Helen Marie Hamel, Fine Artist

A quiet Saturday evening . . .

2010-08-13T10:31:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago I was rehearsing an offertory presentation . . . it was a quiet evening, and this was recorded. The beautiful sanctuary of Faith Lutheran Church . . . complete with its Communion class banners. Enjoy! Helen (music arrangement by Paul Tate)

Open House - May 1 and 2

2010-04-29T10:09:00.003-04:00

May 1st and 2nd - 14 Cedar Street Studios will have an Open House. Most artisans will be open, some additional fine craft . . . refreshments . . . see what we've been up to! 10-5 Saturday; 12-4 Sunday. Come visit!

First Apple.

2010-04-29T10:02:00.003-04:00

A louvre-worthy apple? Perhaps . . . palette knife technique. 10x10, floater frame. $260.00.

Song Garden - One Red Poppy

2010-04-29T09:59:00.002-04:00

I can't leave the poppies alone. 12x6. Sold. Painted December '09.

Yellow Rose

2010-04-29T09:57:00.002-04:00

Palette knife technique. 6x8. Sold.

Sprig of Beach Rose

2010-04-29T09:47:00.002-04:00

Intimate and personal. These rugosa beach roses just grow wild at the beach . . . with complete abandon, swaying from the breeze. 10x10, framed. $175.-

2010-04-29T09:42:00.003-04:00

Still life, predominantly palette knife. 11x14, linen canvas, framed. Photo shows a bit darker than original

Tiger Lillies and Thoughts.

2010-04-29T09:36:00.005-04:00

Palette knife technique. Painted Fall '09. 18x24 framed. Somehow this is more yellow than original. $425.

Wow, time has flown . . .

2009-12-07T18:52:00.003-05:00

I can't believe the last time I added a post to my blog. There'll be a lot of catching up to bring this space up to date. Lots of good things happening, though. A new studio at 14 Cedar Street Studios, Suite 217. Excitement. Great environment, correct lighting . . . lots of other artists and fine crafts people. Good feeling everywhere.

Blue Hill Welcome

2009-08-03T10:27:00.004-04:00

The Newburyport Art Association will be hosting its first 'patrons art show' beginning this weekend. I'm pleased and honored to be invited to participated. This is the newly completed work I'll be entering. This year's vacation was in Blue Hill, Maine. The peonies were in bloom, and our innkeepers chose these for us as our welcome to the area. 20"x24"; silver frame.

Salisbury Marsh-Blooming Tree

2009-08-03T10:21:00.001-04:00

This was a sort-of sunset with the warm light illuminating this flowering tree. This tree was laden with plumes of creamy blossoms. 9"x12", gold frame

Song Garden-Islandic Poppies

2009-08-03T10:18:00.003-04:00

This perennial intrigued me, so I brought it home and planted it. It was a bright spot of color in my small garden where not too many things were growing yet. 16"x12"; gold frame.

Spring on the Marsh

2009-08-03T10:16:00.002-04:00

All the trees on this marsh island of the Salisbury state park were in bloom all at once.

Plein Air June 2, 2009

2009-06-08T19:10:00.005-04:00

This 6x9 was painted at the Stevens-Coolidge estate last week. There were so many perennials and trees in bloom that it was overwhelming to simplify and concentrate.

Tonalism - a personal word on the subject . . .

2009-06-07T18:24:00.002-04:00

As these days and weeks go on, I continue my journey of exploring tonalism and how it works for me. Working with an under painting, allowing the glow of the underpainting to show through, exploring the mood of how I perceive the subject in front of me, allows much expression to come forward. I've fallen into this category of painting by accident, by struggling in different methods. Tonalism has come to me by a painting instructor who suggested I start a painting with an underpainting . . . and all of a sudden it made sense. Its like music. Years ago, as a young adult taking advanced piano lessons, my piano instructor mentioned I should pursue the romantic composers . . . that too fell into place. The music and art 'making' are a bit easier!!!

Essex Marsh-Study

2009-06-07T18:18:00.003-04:00

I love cloudy, foggy days on the coast. Seems anything in bloom is accentuated by its grayish surroundings. This was a Saturday morning a few weeks ago. 8x12 on panel - NFS

Maudsley Park-Dogwood

2009-06-07T18:10:00.002-04:00

My visit to Maudsley a few weeks ago was so positive. I completed a plein air study (see below), and from the study completed this larger work in my studio. This tree was just 'out there', with nothing to obstruct its beauty. 16X20; framed. $540.-

Plein Air - May 19, 2009

2009-05-20T19:11:00.005-04:00

My first adventure of the 2009 season. Perhaps this was a magnolia tree. I admit to not being savvy about ornamental trees . . . but I liked the creaminess of the blossoms of this tree at Maudsley Park in Newburyport. 8X10 panel

Become a 'hmhstudio' follower . . .

