A New Bright, Bold Spring Painting

 

This larger painting is still in progress... but this short video shows how I went about starting on it and progressing with it. 

Fabulous February Flower Festival

 It's a 3 day pop up sale! 

It's a great time to grab a nice discount and get FREE domestic shipping on a beautiful floral original oil painting!  But only for a few days... Now through Wednesday 2/16 these lovelies are available.
There's only 1 link to this grouping, click the link below make your choice!  It will be in the mail to you right away.
Don't delay ~ Wednesday comes quickly!

Click here to see floral beauty!

 

Bright Plumage ~ Taninger

A small sparkling gem - citrine yellow, emerald & peridot green, and bright sapphire!
This small taninger in it's lovely plumage stands out with
an impressionistic rendering with lush texture.
4x4" oil on gesso panel.

Bright Plumage

$75.00

©HelenRead 

 

Perfect for a small shelf or desktop.
Easy to set on a small easel for display. 

Domestic shipping is included, IL residents please add 8% sales tax.

 Click this convenient link for all the details.

Riverside Landscape

 I started this painting a year or so ago... and I wasn't happy with the outcome.  It took awhile.  I needed to sit with it - look at it - decide what it needed and what wasn't working about it.  I adjusted some things:  color temperature to get to a better place of color harmony.  Some values needed to be adjusted. And a few compositional changes needed to be made, which allowed me to add some textures especially in the foreground.   

Reworking a painting can be a daunting task.  But I think the outcome was worth the effort.  Shown below in it's frame. 

 

Riverside Landscape
16x20" oil on canvas  

To find out the details about this painting, click here.

Below, a room view of this painting!

Mid-Winter Recharge!

 

Mid-winter blahs? 
It's time to recharge your creative energy and refuel your motivation! 

I'd love to send you my free download, Four Tips to Refuel Your Creative Motivation.  As an artist we all need to recharge from time to time.  These 4 tips are easy to start right away. 

Download it here.  

And send it on to someone you know! 

 

How to Upgrade an Inexpensive Canvas

Lately I've been recording some studio tips for artists. 
This is one that will be helpful to painters! 

 

This quick studio tip will be helpful, particularly if you love to paint. I've made canvases and bought them - paid little and a lot for them. And the quality can be quite varied. If you've ever been disappointed with the quality of a canvas, this short video can help!

You'll need a canvas, gesso (liquitex makes the gesso you'll see in the video), a hardware store paint brush, and a softer brush that is not a bristle brush (available in art supply stores), medium sand paper and fine steel wool.  The process is not too lengthy, and you'll be happy with a much smoother surface on which to
paint.

Click here to watch the short video

 

To see other tips and artistic techniques visit my website:  HelenCReadArt.com

Tiny Painting Give Away coming in February!

 

Canna Bouquet -   3x3" oil painting

This little painting, quite impressionistic in style, will be given away in February!
I haven't had an art drawing in awhile ~ so it's a bit overdue! 

How could you be a winner? 

It's easy!  You'll get instructions in my February Newsletter. 
Oh, I know... who wants more stuff in their inbox? 
But you will get a once-a-month friendly note with lots of artistic photos - and
I include more!  Contests, free downloads, discounts on original art, and other surprises! 
It's a great way to stay in touch... without the overwhelm!  

So... LET'S BE FRIENDS! 
Click the button below and you'll get my February note in the first week of the month!

Yes! Let's be friends!

For Email Marketing you can trust.

Window Sill Sunshine

 

Window Sill Sunshine,  12x9" oil on canvas
©Helen Read 

 

The last painting of 2021.  Sunflowers are always one of my favorites. 
They are bold, bright, and signify to me - Sunshine - Light - Hope!  

This one is still drying and will soon be posted on my website!
https://HelenCRead.com

Abundance (lilacs)

 Abundance  8x8" oil on gessoed panel
©Helen Read

Available framed in a contemporary black frame (3/4" deep and 1" across the face)
Ready to hang!
or
sold unframed
Domestic shipping is included  ~ IL residents please add 8% sales tax.
 

Click here for more information and a purchase link for this painting

Lilacs - for so many reasons!   They have such a beautiful array of color - from pale lavender to deep, rich magenta... and everything in between.  They are graceful and have such a delightful scent.
They are a great subject to paint, and the painting brings bold splash of color to any location. 

Shown above unframed, framed, and what it might look like on a wall in a room.

The Incredible Pencil Drawing Course

 

There's never been a better time than NOW!  Learn to draw with skill and confidence - or - build your drawing skills to a new level!   The Incredible Pencil Drawing Course is an online experience that allows you to develop skill and confidence with proven techniques and exercises!  I've taught hundreds of students to draw for many years... and I know that everyone who wants to learn can learn!  Whether you are new to drawing or have drawing experience, this course will give you new skills and confidence!

Find out all all the details right here!    

There's never been a better time than NOW to get started!  You'll be amazed at what you can do!   

The Flower Stall

 The Flower Stall, 7.5 x 5.5" watercolor on paper
©Helen Read 

Matted and ready for an 8x10" frame!  

Click here for pricing details and a purchase link! 

What's so charming than walking through a street market and finding a flower stall.
The colors sing! The textures of the foliage!
The scents! 

I've captured just a segment of a flower stall in this watercolor. 

Matted and ready for a 8x10" frame.
Domestic shipping is included.
(IL residents please add 8% sales tax)

 

A framed option is available as well.  A black wooden contemporary frame. 
1" deep and 3/4" across the face.

Paint for FUN!

 NEW!!  Watercolor Mini-Courses! 

 Two Mini-Courses to Choose From (or register for both!)
Lilacs in a Watering Can Still Life Painting
Bluebells in the Woods Landscape Painting

I'm so excited to introduce my 2 new watercolor mini-courses... With each of them, you'll paint along with me step-by-step to create your own lovely watercolor painting.  Whether you are just beginning to paint or have some experience, you'll find these courses are fun and easy to follow.  In each one, you'll get: 

• Complete video instruction for watercolor techniques, and step-by-step painting
  (paint along with me in the videos)
  
• A traceable download so you do not have to free-hand draw the image
• Suggested supply list with links (although you may have supplies you can use) 
• Additional downloads for color mixing and finishing tips 
• Complete access to the mini-course for a year 
• Helpful tips into your inbox
  
  
  This makes a great way to get started into the new year with creative energy - or - it makes a great gift to give (or receive!)
   
  
  Find out all the details at my website 
  
  
  and let's get started!  You'll be delighted with your own beautiful painting! 
  

Winter Cardinal Watercolor

 

Winter Cardinal
5x7" watercolor on paper, matted for an 8x10" frame
©Helen Read 

SOLD
matted in white as shown
Includes domestic shipping,  IL residents please add 8% sales tax.

Here in Illinois, Cardinals remain  with us through the winter months; a beautiful spot of bright color in an otherwise monochromatic world.  They particularly stand out when in an evergreen tree. 
They have a lovely, slender form and seem quite regal to me.

Eastern Light Landscape Painting

Eastern Light, 14x11 oil on canvas,
©Helen Read

This view came to my by surprise!  Would you ever imagine that it is located in town! on a rather busy intersection?  In fact, its not far from my house and I often walk by this corner.  The woods are thick, but not too deep right there and I caught this just as the eastern morning light was flooding in... it was rather breath taking! 

The glory of the sunshine lit the entire corner of this woods up and, to me, it was worthy of remembering!   

(framed and ready to hang)

 Click here to find out about pricing and framing options

(Domestic Shipping is included.  IL residents please add 8% sales tax