How do artists make art?
The answer is as unique as the art and artist. And on the Washington County Open Studios
tour, you get a peek behind the scenes into the art making process. Every artist is opening up their studio to
you, showing you their materials, inspirations and demonstrating what they do
and how they create art.
Helvi, when you begin your work, what inspires you or gets you
going?
“I LOVE a blank canvas. I may or may not have an
idea when I set a canvas on my work table - but it does not stay blank for
long. I use squeeze bottles filled with acrylic house paint to put paint
on canvas. Or brushes. Or fingers. Or spatulas.
I am fortunate that I never have "Painters Block." I
love to paint and ideas flow as easily as the paint for me.
I am a fearless painter and often try new ideas that come
to mind. For example: I wanted to paint some tall skinny
paintings as they are a size that I imagined would fit in a lot of different
kinds of venues. So I tried it. I call them Room Sticks because
everyone has room for art that is 50" tall and 5" across. I am
very pleased with how they turned out.”
How did you find
your way to art, Helvi?
“I have always been creative. Always.
I started painting when a friend of mine made her New Years Resolution to
"Have more art in her life." I asked if I could join her in
the resolution. So we made a pact that I would go to her house for 2
hours every Sunday and we would make "art." I had no idea what
I was going to do, just that it would be art. I started painting
because I had leftover house paint and some canvas that I found at Goodwill.
That was it. I could not STOP painting. Still cannot
stop painting. I paint every day.”
Helvi, do you
use a weird, different material or technique and does that inspires you?
“I use reclaimed and
recycled acrylic house paint as my medium. I get leftover paint from
friends and oftentimes I frequent the ReStore looking for bright colors of paint
there. Color does not scare me. Beige scares me. I have
done my research and have been told by experts that house paint will last as
long as any other paint. It is just a different viscosity from other
paints and the pigments a little different. I am just used to it, and
love knowing that each painting is an act of recycling.”
When people come
to your studio, Helvi, what will they see you doing?
“When you come to my studio, you will have to go up the
steps that I painted, as the Italianate design of my building has the basement
at ground level and the rest of the house is upstairs. You will walk
into my gallery that has bright ORANGE walls. Then you may see me in my
paint apron flinging paint hither and thither on my paint table at the end of the
gallery!”
Helvi, can you
describe what is unique and inspiring about your studio?
“My studio (and Gallery) is
in a house built in 1875. I paint in what used to be the dining room.
The living area is now my gallery. Each year I paint the front steps
in a different way. Last year I "tagged" my own steps with the
word, "art" with spray paint. All over! Art Art
Art. Then someone else tagged my steps! They added letters to the
"art." P-Art W-Art C-Art - what a hoot!”
See Helvi making art and get inspired during the 2015
Washington County Open Studios tour October 17 and 18 from 11am to 5pm. Get a FREE tour map and information online at
www.washcoart.org
No comments:
Post a Comment