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Helen Shideler

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Helen Shideler
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  • Home
    • Commissions
    • My Artistic Journey CV
    • FAQ’s
    • Links
    • Photo Album
    • Bio
  • Artwork
    • Available Artwork
    • My Plein Air Journey
    • My Print Shop
    • Animal Kingdom
    • East Coast Stills
    • Feathered Friends
    • Florals
    • Mussels and More
    • People
    • Poured Watercolour
    • Scapes
    • The Pond
  • Blog
  • Contact me
  • Events
    • Fund Raisers
    • Exhibitions

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  • Home
    • My Artistic Journey CV
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    • Photo Album
    • Bio
  • Portfolio
    • Animal Kingdom
    • Feathered Friends
    • Florals
    • Mussels and More
    • People
    • Poured Watercolour
    • Scapes
    • The Pond
    • Available Artwork
    • My Plein Air Journey
    • East Coast Stills
    • My Print Shop

Recent Posts

  • When Your Art Page Gets Hacked
    In Artful Reflections, Lessons Learned, My Painting Process, Scapes - Coastal and Land
  • Experience the Beauty of Coastal Art This Summer
    In Events, Scapes - Coastal and Land
  • Sea Shells at the Sea Shore
    In Artwork, Scapes - Coastal and Land, Still Life - Florals & Much More
  • Artful Reflections,  Fauna - Feathers and Fur,  Lessons Learned,  My Painting Process

    The missed shots

    10 November 2024 / No Comments

    Thinking about all the bird photos that weren’t meant to be This post is a tribute to all the photos I meant to take, the ones that got away, the ones I thought I actually captured – because those might be some of the best images that I imagined i could translate onto canvas.  What I managed to capture are images of the feeder swaying after a take off.  Bird rumps and tail shots.  Blurry birds and fuzzy feathers.  Innumerable bad shots. The ever elusive blue jay. I’ve missed the blue wonder countless times, and with every miss I had to laugh a little more.  I mean what else could…

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    Helen Shideler

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    Playing with ChatGPT

    26 April 2024

    Where oh where has my Get Up and Go gone?

    27 August 2024

    Muscles, Mussels and More

    5 April 2025
  • Artwork,  My Plein Air Adventures,  Still Life - Florals & Much More

    How is it July already?

    7 July 2024 / No Comments

    How is it July already? I am in shock at how fast this year is going. Please summer, won’t you slow down just a little for us? The moods of Lac Cameron, PQ We recently travelled to Ontario and then to Quebec to visit with our family and to help them build a deck at their lakeside cottage. The lake of course, is incredibly beautiful and ever changing.  I did not paint on days when we had torrential rains (well, maybe before the rain started) and with high winds. I never really considered that high temperatures would also be a deterrent. Biting bugs I understand and I regularly hide form…

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    Helen Shideler

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    The Naming of a Painting of a Raven

    7 December 2014

    Growing Skyward

    10 December 2021

    Icky ick ick ick

    4 January 2015
  • Artwork,  Fauna - Feathers and Fur

    The Prince of Rockwood Park

    24 March 2024 / No Comments

    An oil painting of a Majestic Whitetail Deer Young Buck In the heart of a nearby city park is a forested area that is enjoyed by hikers and wildlife alike. This is a quiet place where you may often see whitetail deer, among other wildlife.  I met this young buck while out on an adventure hoping to photograph some birds. The Prince of Rockwood Park. When I pulled into the parking lot, I was quite surprised to see this young buck accompanied by his harem. I managed to get some ok photos from the car and figured I’d get photos of the trail once they left.  The trail was nicely…

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    Helen Shideler

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    I see you – painting of a sparrow

