More of 2011 in Review

Miscellaneous drawings and paintings of 2011

Scroll down for a look at abstracts and landscapes of 2011

Light and Reflections, 8 x 12" Colored pencil on black paper

House Wren, 6x6" Colored pencil on gray paper

Wren in Grass, 6x6" Acrylic on canvas 

Sold

Agave, 6x6" Acrylic on Clayboard 

Please click here for more information on this painting. 

The Edge of Shadow,  9x12" colored pencil on black paper 

Please click here for more information on this drawing

Blossom,  8x8" colored pencil on clayboard 

Please click here for more information on this drawing

Spiraling Leaf, 6x6" Graphite on Clayboard 

Please click here for more information on this drawing.

Winter Resident, 6x6" Oil on canvas 

Sold 

Ship, 9x11" Pen and Ink on Paper

 

Sold 

Its been a busy year!   But not entirely busy with art.... I've continued to teach high school, full time and take a rather full load of graduate classes.   In between these things and keeping relationships alive with children, family and friends,  I paint!!   And, thankfully, I have sold more this year than in recent years with our slow economy.   Maybe this is a hopeful sign that recovery is on its way!?   I hope so.

As I look back over the year in terms of art, its been a good year - with new and different kinds of work, larger sizes for many of the works, and new ideas!  

Happy New Year!

May we enjoy the blessings of 2012 as we look back with gratitude on 2011.

2011 in Review - Landscapes

Looking back, its been a year of quite a few landscapes!  Most of these have sold, but several remain available...

Coastal Road,  5x7" Acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Dusty Landscape,  5.25 x 7.5" Acrylic on paper
This comes matted in a 8x10" off white matting.  Ready to frame. 

Please click here to find out how to have this beautiful, highly textured

painting come to your house! 

Points North, 5x7" Acrylic on canvas

Sold

Sardinian Sunshine, 6x6" Oil on canvas 

SOLD

Maroon Bells,  11x16" Oil on canvas
SOLD - Commissioned

Rosie's Pond, 5x7" Watercolor on Paper

SOLD - Commissioned

Merry Christmas!

Wrapped, 9x12" colored pencil on black paper

©2010, Helen Read

Merry Christmas!  It is a wonderful time of year to stop and celebrate with family and friends. 

This year, may I take a moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas. 

I wish you a warm and wonderful celebration, and I wish for you "the best gift of all" 

the Gift of our Savior, Jesus.  A gift equally open to all who will receive it. 

Psalms on Note Cards

A new set of note cards?  I'm not sure yet if I will produce these. 

They use some of my abstract works with words from the Psalms. 

I'm open for comments! 

Pond Reflections

Rosie's Pond, 5x7" watercolor on paper

©2011, Helen Read 

SOLD

Winter Resident

December Featured Painting!
$30.00
Through 12-31-2011

Winter Resident, 6x6" Oil on canvas

©2011, Helen Read
ready to frame
(Please add $10.00 shipping in US, IL residents please add 8.25% sales tax)

SOLD

Spiraling Leaf

Spiraling Leaf, 6x6" graphite on clayboard

©2011, Helen Read 

Ready to Frame 

For more information about the purchase of this drawing, please click here.

November Featured Painting - Sardinian Sunshine

Sardinian Sunshine,  6x6" Oil on canvas

©2011, Helen Read 

ready to frame 

For the month of November only,  this painting is featured for 

$30.00

SOLD

This painting is one that I did for Virtual Paintout.  One uses Google Street View to find a spot worthy of painting - and then a painting is done (thus the name - Virtual Paintout) 

I really liked this view particularly for the dramatic shadows on the side of the white wall. 

The whole thing gave the feeling of being in sun drenched Sardinia!  

For the month of November only, this painting is featured at $30.  If it doesn't sell, it will revert to its usual price of $100.   Maybe it would make a nice gift!   Or maybe it would be perfect for that small space or shelf that needs some original art!   Either way, its ready to be shipped to its new home!  

