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!