    18 May 2015

    Sea Shells at the Sea Shore

    8 June 2025

    Growing Skyward

    10 December 2021
  • Artful Reflections,  Artwork,  My Plein Air Adventures

    I’m happy to be OuTSiDeY

    26 November 2023 / No Comments

    I just learned a new wonderful word. Outsidey  And I identify with it so much.  I love the fresh air, the warming sun and gentle breezes. Long walks on the beach.  A hike in the woods.  All the little critters (except ticks, hornets and black flies) I also love creature comforts.  Like heated car seats and heated steering wheels. Air Conditioning! Indoor heating and warm showers!  I’m essentially a wimp. I’m kind of amazed that at this point to discover a new way to describe myself. I mean I always sort of knew it – but never had a word to describe it. Outsidey! Discovering something new, no matter how…

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    Helen Shideler

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    Spring is finally here

    24 March 2022

    My Painting Process

    8 September 2022

    My Process to Start a New Painting

    1 December 2015
  • My Painting Process,  Still Life - Florals & Much More

    Dancing With the Sun

    9 May 2023 / No Comments

    I love it when paintings name themselves. Quite often as I am working on them, the name just comes to me and it almost always is the right name for the piece. This was one of those times. Dancing With the Sun. Just feels right  Were you aware that sunflowers move so that their “face” follows the sun? I think that this was so cool. So the flowers really do a slow dance with the sun each day and I danced under the sunflowers. It’s no wonder this flower makes everyone feel so much joy. The beautiful complementary yellow flowers against summers cobalt blue sky – so beautiful. Here are…

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    Helen Shideler

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    The missed shots

    10 November 2024

    Cascading Blooms Watercolour Complete

    28 March 2016

    My Journey into Plein Air…so far

    1 December 2022
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ARTIST & BLOGGER

Hi, I’m Helen. Welcome to my online home. Here, you’ll find a collection of my art creations inspired by light, colour and texture.

Explore, enjoy and feel free to connect!

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    • Lessons Learned (23)
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coastal art Mussel shell painting sea shore painting

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Copyright

As the artist I retain the the reproductive rights to my artwork in any form. Thank you for following along and appreciating my work.

The big debate was on… Should I sent this painting The big debate was on…
Should I sent this painting to the pit to burn? Or should I try to salvage it?

Honestly, I’ve always been of the mind that there is nothing you can’t fix…you just have to want to. Oh and get over the fear of messing it up. But, I was already on the fence with this painting  because…well the alien branch thing. So really, I had nothing to loose.

And now that I went back in I see the potential of staying with it. 🤞

#artinprogress #studiowork #livelifeincolour #helenshideler #bluejayart
Work in progress Sometimes some paintings take sl Work in progress

Sometimes some paintings take slow time. Each shell telling me it ok to slow down. Enjoy the process. Some things are simply just worth the time.

This is one of those paintings. And I’m good with it. I ponder which shell goes where and how they may fit together. When I step back and study it…it is feeling right. I’m hoping to complete this coming week. 🤞A few shells each day.

#eastcoastartist #studiowork #livelifeincolour #artinprogress #helenshideler
I have a shell collection from years ago They are I have a shell collection from years ago
They are my treasures - and, although I probably will not add to it any more. I love them. There are many beaches now with signs asking that people do not remove shells from the beach as they are an important contributor to beach sand. 

I thought about returning them to where I found them but I know the minute I drop them - someone else will pick them up. 

So they remain in my treasured collection. My models. They have been painted many times…and here we go again!

#eastcoastartist #artinprogress #livelifeincolour #studiowork #moonsnails #moonsnailpaintings #ontheeasel #helenshideler
To the pit! Sometimes the only solution is to let To the pit!

Sometimes the only solution is to let them burn. This is a group of Plein Air paintings that I wasn’t happy with. Often I’ll hang onto them for a bit to see if there was something to learn from what or where I messed up. Then it’s time to let them go - I mean I’d never want anyone to see them right?

Burning them is so therapeutic!

