Helen Kleczynski

“When I slow down long enough to sit and paint outside, I see the world in a different way. Light and shadows change, illuminating places that were hidden just minutes before. Sometimes, I return to the same place time and time again, at different times of the year, or at a different time of day, or in different weather conditions. Often, a photograph taken on one of my expeditions will become an inspiration for a studio painting. Painting outdoors helps me to capture the feeling of the place or the subject, and also to express this feeling in my studio paintings. My background in architecture and book illustration combined with a recent visit to Italy, has inspired me to paint architectural scenes, as well as more natural settings. Most often, my plein air paintings are watercolor sketches in journals that I bind myself. I love the ease with which I can carry the supplies, and enjoy recording the time and the place through both words and sketches. On other occasions, I paint with pastel or oils.”

Helen teaches journaling, drawing and painting at her studio in Vicksburg. You may see more of her work at the Blue Water Gallery in Richland, or at the Sutton’s Bay Gallery in Sutton’s Bay or on her web-site helensarthouse.com. Look for her work in the April issue of the Pastel Journal.

August 9, Oval Beach - Watercolor

June 12, Iris - Watercolor

May 2, Graveyard Fields - Watercolor

                     November 5, Coloseum - Watercolor                                       October,30,, Pantheon - Watercolor