Artist Feature: Helen Eaton

We thought it would be fun to do a feature on each of the artists whose work hangs in the gallery.  Each painting carries a little piece of the artist within it, and we wanted you to know their stories!  We are starting the series with Helen Eaton, an elementary school teacher and Fayetteville resident who took up painting when her children learned to drive and she had time to learn something new.  Helen took her first art lesson, a 6-week Intro to Oil Painting class, in 2007 and hasn't stopped painting since!  Helen has always told stories through her writing, and now she is doing the same through her painting.  And we are so glad!! 

Check out our "interview" with Helen.....

RH: What is your favorite piece that you have painted? 

HE:  My favorite painting is always “the one that I just finished.”  I always love the one that’s still drying on the easel.  But, if I have to pick one that I never tire of looking at, it would be “Aspens in Autumn.” I love the big size, the colors, the shapes, and the warm, peaceful feeling it gives to my living room.

RH: Where do you get your inspiration? 

HE:  I choose to paint images that tell a story. I love to paint people (especially toddlers) from a back or side view who are doing something that they love – blowing a dandelion, feeding ducks, touching a butterfly, reading a book, climbing a tree...

 

I love to paint flowers or vegetables that I planted, watered, weeded, and picked myself.

I love to paint places that trigger memories of where I’m from, where I’ve been, or where I know I’d feel comfortable.

RH: What would you like to paint, but haven't yet?

HE: I want to paint a big tri-panel piece – a large piece that continues across three canvases.  I have kind of a vision for it in purples and greens, but I haven’t found the image that feels right for it... Maybe it will be mountains... or a bed of irises... or turnips!  I’ll know it when I see it.

RH: When is your favorite time of day to create your art?

HE: Evening.  But, really anytime that there’s not a long “to do” list of housework or errands waiting.

RH: Do you do commissioned work?

HE: Yes.

RH: What's the strangest request you've ever had?

HE: I painted the three portraits of someone’s pet monkeys.  Any truth about the human face or anatomy that I’d learned was skewed in a weird way to make this human-like animal... well, not human...

Helen combines her love of writing and painting in her blog, Art by Word Weaver.  You should check it out to see more of her work and read the story behind the piece.  Then, come by and see her paintings first-hand here at Red Hill.  We have several new pieces, including this adorable original that is perfect for Valentine's Day!