#eastcoastartist #pleinaircanada #getoutsideandpaint #livelifeincolour #burnbabyburn #byebye #tothepit #canadianartist #helenshideler
Tidal Keepsake A walk on the beach is how I love Tidal Keepsake

A walk on the beach is how I love to recharge. I love all the smells and sounds of the wave action. Whether the waves are gentle or crashing…they are healing. When I’m walking on the beach I keep my eyes open for treasures. Whether it’s birds to photograph, a piece of sea glass to pocket. All treasures!

But when I happen upon a collection of gathered shells - they stop me in my tracks. And I photograph them knowing that one day they may be the focus of my next shell painting. 

12 x 12” acrylic on gallery depth gessobord

#eastcoastartist #artinprogress #livelifeincolour #studiowork #musselshells #coastalart #seasidepainting #artofthesea #oceaninspired #beachfinds #musselshellart #creativeprocess #contemporaryartwork #helenshideler
Update - I'm sold. Thank you @handworksgallerysj Update - I'm sold. Thank you @handworksgallerysj 

No Place to Hide

Especially when you are this stunning. Definitely not easy to hide…especially in the evergreens.

This was an interesting painting to create. I liked it quite fine before I decided to add the background - it was always the plan. I was just a bit tentative as I liked the cardinal on its own. I knew where I was going with this (or where I hoped it would go) - just wondered if I could get it there. I mean that first step. Eek was a nail biter!

12x12” acrylic on deep cradled birch panel

#eastcoastartist #beautifulnewbrunswick #artinprogress #studiowork #livelifeincolour #canadianartdaily #birdsinart #northerncardinal #northerncardinalsofinstagram #canadianartist #featheredfriends #backyardbirds #helenshideler
Sidewalk Stepping and Strutting in Style And a pa Sidewalk Stepping and Strutting in Style

And a pair of crows 🐦‍⬛ paintings joining the little painted flock. Getting gallery ready soon.

#eastcoastartist #livelifeincolour #studiowork #featheredfriends #birdsinart #crowsinart #blackbirdpainting #botanicalbirds #crowsofinstagram #backyardbirds #helenshideler
Sapphire Blues So many delightful birds to paint Sapphire Blues

So many delightful birds to paint - I think this blue jay may be one of my favourites. The colours…pure joy!

For a while I stepped away from smaller works as they take almost the same amount of time as larger pieces.  But they are so versatile. They can hang in a small space. Sit on a bookshelf. Or tuck into a corner to catch your eye and make you smile. More to follow soon!

8”x 8” acrylic on cradled birch panel

#eastcoastartist #beautifulnewbrunswick #artinprogress #studiowork #livelifeincolour #botanicalbirds #bluejayart #bluejaypainting #birdsinart #bluejaysofinstagram #helenshideler #backyardbirds #mightyminis #instabirds #canadianartist
Crimson Cardinal We have grape vines that grow ac Crimson Cardinal

We have grape vines that grow across a pergola by our kitchen window. The birds love to perch there to ensure they feel safe enough to come into the feeders. They provide us with endless enjoyment and entertainment!

This is an acrylic painting - which let me play with watery paint to get the effect of the background grape vines. Fun painting 

This painting will be donation for a fund raiser for the IWK Hospital - a cause near and dear to my heart!

#eastcoastartist #artinprogress #studiowork #livelifeincolour #birdsinart #northerncardinal #newbrunswickartist #canadianartist #cardinalsofinstagram #helenshideler
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Recent Posts

  • When Your Art Page Gets Hacked
    In Artful Reflections, Lessons Learned, My Painting Process, Scapes - Coastal and Land
  • Experience the Beauty of Coastal Art This Summer
    In Events, Scapes - Coastal and Land
  • Sea Shells at the Sea Shore
    In Artwork, Scapes - Coastal and Land, Still Life - Florals & Much More
  • Horizon Health and the most excellent after care
    In Artful Reflections

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Copyright

As the artist I retain the the reproductive rights to my artwork in any form.

My Artwork may not be photographed, sketched, painted, added in part or in whole to any other artwork, or reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the artist prior to moving forward.

Thank you for following along and appreciating my work.

©Helen Shideler

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