Tulip ~ still in progress

I haven't posted in a few days - but instead, I've been in my studio at work! Here is the continued progress on the larger painting I mentioned a couple posts ago. I need to measure, but I think this one is 28x28" (I made the canvas quite awhile back, and don't remember the size).

The idea here is to show the view of looking straight down into a newly opened tulip. The surprise that waits inside is absolutely beautiful. This one is taking on a Georgia O'Keeffe-esk look to it. What I love, when it happens, is that the painting begins to dictate to me what it needs. It often turns out very differently than how I had envisioned it at the start.

Well - more work is needed. I think I may need to amplify the inner stigma and stamens. I will probably glaze back the shadows so that they do not appear to be so completely purple. These thoughts struck me last evening as I was finishing up for the night. I haven't gone back to look again with new eyes today. I'll post more in the next few days; no doubt it will have evolved in some new ways that I don't yet foresee!

A very special cause..... Benefit Auction

Twilight, 8x8" Oil on Canvas

Auction Complete! This painting is being shipped to Austin, TX!

I want to introduce you to a family that has inspired and blessed me as they battle through a tragedy, which struck their family last October. Their son, JD, who is 12, had a very sudden accident that nearly resulted in his drowning. His life was saved, though there was a time soon after the accident when it wasn’t certain he would live. He has been in various stages of coma since the accident, though he continues to progress toward recovery. The family lives in Austin, TX and JD was hospitalized for a time there in Austin. For the last several months he has been in a Dallas area rehabilitation facility. The distance between the 2 cities is about 4 ½ hours. So JD, his mother, and youngest sister have been in Dallas, while JD’s dad, and 2 school-aged sisters have been living in Austin, making many trips back and forth.

Through it all, their family has dared to trust in God’s goodness and walk this difficult walk by faith. Such an inspiration. They have shown all of us how precious life is. Now, JD is being released to return to his home in Austin. His progress continues, but he will return to his home with a very long road of recovery still ahead. Many, many changes to their normal family life have had and will have to be made. A handicapped ready home has meant many construction changes. A van to accommodate JD and his wheel chair has been another unforeseen expense. Anyone who has had a major medical situation knows that insurance never covers everything. And there are ongoing medications and medical procedures that continue.

Many hands have helped, but more help is needed. Though I do not live anywhere near Austin – we can help in a creative way! The above painting is being auctioned for JD’s many needs. The profits from this painting will be donated to the family for the medical and/or peripheral expenses they have and continue to incur. I hope you will place a bid. And I also hope that you will inform others so that they may participate! The auction winner will receive this small, southwestern scene – and JD’s family will be helped in the process!

To find out more about JD’s story and to get a snapshot of his wonderful family, you can visit his CaringBridge link: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jdhartman

Also, you can visit his Facebook group - “Pray for JD Hartman”. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42732420571

Blog issues :-/

It appears that all the recent posts here have utterly disappeared! I have no idea why, but I'm working on it! Don't give up! Come back soon!

First steps..... a new painting begins.

In spite of a busy week - one in which my energy levels were low because of having a cold and not taking off from teaching, because that would have taken even more energy to prepare for a substitute! I have gotten a start on a new painting.

The first steps in a new painting always seem a little awkward. Here, you can see why. This is another floral picture. Its the interior of a white flower looking down into the center. This will be a larger painting - I think it measures 28 x 28". For those of you who wonder - I do make my own canvases in these larger sizes. I really enjoy that process and the results.

Any painting is preceded by sketches done in various perspectives and orientations. Then, those sketches are translated into a larger size on the canvas itself - usually sketched in with thinned oil.

Here, in the top picture, you can see some very roughed in oil sketching. (A close up of the center is to the right. Mostly I'm interested in getting the general proportions and the lights and shadows laid in. Then it gets to sit awhile, while I think about if the basic shapes and values are right.

Its always tricky with painting something white. The values are there... and they have to be shown. But an observant eye and subtle tones are needed so that it conveys the right sense of light and dark.... and it retains its sense of white-ness.

These 2 lower pictures show a little more work with laying in the values. Not much more work has happened with the center yet, although I've laid in some paint up to the center so that it is not just primed canvas showing.
So far, about 3-4 hours of time have been spent (not including canvas construction). Many more hours of work are needed .... this painting has not moved out of its infancy yet! I'll keep you updated as the work continues.

I often tell my students - the youngest stages of a painting, or any kind of art work for that matter, are often awkward and gangly - but with continued refinement, things take shape. That is true for this new painting. It looks different in my mind's eye. Now it is my task to take it to its destination!

