Summer 2010 in the Studio - a retrospect

       Fall is here.  I can feel it in the air - its much cooler now, and the humidity is gone.  So, it seems a good time to look back and see what I accomplished this summer.   It might have been a lot more work, but balancing this with weeks out of town in various places of the country, and taking a graduate class, and spending important time with my family - this seems like a reasonable amount of work to have accomplished.    

     Now that fall is here, I hope to be able to work consistently - though it will be balanced with a full time job as a high school teacher, and staying busy with various things at my church, and friendships that have an important place in my life, and the daily-ness of life!   

Brokenness

Brokenness, 5x5" Oil on canvas 

©2010, Helen Read 

 

I've been wanting to do a still life in white ~ a personal challenge, I guess.   These egg shells had intriguing shapes, interesting shadows, and even some color within.  I'm not 100% happy with the outcome, but its interesting.  I think it would be good to do some more and work on a smoother surface, as you can see some of the texture of the canvas which seems to detract from the idea. 

Marigolds in a Bottle

Marigolds in a Bottle,  7 x 5" Oil on canvas 

©2010, Helen Read 

 

SOLD

 

I've grown some marigolds again this year in my small garden.   I always grow these hoping their strong smell will deter rabbits in the garden.   I'm not sure if that has happened (probably not), but they are quite pretty - especially in cobalt glass!
 

New Beginnings

New Beginnings - Hibiscus Buds,  8 x 10" graphite on clayboard

©2010, Helen Read

For those who care to look back in the previous posts during August, you will see the creation of this drawing.   The reference picture was a little more complicated than this, with various leaves and stems going on underneath the buds.  So, it has been simplified.    

It was fun to do a drawing just for the sake of a drawing!  I haven't done that in awhile.  I was also trying the new (to me) surface of clayboard.  What a great surface to work on!  I highly recommend it. 

Next, I would like to try colored pencil on this surface.  But, that's another project!  

 

Summer Rerun -Green Grapes

Green Grapes,  5 x 7 " Oil on canvas

©2008, Helen Read 

 

Still working along on some new paintings in the studio, 

so in the meantime, I'm posting a few older ones!  

This one was done a couple summers ago - but its rather timeless.

Green Grapes = summer!

Another Old Favorite - Old Tree

Old Tree, 8x8" Oil on canvas 

©2007, Helen Read 

(Private collection - Austin, TX) 

Just posting a few older ones as paint dries on some current works in my studio.  I really love the shady feel of this one.  It was sold very soon after painting it.  And now, it resides 1800 miles away from me!    But, it will always be a favorite  -  reminding me of the state where I was born and raised! 

Soon - new works will be featured here.  The semester is now underway, my summer travels are over,  and I'm working in my studio much more regularly again!   (:-))   I like that!   Check back soon! 

Picking Tomaotes ~ Old favorite

 

 Tomatoes in a Basket, 6x6" oil on canvas

©2007, Helen Read 

This is what I have going on in my garden!   Tomatoes.... small ones!   Lots of them! 

Even with the lack of rain and crazy heat this summer, I have a lot of grape tomatoes, for which I'm grateful!  They have a flavor like no other!  

Summer Floral

Summer Floral,  8x8" Oil on canvas

©2010, Helen Read 

 

This painting was inspired by some potted plants I saw at the grocery store, of all places!  They were striking in their texture and color.  The paint is rather thickly applied.  I loved the variety of color in the foliage as well.  

 

I'm most honored!

I have been honored twice today!   I have been featured in an article in the Dallas Examiner. I hope you'll take a moment to read it!   The article speaks of art as a way of life and a way of communication.   It gives great perspective to art and life; finding balance while still continuing to create and explore!  

Also, a fellow artist who I've gotten to "know" from a distance through blogging has been kind enough to write about my work on her blog.  Please visit Julia's blog, read her comments and take a look at her inspiring work as well!

Thank you!  I'm quite honored!

Drawing still in progress!!

My progress on this graphite drawing is continuing.  This week has been crazy with starting a new semester of school, learning approx. 120 new student names and faces, and doing all the other little things that are required at the beginning of a new school year!   But - in between things I've done a little more work here an there on this drawing.   Its coming along!   I continue to really like the clayboard as a support for drawing.   It takes the medium quite well, doesn't smear, is easy to erase, and is easy to work with because it is rigid.   This one is made by Ampersand. 

Progress is slow, but it continues

Graphite drawings are time consuming when done in a photographic way ... there's really no getting around that fact!   But, they do have a special beauty all their own as well.  If you compare this image to the two images in my most previous post, you'll see that the progress is expanding!   Yet, there is more to be done!    

My assessment of pencil on clayboard is still very positive!   It give a very smooth and workable surface.  Its also quite rigid, which can be helpful as well.   I'm wondering out loud now, about how it would work with pen and inks, with colored pencil, etc.   My intellect tells me it would be great - but the artist in me wants to "see".      Perhaps I'll try that soon! 

A new work in progress - pencil on clayboard

I haven't done a graphite drawing ~ just for the sake of drawing in quite some time.

Here I'm trying out a new support.  This is done on clayboard by Ampersand

Here is its beginning. 

The progress continues below and I'll continue posting progress on it as I go. 

I'm using 3 H, HB, 3 B, and 6 B 

The clayboard ground, by the way, is great!  

Its hard to see what the subject matter is from these early views, but

it is a very interesting set of hibiscus buds in various stages of opening. 

Colored pencil study

Sunset, colored pencil study 

©2010, Helen Read 

After several weeks away from the studio, I'm back!  This is a small study done on mat board - prismacolor pencils, with some turpenoid for blending.  It measures about 3.5 x 6".    I was using a reference photo I took of  a sunset we saw while driving through Illinois... so, perhaps it will become a 

larger painting.  One of my growing artistic interests is painting the sky with authority.  This was small, fun, and yet - no where near the results I would want from oil. Besides this, I've been working on a drawing (pencil on clayboard) since returning home.   I'll post the work on that very soon. 

Free Sunflower Painting ~ going to Miami, FL!!

Congratulations to Maria, the WINNER of my "small painting giveaway"!    I'll be sending this with it's small easel off to Miami, Florida where it will have a new home.    Maria joined my email list, which is easy to do!   From time to time, I have contests and drawing for those who are on my list.
There will be something new and fun in the future ~  now is a great time to join us! 

 

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