A Solo Exhibition by Helen Van Poorten
Colborne Art Gallery, Ontario
September 15, 2018 through October 28, 2018
Opening Reception: Saturday September 15, 2018, 2 to 4 pm
Living in Northumberland county, I see the world around me as a series of paintings yet to make it to my paper. I cannot help but be inspired by the local landscape. How would I paint the colour of those trees or the depth of colour of those shadows, the reflections on the water or the snow? These questions are constantly in my mind when I view my surroundings.
But our local beauty is not my whole world. Because my husband and I have traveled in our RV from coast to coast in the US and Canada, I am inspired by many and varied landscapes and coastal views. So, although much of my art is based on our beautiful Northumberland County, my travels inspire me to expand “My World” to all the landscapes I have visited from the beautiful coastal peninsulas of Maine and the east coast of Canada to the glorious colours of the canyons, mesas and deserts of the southwestern states. I am intrigued by the colours, the shadows, the skies, the seasons and all other aspects of the world around me. I see it all as a painting yet to be realized.
Art, for me, is a journey. There are no arrivals. I hope you enjoy joining me on my journey.
Helen Van Poorten Artist Statement
I have been creating art for most of my life. My earliest memories are of sitting and drawing next to my architect father at his drawing table. After a career as an elementary school teacher, my retirement offered me the opportunity to work on my painting more or less full-time. Mostly self-taught, I am inspired by my surroundings and by books and artwork which I study carefully to learn new techniques and improve my style. Like many artists, I have enjoyed participating in workshops and learning from other accomplished artists. I studied watercolour at Buckhorn school of art, at Southampton School of Art, at Mohawk College in Brantford, at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario, as well as from Davona Paquette, a celebrated watercolour artist from Ayr, Ontario. Additionally, I have participated in workshops in pastel painting with Sharon Cranston in Bloomfield and with Dave Beckett, a pastellist in Orillia whose work I greatly admire. Most recently, I learned the technique of creating batik paintings on rice paper, using hot wax and watercolours. This technique lends itself well to floral themes.
Discover Helen on these sites:
thecolborneartgallery.ca/helen-van-poorten
spiritofthehills.org/project/helen-van-poorten/
facebook.com/helen.vanpoorten
