January Trees

January Trees,  8x6" Oil Pastel on paper 

©2011, Helen Read 

 

 

I'm sorry to say that January has just flown by!   Its been a very busy month, as it always is ... I've been working on a larger painting - and now, this small one in pastel to be posted before the end of the month is here!  (which is tomorrow!)    While it might seem that I've been idle, that's not exactly true!

My classroom duties have kept me very busy - as well as other home and family things.   

This one is small and rather simple - done in an almost impressionistic style.  I like oil pastels because they are so blend-able, and they mix on the paper almost like paint on a canvas.  The subject matter is about all I can see  -  snow on everything! 

Sunlit Leaf - an old favorite

Sunlit leaf, 8x8" Oil on canvas 

©2010, Helen Read 

Just bringing back an old favorite from about a year ago.  Its been a very busy month thus far, and though I have a few things going in my studio - nothing ready for posting. 

Hopefully, this week!!  

Helen's email

Thinking ahead .... Send a Strawberry Valentine!

Set of 10 Note cards - Strawberries and Valentines 

Send someone special a note of love!

Pen and Ink ~ Grape Leaf

Grape Leaf, approx. 6 x 4" Pen and Ink on illustration board
© Helen Read 

Life has been very busy here in the first couple weeks after Christmas and New Years.  Being a school teacher, its the end of the semester which means finals, grading, organizing, preparing for a new semester, etc.   My drawing class has just completed their last project, which is a pen and ink drawing. This is one of the examples that I had for them.  I enjoy pen and ink... there's a certain trepidation in knowing that mistakes are permanent - but also a certain type of freedom in knowing that if one is made, you'll have to creatively figure out how to incorporate it and make it "work" with the rest of the drawing! 

January Discounts - Snow landscapes!

Snowscape,  8x8" Oil on canvas

©2008, Helen Read 

SOLD

 

Its COLD outside!    In order to create some winter excitement, I'm offering these "snow paintings" just for the month of January with some very BIG DISCOUNTS!  

Celebrate winter with me - take advantage of these great savings and own an original, one-of-a-kind oil painting!   

 Icy Riverbank,  11 x 14" Oil on canvas

©2009, Helen Read 

SOLD

 

The birth of a painting - video of the making of Spirit

Spirit,  22 x 30" Acrylic on paper
©2010, Helen Read

I thought it would be interesting to try something I've never done before! 

I took many photos of the painting, Spirit, which you see above - and have now created a video of its creation.  Its set to music by Albinoni, and is not quite 3 min. long. 

I hope you enjoy seeing it unfold from concept to finished painting!  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1heITwEAvk

2010 In Review!

Here are just a few of the year's studio works ....  some of my personal favorites!   2010, in spite of the economic down turn, has really been a good year!   Not necessarily in the way we think of "good" - but in the bigger picture, it has been.   I've continued to work in my studio.  I've continued to post to my blog ....  all of this while taking 11 hours of graduate work, working full time as a high school teacher, and finding time to be a parent, friend, daughter, etc.   

There have certainly been difficult moments in 2010.  My dad passed away about 8 months ago.  My family is in a state of change with children becoming more independent.  Changes in the world of public school teaching have also altered a lot in the work place.  The economy has impacted every artist I know.  And of course, life can just be demanding! 

However - in spite of that - there has been much good as well!   I've completed 33 works of art and worked on a few more that are still in process.  I've had time to consider my goals and plans and purposes in what I'm doing.  I've spent quality time with family and close friends across the country.  I've seen new places and been inspired by new ideas.  And most importantly, I've been held securely in God's good hands.  That's been a huge comfort in uncertain times!   

So, here's to a good 2010 .... and looking ahead to new and exciting adventures in 2011!   In this new year, may we choose to walk in closeness to the God who loves each of us dearly. 

Southern Exposure

Boone Hall Lawn,  8 x 10" Acrylic on canvas 

©2010, Helen Read 

Private Collection 

The last landscape of the year.  This was fun to do and taken from a photo reference I made this summer in South Carolina.  I used a a technique called pointillism to render this.  It was mostly green, but with a few other colors thrown in.   The challenge was pushing the green back from the somewhat acidic color it can be in acrylic.  This photo is slightly more golden than the original ... getting the colors true was the most difficult part in the scan.   

