PRocess

Helen’s latest series Process is a unique departure from her typical paintings. For this body of work, Helen upcycled old painting rags into works of art. Upcycling is defined as “the activity of making new furniture, objects, etc. out of old or used things or waste material.” A large part of Helen’s practice aims to minimize waste in her studio. She tries to limit the amount of paint left behind on her palette after each painting session, and unsuccessful paintings get painted over and made into something new. The rags used to clean her brushes are repurposed old bed sheets and stained t-shirts that otherwise would have been thrown away, and every rag she’s used has been carefully stored over the years waiting for a new purpose. Wanting to create new “paintings” out of something typically tossed aside, Helen cut up and patchworked together all of her painting rags to create new pieces that tell a story of the painting process. Different colors, furious brushstrokes, swipes of the palette knife, and puddles of turpentine from each painting session reside in each piece. Helen’s goal is to create something new and beautiful from something mundane and typically discarded. A form of poetry and abstraction to embody the painting process.

All pieces are available for sale directly from the artist’s studio. Prices upon request.