LAST CALL!

October's Featured Painting is almost over! 
$30.00
through the end of October.

Green Agave, 6x6" Watercolor and Acrylic on clayboard 

©2011, Helen Read 

(ready to frame.  Shipping $10.00 in US, IL residents, please add 8.25% sales tax.)

October Featured Painting! Agave

Agave, 6x6" Acrylic and watercolor on clayboard

SOLD

The latest from my studio is offered at the very low "featured price" of $30, just for this month  or until it has sold!  This one is done on clayboard, using acrylic and watercolor.  

I love the shadows and jagged edges that show up on the leaves and in the shadows. 

Please click here to find out how to have this shipped to you right away!  

Points North Landscape

Points North, 5x7" Acrylic on canvas
©2011, Helen Read 
Ready to frame

SOLD

The edge of shadow ~ Agave

The Edge of Shadows, 9x12" Colored Pencil on black paper 

©2011, Helen Read 

Please click here to find out more about this colored pencil painting

with its 2 options - one matted and one unmatted. 

Blossom

Blossom, 8x8" Colored Pencil on Clayboard

©2011, Helen Read 

Ready to frame

To find out more about how to purchase this original art work, please click here.

Featured Painting for September! Points North

Featured for the month of September

$30.00 thru 9/30/11

Points North,  5x7" Acrylic on canvas

©2011, Helen Read 

ready to frame

Please click here for a convenient purchase link with complete details.

As a feature each month, I've been offering a small painting at a fraction of its normal selling price. In the past 2 months since I've started this practice, its seemed to be a very popular idea with everyone!  These small paintings have sold quickly and those who have purchased them got a great price on a small original. 


This painting was one I did with Virtual Paintout.  A place somewhere on earth is given each month and using Google Maps, we find a place and paint!   This one comes from the area of Fairbanks, AK,

a beautiful wooded country road with a few small flowers in bloom along the roadside. 


After the end of September, if this hasn't sold, it will be available for its full price of $100.  I hope it will go at its "featured price" ~ its ready to send! And I'd love to ship it out!  

Give-Away painting - August 15th!

MiniMum - 3x3" acrylic on canvas, ©2011 Helen Read 

All you have to do to be eligible to win is be a member of my mailing list!!  

I will have a random drawing on 8/15, and this small painting will be going to its new home.  Maybe it will be yours!?!  

If you are not a member of my email list, click the link below. 

Don't worry! You will not be inundated by email from me, and I never share my list!  

You will get an email from me about once a month or so (depending on how busy my life is), where you will find out about the latest from my studio, special offers I may have, or contests I sometimes conduct.  All in all, its a fun way to stay in touch. 

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Or, now you can also join by text message!
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You will be prompted to send your email address.

Acrylic on paper - Dusty Landscape

Dusty Landscape,  5.25 x 7.5" acrylic on suede pastel paper

©2011, Helen Read 

matted in an 8x10" off white matting, ready to frame 

For more information on the purchase of this painting, please click here. 

August Featured Painting - Little Wren!

NEW!   FEATURED PAINTING
SOLD
$30.00

Little Wren,  6x6" Acrylic on canvas
©2011, Helen Read 

Ready to frame

Once again this month, I'm offering a small painting at a deep discount as a featured painting!  Last month, it sold within 2 days and was shipped across the country to live on the west coast!  This is an exciting way to put a small original painting in a special place in your home.  These small paintings look great framed on a small wall or sitting on a book shelf!   There are many possibilities!  Of course, they make a wonderful and unique gift as well! 

Only for the month of August, this small painting is being offered at its special featured cost.  It is just off the easel and ready to be shipped to you!    If it is unsold at the end of August, it will be available for its regular price of $100.00. 
(Please add shipping in the US - $10.00,  IL residents, please add 8.25% sales tax.) 

Please click here for a convenient purchase link.

Now through Thurs., July 28th - Summer Studio Sale!!