2009-05-13T08:28:00.003-04:00

Thank you for visiting . . . something/one drew you here . . . how about becoming a follower? A few weeks ago my studio mates/I organized a very well received open house at Artists' Muse. So many people signed our guest book(s) . . . telling us how interested people are with our studios, and particularly the artists within. This is a way to find out what's going on!

Ode to Lubec - PoppiesTwo

2009-05-09T08:31:00.004-04:00

Ah, more poppies!

I found a could look down into some of the red poppies on North Lubec Road. Don't you wonder at the perfection of creation . . . of our Creator . . . there are no mistakes in God's creation. 12"x12"; 1 1/2" gallery wrapped edges, no need to frame. $295.-

Ode to Lubec-Intimate Poppies

2009-05-09T08:21:00.004-04:00

While many of my paintings painted last fall have not been added to this blog, I need to add this one. Completed November '08, this painting shows the intimate setting of the Lubec garden poppies. This garden was laden with mostly salmon colored poppies, with a few red, as well as white poppies. 6"x12" canvas, silver 3" frame; $250.-

Song Garden-Lenten Rose

2009-05-09T08:13:00.003-04:00

This lenten rose has been such a joy to watch outside my window. It flourishes and blooms even in the worst of spring conditions . . . guess that's why they call it the lenten rose. This was in an earlier stage . . . sort-of pink/salmon and creamy white. The blooms, three weeks later, are a greenish white, growing strong. This is an evergreen plant, color in the garden all year long.

30"x15"; 2.5" deep gallery wrap canvas (painting wrapped around the sides). $625.-

Poppy Birdhouse

2009-04-22T08:33:00.006-04:00

Well, this is a birdhouse completed for Wellspring, an organization to assist women finding homes. I'm pleased to complete this; it was actually a lot of fun and brings me back to my decorative painting days and how I started to paint! Who would have thought I'd be in this place today? The end of April/beginning of May, Wellspring will have a luncheon/auction to sell all the birdhouses completed for this fundraiser. I'm hoping this whole effort will raise many dollars for this worthwhile organization. As I was painting this, I thought how fortunate I am . . . and how so many women are in trouble . . . relationship, economy, etc. This is a small part with big hopes to help women find themselves in a better place.

Ode to Lubec - Growing Wild2

2009-04-22T07:54:00.004-04:00

These phlox were on a mound - like its own hill - growing among the tall grasses. Its like they had their own personal view across the field to the distance.
24"x36" gallery wrap on linen; $795.-

Yellow Daisies

2009-04-06T09:09:00.007-04:00

Spontaneous . . . much of the underpainting used to advantage here. I continue this journey of tonal painting, the mood I'm able to convey. This was a garden at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH, laden with perennials, late summer. Contemplating a larger work of this.

Galley mount canvas: 14"X11"; $195.-

Ode to Lubec-Wild Phlox Hill

2009-04-06T09:04:00.006-04:00

Yes, I'm still on Lubec, Maine. Somehow I need to get up there in June . . . fog and haze and wild flowers . . . what's better than that! These flowers have the view, maybe I should just live among them!

Gallery mount canvas: 18X24; $395.-

Salisbury Beach Roses1

2009-04-06T08:50:00.004-04:00

Living on the Beach, in June these roses grow everywhere. Just a small image of these cascading beach roses, I imagine this year they'll be over the road!

12"X12"

Framed - $195.-

Some new inspiration/thoughts!

2009-03-30T07:21:00.004-04:00

Well, I'm still here. Sometimes, the more I learn . . . I become more and more dangerous! . . . in my painting world, of course! Working thru this new-found knowledge takes time! Learning more about tonalism, the soft edges and sort-of ethereal feeling that I love . . . it's been suggested that I explore the tonalist painters, George Inness and others . . . and this weekend was SO enlightening. The Hudson River painters . . . some of the galleries in Hudson, New York. I grew up there, we went to Newbury's there when I was a kid. Gray's Furniture. There were three shoe stores, a few fabric stores, two music shops, milner shop, dress shops . . . and I guess it was good that Warren Street went to sleep for several years. Because, the architectural beauty is still there . . . oh its still 'back in time', but a treat to remember back. Now its antiques and galleries and upscale restaurants - a day trip for New Yorkers. The Hudson River valley . . . I believe its still my first love! We drove up to Olana . . . and looking out at the vistas . . . I can see so easily now why the Hudson River painters became so popular . . . the drama, romance of the Hudson valley . . . I have to learn more!

