Loule and Cassia

This piece is part of a series of small-scale still lifes that I made for a group exhibition.

I am part of an art discussion group called Art Lab. We meet monthly. Art Lab is a safe, receptive space to discuss creative practice and ideas, to dive deeper with critical thinking amongst our peers.
I have been able to consider my practice with a receptive lens, encouraged to be more considered and to take my work more seriously. I have been flippant about my practice to cover insecurity around confidence. As a natural introvert, talking about my practice has been mortifying. Through Art Lab, I have grown, come to appreciate my work and modified my attitude.
Everyone in the group has had at least one " Ah Ha" moment. Mine was to document my work with intention. It is not something I enjoy. These pieces have unusually deep sides. The sides are part of the piece, and I have used them to clearly title, number, sign and write a statement for each individual painting.
I took my numbering very seriously, and the number appears on three sides, in roman numerals, script and binary form. I often work in series, and the numbering has been somewhat casual in the past. This has often led to confusion and headaches.
The series is called Pictures of You, Pieces of Me. The title refers to objects and flora evoking loved ones and their role in making me who I am.
It is also a reference to a Cure song. The Cure were part of the soundtrack of my uni days in Manchester.
Each piece is individually titled, which appears on the bottom of each piece along with my signature.

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Helen has been a practising artist since completing an MA in Textiles at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is a full-time artist and tutor, working and teaching from her purpose-built studio set on 9 rural acres in Cedar Creek, northside of Brisbane.She lived and worked in Bermuda for many years before settling in SE Queensland. Her work has been shown in group and solo exhibitions in the USA, Canada, The Caribbean, the UK, Bermuda, Europe, Russia and Australia, it can be found in private, corporate and public collections.

Helen's art is bursting with exuberant colour and texture realised in acrylic on board.Her work begins with observational drawings on location developed into lushly layered paintings in the studio. Her work explores genius loci, seeking to find echoes and connections to other places and spaces. Her love of landscape and gardens nurtures ancestral connection and is a central theme of her practice. Her textile training is evident in the marks, pattern, texture and colour of her work.

She completed a year-long artist-in-residence at a local flower farm in May 2024. Her time at the farm produced a major body of work of plein air landscapes and botnical studio paintings. She spent the year drawing and painting on location. Her drawings were developed into richly textured paintings in the studio.

Helen's practice is realised in acrylic on ply. The majority of her work is finished with 3 coats of gloss medium. This enhances the complex layers of paint and colour in the work. If you would like a stain finish please message Helen and she can apply a soft wax to render a satin finish.