Artforbreakfast

Shelly Beach Murals – the prep work

Helen Beech — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:40:10 +0000

I have been working on the mural concept and plans for a few weeks.
It seems like I have done an extraordinary amount of work, on the sketch pad,
researching and on the computer, my printer has been working over-time churning out
ideas and outlines, I have bulging folders of underwater pictures and birds and fish….
And for all of that, I have a couple basic line drawings which really do nothing to convey
either my excitement for the project or the vision in my head. Rats.
I was surprised by how hard it was to hand over the concept plans and the final designs,
and in the end had to completely detach myself from them and realise that some people won’t like it and most people won’t grasp my intention. But despite all the worry and self-doubt
we are still on track.
So now I get to work on the individual birds and fish, I’m quite looking forward to up scaling the
snapper to its full on the wall size and bringing it to life.
Having the opportunity to paint an underwater scene is so cool, and I’m hoping to do some snorkelling over the next week or so to get even more inspired.

Shelly Beach Murals

Helen Beech — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:39:19 +0000

We are working on a new mural project at Shelly Beach, and I thought it might be a nice idea to keep track of progress.
Especially seeing as I decided to post some of my earlier mural works in my port folio and I couldn’t find any blimmin pictures. So I’m off to hunt down, Te Hanna and the Kaukapakapa images.
How can you paint the sides of large buildings and not take photos. Honestly.
Looking back at the stuff I do have, I’m a bit shocked that I had the nerve to rock up to past mural sites with just an A3 bit of paper and a coloured sketch. By Crikey.

Finding Inspiration and Keeping Track

Helen Beech — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 06:49:09 +0000

I was looking for a Nick Fedaeff print recently when I found a stack of old visual diary cards-

Its so nice to have a record of what inspired you, what caught your attention and the things that you thought enough of to record. Some times I keep a daily visual diary, but never for an extended time.
My diary keeping never seems to be important at the time, but its fantastic to be able to look back over old images, ideas, thoughts and memories. Stumbling over these has inspired me to find my spiral bound scrapbook, feltpens
glue stick and top up the ink in my printer.
I have lots of ideas jostling for a space on a board or canvas, so its important not only to gather that energy but to keep feeding the creative reserve with new ideas.

Now when I’m working on a painting I use Evernote to keep all the treads together. This was really helpful in completing the Musicians Family which has been on the go for longer than I like to admit. I used Evernote to collate photos, sketches reference paintings and edits.

And because it works on all my mobile devices and computers, wherever I was I could add an idea or thought and it would be available everywhere.
Its also great for keeping my favorite art websites in one place.

It is for real..

Helen Beech — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:11:42 +0000

Sunset Tree

I painted the The Sunset Tree a good few years ago, recently I have been building a shrine box with it tucked in as the background. Yesterday I looked at the shrine and realized that although I painted the tree in the past, it sits across the the river
from me in the present.

Sometimes the way time pushes and shoves at our linear expectations scares me, sometimes it feels magical and sometimes I manage to catch a ride. I wish there was a switch to flick or a door to sneak in through, so I could hang out in artland more often.
Six months into my new life as a weekend Mum, and I would have to say, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.
I really enjoy my time with the boys and its free of conflict, which is wonderful. We have wild and lively discussions about all sorts of things. We walk on beaches and play computers.
I haven’t wanted to be to hard on myself, but I’m thinking it might be time to reign in the adjustment period and get properly stuck in. I need to find motivation and a community to help me on my way.
I also surprisingly have quite a few paintings to sell ….

So this really might be my new life….6 weeks of Not

Helen Beech — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:49:59 +0000

So its the first of March. Last week was shit – for everyone in NZ. But out of the rubble comes the knowing that everyone in our country loves one another. And I think we all discovered that people are far more important than buildings.
It also serves to make you think about life in general.
I think I realized this week that the boys aren’t coming back and this is my new life.
This is very sad but it could also be the start of the rest of my life and it could be quite exciting if I let it.

Stay Out Of School

Helen Beech — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:24:29 +0000

Stay Out of School Blog link - interesting article on the creative process

Fiber Paste

Helen Beech — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:08:00 +0000

Stormyness

Helen Beech — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 06:15:38 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

We had a very high tide and lots and lots of rain, but we squeaked by.
Had lunch at the Art of Cheese in Puhoi – it was very tropical.
Played Chocolate Trivial Pursuit, in which we had to keep playing until somebody could spell Supercalifragilistiexpialidoius. It took a while.

Terry Stringer – Zealandia Sculpture

Helen Beech — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 02:35:23 +0000

Today we went on a tour of Zealandia Sculpture Garden at Mahurangi.
Terry Stringer’s work is fantastic -loved it.
Everyone had a great time looking and then looking again at the sculptures. We especially enjoyed the way the work and the trees worked together.
Totally inspired. Thanks Terry for your vision and thanks Tim for your fantastic hospitality.

First Day of Not

Helen Beech — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 08:41:52 +0000

Shelley Beach Mural

So today was my first day of not.
Not being a full time Mum. After 16 years of intense involvement in my boys life .. I’m not.
This is definitely not what I would have wished for, and to be honest I’m kind of pretending they have gone away for their usual Christmas holiday stint at Dads, I’m not sure if this is a wise delusion but I’m hoping it will help me adjust.

I know I’m going to have good days and bad days, and I know I will survive, I hope they do to.
In the meantime I need to use the emotional energy in a profitable way - so I am throwing myself back into the art pit,
with a mind to actually making a living from my art - last time I had a go at this enterprise I was actually making headway, so I’m relatively optimistic I can make it fly properly this time.
I just need to be a little disciplined and a lot paintier.
This weeks jobs are to round up all my paintings, take stock – and find a new art group out this way.
Also to put paint on a brush everyday.
Good luck kiddo you are going to need it.
PS I dare you to show up everyday.