Ode to Lubec-PoppyOne

2009-03-12T10:08:00.007-04:00

Well, I completed this a few weeks ago . . . I'm still excited about that garden in Lubec, Maine. 10x10; $195. Gallery mount (1 1/2" wrapped canvas, no frame, sides completed, no need to frame)

Ode to Lubec - A Marsh

2009-02-17T09:06:00.006-05:00

12' X 24" framed. $375.
All the wildflowers were out, this fabulous week in June. Never thought I'd want to paint muddy marshes . . . but if you really study them, there's so much wonderful color in them. These daisies had such a wonderful view . . .

Display of my artwork -

2009-02-11T07:37:00.004-05:00

Hmmm, what's new. Last week and this week its slow going. Sometimes paperwork just gets in the way! Meanwhile, beginning next week, February 17th, Terrence of Greenery Designs in Amesbury, has invited me to display my artwork in his window . . . and I'm honored to do this!

Good news for February!

2009-02-06T08:36:00.003-05:00

I learned yesterday that two paintings were accepted into the member's juried show at the Newburyport Art Association. The two are (and can be seen below): Autumn Opus-Chorus and Ode to Lubec-Grow Wild. That makes a total of four paintings this month at the NAA -

Autumn Opus Series - Chorus

2009-02-01T20:03:00.006-05:00

'Autumn Opus - Chorus'; 20"x20"; gold frame; $575.-
During the entire fall of 2008, I painted fall blooms. Most from late-blooming gardens, a few from my local florist. This particular bouquet came from my back garden, hygrangeas, golden rod, asters . . . it was late October. As I painted I realized these individual flowers all came together to create a lively fall song . . . and a chorus to sing it! This is a particular favorite!

Daily Paintings . . . a musing . . .

2009-02-01T19:43:00.005-05:00

It's been said, over and over, that only by painting 1,000 paintings can an artist become proficient. That's a lot of paintings. Too often an artist gets wrapped up in a piece, including me, and the spontaniety goes away. So, this becomes one of the few new year resolutions to be attempted. Realistically, about 4-5 paintings per week should be accomplished. Since there's so much to paint, maybe some of these ideas will get out of my system!

My garden Iris

2009-01-30T09:38:00.006-05:00

'Favorite Iris' - 10"x10" with floater frame.

I planted this iris in my small garden area last year. It had lots of buds on this fledging plant . . and it opened beautifully. This piece will go to the Newburyport Art Association for their 'Small Works' exhibition next week. This will be a salon-style show . . . I'm looking forward to it.

Lubec, Maine

2009-01-30T08:56:00.003-05:00

'Ode to Lubec'-Barn2 - 10"x14"; w/floater frame; $250.-

Looking up at the barn from the rocky coast. Quiet in the fog.

Shades of Gray . . .

2009-01-30T08:44:00.007-05:00

'Ode to Lubec'-Barn View1 - 10"x14". with floater frame. $250.-

There was a great barn down over the ledge of the place we were staying. A wonderfully place where only the ocean's choppy waves could be heard.

Just finished and signed . . .

2009-01-28T20:52:00.007-05:00

"Ode to Lubec - Grow Wild"

"30x24", 1 3/8" gallery wrap, no need to frame. $785.-

I painted this all week. As it took shape, I realized I could enter this into the Newburyport Art Association member juried show. I intend to do just that! On our first day in Lubec we travelled around getting to know the area. This was along the road to the state park.

Just signed . . .

2009-01-28T20:39:00.007-05:00

'Ode to Lubec-Poppy Delight'; 24"x48" - 1 1/2" gallery wrap, completed sides, no need to frame. $995.-
In late spring of 2008, it was a grand treat to attend a week-long painting workshop in Lubec, Maine. The wild flowers were in bloom . . . lupine, daisies, phlox . . . such a feast for the eyes. The fog continually rolled in and out all week. I remain inspired by my venture to down east Maine and will post more on my 'Ode to Lubec' series. This happens to be the largest oil I've painted! What fun . . .