Image: Summer Sunset, Original Oil Painting ©Helen C Read
Every time I observe, explore, and celebrate the truth and beauty of God’s Creation, the world opens up to me in new and profound ways. I never cease to be moved by the grandeur of a sweeping vista, the vivid colors of a sunset, or the intimate details of a single flower. These moments remind me 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 both art and life, my Christian faith is vital. I believe each of us is created with a purposeful design, and for many, that design includes the visual arts. Faith, informed by scripture, paves a rich pathway into the imagination, allowing us to envision possibilities of a more expressive rendering or a reality yet unseen. N.T. Wright captures this idea beautifully:
“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.”
This is an exciting way to view my calling into the arts. As I observe and create, I become aware of and discover deeper truths about God, through whom all things are created and sustained. I sense His presence in the creative process and while I work. As I continue the life-long process of learning and growing in skill, I am able to “speak” more clearly about what I’ve come to understand about His character that is evident in the world around us when we have eyes to perceive.
Much of my work is representational, but is enhanced with a 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.
Oil paint is my medium of choice. I love its smooth mixability, the infinite colors that can be produced, and the textures it can create. From time to time, I also work in acrylic and watercolor. 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.
Please visit my portfolio at the link below, and I’d love you to leave me a comment!
You Can See My Portfolio of Work Here
Image: Summer Sunset Oil Painting © Helen C Read
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