read 

SOLD 

These 2!  Captured with a bit of personality showing!  (Perhaps a little mischief!?) 

You can almost hear what they are thinking!   

Watch this painting unfold in a few seconds (of course, it took longer than a few seconds to paint!)  Its always fascinating to see how it begins and how it comes to its final form.
You can also see it on YouTube here:   https://youtu.be/wkMlFiq_nxY

 

Some Student Work - Fall Drawing 1 Class

Every year I like to post some of the work my students
in High School are doing.  This is a Drawing 1 class at Wheaton North High Schoo - so though they may have had some background in drawing, it is not a background of instruction. 
Most of my students come to class first thing in the semester liking to draw but not really experienced.  

This work shows so well what students are capable of achieving in the first 10 weeks or so of class!   I'm proud of them - they have worked hard and it shows!  

These drawings are a small representation of student work where they've taken the instruction and really applied what we've learned in the unit on value and shading techniques.  

They picked their own subjects, transferred the images, and shaded with graphite. 

As a teacher, it's very exciting to see this kind of growth!

The Joys of Autumn

"Autumn, the year's last loveliest smile." ~William Cullen Bryant

A blaze of color, the quiet settling of leaves, the flocks of birds on a yearly pilgrimage, 

there's a rhythm and constancy about the seasons, and autumn - a preparation for rest - is one of the most beautiful. 

Even in the midst of all this beauty,  I look ahead to the long siege of winter with some trepidation. 

Here, where I live, it seems to last forever under a chilled white blanket.  

So Autumn, for me, is a time to soak it up and to take joy in the small beauties it presents...

To Give Thanks

...not just because we celebrate Thanksgiving in the Autumn, but because each day has its own small gifts. 

 The glorious "hello" of the morning as the sun rises

 The intricate tracing of color in fallen leaves 

Gifts can be found in the most ordinary of life's experiences... if we choose to see them as gifts.  

This is what I'm training my eye and my heart to see - God, the Creator of the cosmos, is presenting beautiful small gifts day by day as a way of saying,  "It all matters!  Beauty matters.  My creation matters. Small things matter."  and most importantly,
"YOU matter!"

These gifts of beauty are His love notes to each of us - but we must take time to see.  We must take time to see the blaze of red lit up by the sun and reflected in the water... only lasting a few minutes to the seeing eye before it's gone, but nevertheless, a whisper of colorful love. 

or 

the dawning of golden light with it's band of glowing clouds - a gracious good morning and the promise of a new day of opportunities.  Scriptures tells us that His mercies are new each morning  - here is a visual reminder of that promise.

or 

an array of color from purple through reds and oranges and yellows, 

gently traced throughout the veins of leaves...Why? 
For beauty's sake; for the delight of it. 

Taking joy in these small ordinary things trains the heart to watch for the gifts that God gives and to 

live with gratitude. 

Watch with me! 
Take joy in the small gifts of the day.
Give thanks to a good God who whispers love and promises of mercy and who takes delight in His creation.... and most especially takes delight in You!