Dew drops in morning light

copyright 2009, Helen Read

Dill Weed, 6x6" acrylic on canvas  

This one has been in my mind for awhile - and it required some thinking before I put my thoughts to canvas. First, I took the reference photo in my garden this summer. A tall stand of dill that had been bathed in dew in the morning. The light was beautiful as every little floret had a large drop of dew which reflected the sunlight. How to put this to paint??? Well, obviously, my rendition doesn't do God's handiwork justice, but it does qualify as a celebration of that small morning gift! This is a great example of how God romances us with his gifts in creation! But, I digress. I decided to use a more experimental approach. I used some interference paint (gold to red) in the background, mixed with a light yellow. That gave a very reflective background on which to put the image. Then, I worked with the image. Putting down the essence of what I saw in my garden - trying to capture the sense of water droplets without becoming formulaic and tedious. In actuality, it does have a very reflective quality about it, which isn't so obvious in my photo.

Cast your vote!

FLOWERS
	See More Contests!

Come see photos and paintings of flowers! Have a little fun ... cast your vote for your favorite!

Hearts ~

Bleeding Hearts, approx 5x7" pen and colored ink on paper

The last post of January ... looking ahead to the new month. Another in my small pen and ink flower series. This one seemed appropriate for the month of February!

Creation sings ....

from our worship service this Sunday morning:

Indescribable
(worship song by Laura Story)

From the highest of heights
to the depths of the sea,
Creation's revealing Your majesty.

From the colors of fall


to the fragrance of spring

Every creature unique in the song that it sings. All exclaiming:

Indescribable,
uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing, God!

All powerful,
untamable,
Awestruck, we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim,
You are amazing, God!

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow?


Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light?
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night?
None can fathom....

Indescribable,
uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing, God!

All powerful,
untamable,
Awestruck, we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim,
You are amazing, God!

__________________________________________
(paintings in order of posting: landscape in red and blue, 2009, oil pastel
Belton Mequite, 1976, acrylic on panel
Cloudscape, 1998, graphite on mylar
Snowscape, 2008, oil on canvas
©Helen Read)

Love is in the air ... and Valentine's Day is right around the corner!

Strawberry Note Cards for Valentine's Day or
a Small Delicious Oil Painting!
I'm posting some wonderful ideas for a special Valentine's Day note or a one-of-a-kind gift!
Remember someone special in a unique way! Order information is given below.


(Original artwork, copyright 2008, Helen Read)

Berry Bowl, 6x6" Oil on canvas (ready to frame)

(Beautiful, juicy berries contained in a heart shaped bowl! ... Love!)

SOLD

White Amaryllis

copyright 2009, Helen Read
White Amaryllis, approx. 5x7" pen and ink (colored ink)
on paper

Still using the new ink pencils. This is a true pen and ink drawing - using micron pens. Then, added to it, I made additions of color with the ink pencils. I used a heavy watercolor paper for the ground. I like the effects of the washing of color, though it is easy to go too deep. I've also learned to apply the pencils to dry paper and then wash... if more needs to be applied - I need to wait till it dries.

Overall - the effect is similar to a botanical scientific rendering. I like what I got ... a very different outcome than using other painting materials! Its a little like comparing apples to oranges - one is not necessarily better - just different.

Continuing the theme:

Little Red Hen, 2009 - 4 x 5.5" black and colored ink on paper
all images copyright by Helen Read

The theme continues with small comical figures. I'm not totally sure where I'm going with these, but they are fun to do - and it has been fun to experiment with new materials. Well, lets keep watching .... we'll see what becomes of these!

Comical experiments ~

A Purple Beret, 4 x 5.5" Black and colored ink on paper.
copyright 2009, Helen Read

One of my goals, this new year, is to experiment with new ideas and new materials. I know I've done some bird caricatures in the recent past, but this is a bit different. All of this one is done in ink. My daughter gave me a new material (new to me at least) - ink pencils. So, to create this one, I used a micron pen and then new ink pencils that were later washed w/brush and water. The effect looks similar to watercolor - but it really handles pretty differently. So - I like this new material.... and am enjoying the caricature drawings, which are a pretty different path for me as well! Hope you enjoy seeing something new!

Winter blooms

Wintersweet, approx 3 x 5.5" watercolor/acrylic on paper 

SOLD

I've been asked to work on a "flower of the month" card set and here is the first flower for that idea. This is a flower which blooms in winter on bare twigs before leafing. I love the colors and structure of the flower. I will be working with this image for printing next! Meanwhile - all the holiday festivities are now done at my house. I've had a wonderful few weeks of having my kids all home for the holidays. It meant that life didn't happen in any normal schedule ... (except for having to show up at school to teach my classes). Now things are getting back to normal and I'm back to work in my studio.

A little bit of news!

The article that I posted on Sunday, Staying Creative in Difficult Times, has been published by a great online magazine - Creativity Portal. This online publication always has interesting articles and ideas! It is worth a visit and a bookmark!

Click here to see the ezine and the article