Wrapped

Wrapped,  9 x 12" colored pencil on black paper
©2010, Helen Read 

Merry Christmas!   As I've been working along on this one,  the idea of being wrapped and Christmas and gifts has all come together in a few Christmas-y thoughts!  The very best gift of all time came "wrapped" in the form of a tiny newborn.  The wrapping was lovely, no doubt, as all newborns are in their newness of life!   However, this particular gift - given a little more than 2000 years ago, was delivered into this world, a gift from our heavenly Father - Almighty God.  In this wrapping was his own son!   Out of the unspeakable beauty of heaven, Jesus came in humility to this world for the purpose of rescuing us from the grip of darkness!  A gift freely given.  A gift for all who would simply believe that His ultimate sacrifice was enough to shatter the grip of the spiritual and eternal death that has stalked each one of us and holds us captive.   

What motivated this kind of entry into our history and into our realm?  His love.  Pure and simple, it was the immeasurable love of God and the same love of Jesus that brought him to us, to live among us, to make a way for us to live with him forever.... if we so choose!  

What a gift!  Our rescuer came for us before we even knew we needed to be rescued!  That gift came wrapped as a newborn baby, was announced to shepherds by angels, and worshiped by wise men who followed an unusual star miles and miles.  This same Jesus is still worshiped today - King of all kings.  Lord of all lords.  Mighty God.    Our Immanuel ~ God living among us! 

Green Christmas Bow

This is still a work in progress.  So far the bow is mostly done - but the background needs to be done now.  It is colored pencil on black paper.   The challenge is in getting the reflective qualities of the bow, the proper colors of green, and the overall 3-D feel on a 2-D surface!    Its been a fun challenge.
But ... now ... more to do!! 

Pink Poinsettias

Pink Poinsettias - Watercolor on paper
©2009, Helen Read

This one was sold .... but it speaks Christmas!  

Merry Christmas!!  

December Sunday Morning

This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it! 

 

SOLD

I have had a crazy week!   It was the last week of class before Christmas break, so lots of things to get finished and grade!   I'm more than ready for a rest!   So, for the next 2 weeks, I get to hang out with my kids, bake, decorate, and most importantly - *CELEBRATE!* the wonderful and amazing birth of the son of the Most High God, Jesus Christ, on this earth!  
When I think about that with more than just my head, but with my heart, I can barely imagine it!
We needed to be rescued from complete darkness, and we couldn't do it ourselves... so, God made a way because he loves us!  That way included Jesus coming to earth as a human - living a human life, but without any sin - and then willingly giving up that life .... trading his life for ours. 
Christmas is a wonderful time of year!! 

 

Apples on Damask - still life

Apples on Damask,  6 x 12" Oil on canvas

©2010, Helen Read 

 

I think this is at least in its final stages if not completed.  I'm still trying to decide if it needs a few more adjustments.  The most challenging thing was the damask tablecloth.  The white on white design and also getting the design to look as if it was laying flat and making the curve over the side of the table edge took a bit of work!  The apples are Braeburns - except for the 1 Granny Smith - and they have quite a few undertones of gold.    All in all, a challenge - but fun to finish! 

Auction - ending ~ Fri. 12-10

A quick reminder!
Tomorrow ~ this auction is over!

Hi everyone, I'm just sending a quick reminder that tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 10th) is the last day of this auction.  I've set the starting price quite low - and so far, its still quite low!  What a great opportunity!!   Should you know anyone else who might be interested, please feel free to forward this note!  I would love to send this your way, just in time for Christmas!  Please click the image to be taken to the auction site!  Flowers in Pink and Blue    This painting is an original oil painting measuring 8x8" and is 1.5" deep.  Its painted around the sides, so no framing is needed.

May you have a wonderful Christmas season!  And a great new year! 

Sincerely,

Helen Read

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