New Blood Art Blog » Helen Booth

Persephone 1-6

Helen Booth — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:00:44 +0000

After a couple of weeks of wrestling with a colour palette, I seem to have made a breakthrough.

Colour

Helen Booth — Wed, 26 May 2010 11:48:02 +0000

This morning, I started in a very strange mood. Having watched the news unfold over the last few weeks, with all the talks of cuts and billions in debt, it seems impossible to see how I am going to be able to survive as an Artist.

It’s difficult. If I don’t paint, I get so annoyed, but I also feel frustrated when I paint, because I can’t see how it’s going to pay the bills. So many of my galleries have shut up shop. Really good hardworking galleries, which have given me so many opportunities to show. Small independent galleries that represent emerging artists like myself, seem to be more than struggling, as people tighten their belts. It appears to me that Art is what people are willing to sacrifice. Which is so depressing.

I always work better in my own space, when I have a deadline. Something positive to work towards. It’s difficult making work, if I am going to be the only one who sees it. I spent a good hour researching Scandinavian galleries. I’ve never been, but the photographs I see of the landscape and the light there seems so seductive and uplifting.

Saying this though, my work seems to have exploded today. For the first time in 10 years I’m using colour. Colour as in hot pinks and Vibrant Turquoise. I’m sure when I go back to my studio tomorrow I’ll probably shriek at the paintings, but today they feel like they are moving in the right direction.

By the time the girls got back from school, I had pulled myself out of the dark hole I was in, with the help of a brighter palette and feel a bit more positive about it all again. I have to paint and that’s that!

What time is it Mr. Wolf..

Helen Booth — Sat, 22 May 2010 00:07:06 +0000

Spent the morning looking at the intricate detail of these really beautiful seed heads.

I love the potential in them.

So delicate, and the colour is incredible.

New Work after a long break.

Helen Booth — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:52:07 +0000

When my studio is full of work and busy it feels alive. I feel alive.
It hasn’t been. It’s been quiet and rather like Miss Havisham’s house in Great Expectations; paintings half finished and my oils left out on my palette all dried over.
News comes swift and brutal, and knocks you off your feet. You are left reeling as you desperately try to pick up all the broken pieces. Death does this to you.
Emerging out of the darkness, I am back in my space and full of ideas and creating new work. I’ve filled 2 sketchbooks and started a series of new pieces.My studio walls are covered in new work.
When I was in college, I wasn’t afraid of materials. I would try any number of things to get the image onto the canvas. And now I find myself full circle. I’m using all manner of things to create the new work, oil, marble dust, varnish and graphite. It feels exciting.

Note to self: I must get some iodine. I love this colour on paper. Oh and calamine lotion, the colour and the smell too!