PineShoreStudio/Paintings by Helen Harris

After a long absence I have rejoined  Saatchi Art .  The work that seems to do well on this site seems to be my more abstract work . Recently I have been working on a series entitled "Transitions" . This series was born out of an opportunity to explore my more painterly, acrylic work on canvas. Some have been mixed media, while others are purely paint. It has been an interesting departure from my usual watercolor/mixed media and more traditional landscape work that can be viewed on my web site . My complete fascination with trees has extended itself into this series and become the main focus. I hope you'll enjoy this artistic journey along with me as I post updates in this series. The second original work  in the series is currently for sale through  Saatchi Art  is entitled : FireLight original painting ,Transitions series-2/FireLight framed print by Society6 throw pillow Additionally I have made other products available through  Society6 ...

With summer 2014 officially over, it's time to get back to my blogging. The vacation was great! I may have been away from my blog but it was an art filled summer! Returning to the outdoor art shows was a real treat and an eye opener to the fact that I am older ( lugging equipment was harder!) and that I had to discover new venues to attend. Many of my old shows simply blew away with hurricane Sandy here in 2012 and the up and down economy simply ended many. Another surprising fact, returning to my full time painting brought a more adventurous outlook on my work. I made a deliberate decision to work in acrylics on canvas rather than the watercolor on paper for which I am known. I created many pieces landscapes, seascapes, florals and abstract in acrylic  with and without my signature textured papers. The results, I feel, were well worth the time and effort spent in the struggle of learning a new medium . The sales were encouraging also! Here are two  examples of my study....

If you read my last post "just show up..." you'd understand that this is post is an out growth of thoughts from my work during the week.  This  is a prime example of a what I mean  when I use the term "working artist."By showing up each day you generate a possibility of growth in your painting, and thoughts. Each day that your brush passes over a surface the imprint of your marks leads to another, accumulating your rhythms and thoughts of creativity. The self talk  dialogue in a studio while alone or conversation with another artist by phone, emails, blogs,YouTube etc. open up an exchange that inevitably will show up on your canvas.  This past week  I came across a word, a process that was a moment of ah - ha, recognition of kindred spirit and thought. Wabi-Sabi , whispered to me in my reading and then with glaring recognition I looked up at my current work and it resonated with clarity of where I had been, where a I am now and where I seem to be heading...

My last entry showed the beginnings of this piece on the left. My exploration of a more sculptural approach with my textures on canvas was an exciting new study for me. Refining and defining the various levels of textures was challenging. Many glazes of watercolor were applied to add depth to the shadowed areas. The papyrus piers and birds anchored the abstract image in a suggested reality. I have been inviting many of my customers into my new studio space that I recently  inhabit and while working on this piece I received an offer of purchase....I accepted! This is the final version that was sold ."Sea Squall" is 12" x 12", an acrylic and  watercolor collage of rice papers ,papyrus, torn  300lb. watercolor paper and sea shells.

Renewed energy in my new studio space has spurred me to explore a different approach to my work.  For many years, I purposely integrated my textures of rice papers, torn watercolor papers, fibers etc. into a smooth surface . I fooled the eye into believing the painting was a watercolor painting,but in reality was hundreds of pieces of textures that created the surface & landscape image. My return to daily painting, though brief, has already  taken a turn to a more abstract and sculptural approach. Textures that I normally apply flat are rising off the canvas. Even the use of canvas as opposed to my watercolor paper is different. My first indication that I was headed in this direction came with the creation of "Emerging".   This detail shows the texture pulling away from the canvas surface. I am currently exploring a 12 x12 canvas that incorporates this more textural surface. I have simply allowed this to happen rather than return to my tried & true habit...

ACEO: Woven Moments is now for sale through my Etsy shop. This format continues to be a way for me to enjoy stolen moments of time to continue my work despite my busy schedule. Now, besides my bakery/cafe ,I am about to build & open an independent cinema . Time to paint has become precious and that was what inspired this textural piece.

Take 1 artist + canvas/paper wet ingredients: watercolor, gouache,acrylic and inks + dry ingredients: torn paper,papyrus, unryu papers, bark papers,mango & banana papers, ogura lace spatter with 23k gold, glass beaded gel, blended fiber gel Mix well, spread with brush ,knife & fingers let dry have great expectations & a sense of humor......... PaintersBrew ... target date March 1st!

"Heat" , a favorite of mine, was purchased this past week. As I continue to paint and explore the various paths my work takes, special pieces are remembered for what was learned from them. "Heat" will always be remembered for the unexpected blending of representational and abstract form with its land mass created from collaged papers and calligraphic brushstrokes of pines. It is a small but mighty piece of juxtaposed hot and cool colors. I don't publish prints of my work.I work only in originals. As they are sold ,it is sometimes a difficult parting. The joy is that the next blank paper could be ....something wonderful!

I think I surprised a few people last night at the opening of the show "Interpretations". The work was well received but sales were quiet. We'll see how it goes in the coming weeks on display. However....I did have on hand this abstract that is a work in progress. A recent request and opportunity to work in that style has surfaced. It has been a long forgotten road that I traveled years ago. I enjoyed the experimentation of translating the surface using the collaged papers and papyrus that has been my signature in my mixed media work in recent years. Back to the future? Perhaps....