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 Visual art is a language.  It communicates non-verbally and universally.  The world opens up to me in a new way as I observe, explore and celebrate the truth and beauty of God’s Creation.  I never cease to be moved by the grandeur of a vast and sweeping vista, or a colorfully lit sunset, or a small and intimate view of a flower.  In all of it, I’m reminded of a good and generous Creator, who for the sake of beauty and abundance has given us all this and more in the world around us.

In art and in life, my Christian faith is vital. It is my belief that each of us is created with a purposeful design, and for many of us that design includes the visual arts. Faith, informed by scripture, creates a rich pathway into the imagination where possibilities are envisioned of a more expressive rendering or a reality yet unseen.  This quote by N.T.Wright captures that idea.

“The arts are not the pretty irrelevant bits around the border of reality.
They are the highways into the center of reality which cannot be glimpsed, let alone grasped, any other way.”  

Much of my work is representational, but enhanced with a more vivid color palette.  You will often see exaggerated elements to draw attention to an aspect of the composition.  My style tends toward impressionism with a contemporary influence.  On occasion, with abstract pieces, I endeavor to express concepts that are beyond representation.  But throughout, themes from nature are a consistent inspiration.

My medium of choice is oil paint.  I love its smooth mixability, the infinite colors that can be produced and the textures that can be created.  That being said, I also create work in acrylic and watercolor, which you will see in my portfolio. 

Though each piece in my portfolio includes a description, it’s important to remember that visual art is evocative and personal.  Each piece will speak uniquely to the viewer, so I hope that viewers will linger and experience each piece for themselves.  

If you'd ever been less than pleased with a work of art that you've spent hours creating, you are not alone!  Creating in any medium can be an uphill effort at times ~ no matter how much experience or knowledge you have!  It's a fact of the artist's life! 

When I painted this landscape, I certainly had a "vision" in mind, but it just didn't come together ~ not like what I expected.  And I know I'm not alone when this happens.  Well-known artists of history have wrestled with their work...being an artist is not like waving a magic wand.  And not every painting is an easy journey. 

This painting fell into that description!   So... what's next when you know that changes need to be made?  Do you give up and discard it, or is it an opportunity?  I saw it as an opportunity - and this is what I did.

1. I sat with this painting awhile.  I needed to see it and think about what it really was "asking me" to do.

2. The color temperature was bothering me.  I saw how warm some areas were, but how cool other areas were and they didn't fit.

3. I looked at values within the painting and felt that values needed to be adjusted in places.

4. I also evaluated the composition.  Where could more interest be added and how could I draw the eye into the painting with some added or subtracted elements? 

5. Then, with more clarity about what I to do and what changes I thought were needed.  I set to work.

It's risky!  What if I was less pleased after reworking it?  Well, you never know unless you plunge in!   Here's why I think it's important to go back to the easel when necessary.  You learn with every alteration you make.  You learn to assess your own work and find the answers.  You learn to accept the risk of changing things.  You develop more confidence in yourself as an artist.

For this "opportunity" to succeed, I needed a plan based on observation and thought (which took some time).  And I had to be willing to risk and step into the painting with purpose.  I think it was worth the effort and risk.

Riverside Landscape

I remember an artist saying to me at one time, that it's a good thing to feel like your work isn't there - isn't ready - that maybe there are a lot of things that need to be fixed.  Fixing them builds your skills. I think he was right!

I want to encourage you, as an artist, that it's OK when a work has to wait awhile to be finished.  Look at it, think about it.  And make a plan for what it needs. Then, take courage and get to work! 
The effort can be well worth it! 

© 2022 Helen Read

• Be sure to check out my website blog posts for inspiration and tips!
• Visit this link to see this painting
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