4 paintings have just gone up for auction!   (I'm cleaning out my studio - and these just came out of the vault, so to speak!)  The starting bids are very low!   I'm hoping to make room for more paintings.

Please click each title below to find out all the details and see the progress of the auction:

Pineapple Top

Four Amigos - Okra

Oddfellows - Eggplant

Water Lily

Now is a great time to acquire an original oil painting for your kitchen, dining room or any other room.   All are ready to frame.... or put on a small free standing easel. 

Win this free painting! Drawing on August 15th!

Mini Mum, 3x3" Acrylic on canvas

©2011, Helen Read 

This small painting will be given away!   How could YOU win it? 

Simply being a member of my mailing list.  

On August 15th, I will randomly pick a name from my mailing list to be the 

winner of this small work.

Send Helen an email

If you are not already on my list, please sign up below.  Its very easy and it is a secure list, where your information will not be shared!  By being a member of my list, you will hear from me once in awhile with news, updates, and notices of free gifts, etc.  Your inbox will NOT be inundated; I don't have time to write too often!  But when I do, I try to make it interesting and visual, with an occasional fun thing that may relate to the season or to some kind of an offer or give away!   Please inform your friends ~ in this economy, its nice to do some things just for fun! 

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A new abstract ~ New Pathways

New Pathways, 14x8" Acrylic on paper
(attached to foam core)

©2011, Helen Read 

Ready to frame 

To find out more about this painting and my thoughts behind it, please click here.

Coastal Road ~ new landscape

JULY FEATURED PAINTING

$30.00 during month of July 

Sold

Coastal Road,  5x7" Acrylic on canvas 

©2011, Helen Read 

ready to frame 

To find out more about the unusual location and how it was painted, please click here: 

Facing West - Sunflower

Facing West - Sunflower,  approx 6 x 8" colored pencil on black paper

©2007, Helen Read 

email Helen 

Prototype - abstract

Untitled,  3.5 x 5.5" acrylic/watercolor on paper 

©2011, Helen Read 

This one is a small prototype, planning for a larger work.  I really like the sense of color that it exudes, and what you can't see is that it is also quite iridescent.  Stay tuned!  More will come.

email Helen

Beach Scene

Stillness,  11x14 acrylic on paper

©1995,Helen Read

Private Collection 

Something from the distant archives! 

email Helen

Crab Apple Bloom

Crab Apples in Bloom,  9x12" Oil pastel on paper 

©2008, Helen Read 

Ready to mat and frame 

For more information and a purchase link, please click here.

email Helen

Happy Mother's Day!

Nest Series, oil on canvas

©2008, Helen Read 

In honor of Mother's Day, I'm reposting this series - which is in a private collection.
I painted this showing the progression of my experience as a mother - a full nest, which was just wonderful!  I have three great kids ... I couldn't have been blessed with more wonderful kids, either. 
I loved each day being a mom with a full nest! 
And then... they began to fly from the nest.
They left behind a reminders of themselves - and now all three are flying (mostly) on their own.
Its a difficult transition in some ways... and yet, its what we raise them to be - productive, independent adults who are contributing to their world in unique and valuable ways.
Of course, they do come back to visit - they do keep in touch - we continue to have a wonderful relationship over a huge stretch of miles .... and yet, sometimes the nest feels quite empty.

So, when the nest feels empty - I try to remember that they are following their callings.  They are doing well.  They are using their unique gifts.  They are having a positive influence in the world. 

And that was the goal.

New Abstract

Untitled Abstract,  22x15" Acrylic on paper 

©2011, Helen Read 

Good Friday ~ the depths of its meaning

Darkness Descends, approx 4x12" graphite on mylar

©2009, Helen Read

This song, an old hymn, now sung so movingly by Casting Crowns, has been much on my mind these last weeks.  They speak the whole story of Christmas and Easter.  They speak a story of Love that held nothing back and gave its all... for me!  For you.   May this Easter season be a deep and eternal blessing to you!  

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine