We want to thank everyone who came visiting our studios this past weekend. We all were excited to see so many people out and about. It is always a pleasure for us to share our studios, our work and share our stories with you.
How do you work?
With music and dancing! But seriously, I love realism. No matter what medium I am working in or how I choose to approach my subject or develop my work – it always comes back to selecting the important details. I approach my work as if I am sculpting with paint.
What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?
So many memories that I love. How much I love the feeling of the sun! Being inquisitive. The smell of the ocean. The sound of the trembling aspens dancing with the gently breezes when sitting right under them. The colour of wild flax flowers. Did I mention the ocean?
Why art?
I really think because it choose me. In a difficult time it became my therapy by allowing me to focus on something other than the situation I was coping with. Then it became an outlet to look at the situation head on and paint all about it. I have never looked back. Art is my outlet. Have never stopped. It’s been 30+ years. I will never stop.
What do you dislike about your work?
Most of my paintings go through an “ugly” stage. I am particularly hard on myself when looking at the painting during this time. I often wish I could paint looser with bold deliberate strokes. I have tried a looser approach and then go back in and paint over it. It’s all about what I like to call “painterly realism” with me.
What do you like about your work?
Mostly the feeling of accomplishment when I am signing a piece. Sometimes, when I see a piece that I have not seen for awhile, I stop and look at it – I am always surprised how much they will pull me in. I remember almost every stroke and how I felt paining it.
Professionally, what’s your goal?
To do the best I can possibly do! I love to work in series. This is where I feel I learn the most about my subject and will often explore similar ideas in various mediums.
What wouldn’t you do without?
An eraser ha ha.
But seriously with poured watercolour – my rubber cement pickup; with traditional water-colours – good brushes; acrylics – patience, I kid you not! Oh and my good fine mist spray bottle; oils – gloves, honestly I get paint all over me!
Helen is stop # 6 on the tour
To learn more about Helen CLICK
What work do you most enjoying doing?
I am a detail oriented person who, for some reason is attracted to complexity. This shows in my art and almost everything else I take on.
What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?
So many. Ocean waves. Sitting under aspens and listening to their leaves dance in the wind. Playing with friends outside. Warm sunshine. Not liking bees.
Why art?
Because I can’t sing and really wish I could. But seriously – producing art has helped me through some very difficult times. I get a great deal of satisfaction from painting. I have been drawing since I was a small child drawing animals over and over. I can still remember when I discovered that you can add shading to a line drawing!
Upon graduating for high school I was fortunate to win the Clyde Finnamore Memorial Scholarship for Sunbury Shore Art and Nature Centre. I was able to take a three week art course with Gary Lowe. It was literally life altering. Wildlife art in watercolour. Cathy Ross was there as well. Pretty cool. They gave me the keys to the place and I stayed each day as long as I could. Did some Plein Air painting as well. My first watercolour was of a blue jay feather. The second was of a large red vase overflowing with wildflowers. See, complexity even at 17!
What memorable responses have you had to your work?
A few actually. Once when I was working on Drama Queen a full sheet painting of white lilies, I had gotten distracted and painted in a house fly. Shortly after I had a visitor to the studio before I was able to get the petal under it painted. The person was standing there talking to me and tried to shoo the fly a couple of times. Still makes me laugh.
Name something you love, and why.
Spring. Fresh Air. The Beach. Nature. Birds. Furry creatures. Colour. Dappled sunlight. Just because I guess
You can see more of Helen’s work by visiting her website and blog at www.helenshideler.com
Kings County Studio Tour 