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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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    • Animal Kingdom
    • Feathered Friends
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    • 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
  • Artwork,  My Painting Process,  People,  Scapes - Coastal and Land

    Making of Chill Seekers Polar Bear Dip

    20 February 2021 / No Comments

    I love it when a painting names itself. From the moment I pulled out the canvas to start work, I knew this piece was called CHILL SEEKERS! Sometimes naming the painting can be the most difficult part. Really! Polar Bear Dip Once upon a time, a few years ago now, a few family members decided to join the Polar Bear dip at Mispec Beach. For those of you who may not know what a Polar Bear DIp is – and for those that live in warmer climates and I’m sure never heard of this – it’s well, when normally sensible people decide to take a quick plunge in freezing waters.…

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    Helen Shideler

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    Spring Scentsation

    5 February 2017

    Here we go again for the 4th time

    5 February 2018

    Memories of Addo National Park

    20 October 2019
  • People,  Travelling Colours

    Cafe Conversations

    23 October 2018 / No Comments

    I was recently in Vancouver visiting my daughter Jenn and her beautiful family for a couple of weeks. Love. While I was there my other daughter Katie joined us from Calgary with her baby Henry. So perfect. The time in BC was low key. Exactly what we all seem to need at the time. Enter cafes and coffee shops When in Vancouver Coffee Shops and Cafes are a big part of the culture on the west coast. And Jenn and I had the opportunity to go to Savary Island Pie Company one drizzly day. I was completely taken in by the coziness of the place and the lighting in the…

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    Helen Shideler

    You May Also Like

    Making of Chill Seekers Polar Bear Dip

    20 February 2021

    The problem with Prussian blue – A comedy

    21 July 2018

    New York Minute (sigh)

    18 May 2014
  • A Tale Unfolds,  Artful Reflections,  Lessons Learned,  People,  Still Life - Florals & Much More

    The problem with Prussian blue – A comedy

    21 July 2018 / No Comments

    Oh dear me So I have this brand new tube Prussian Blue paint in oil (if course).  I tried to squeeze a dab out onto my pallet.  Only it would not come out.  So I squeezed a little harder.  Still no paint.  And then I squeezed a little harder. Success!!!! Only half the tube shot out. Over the top of my pallet (as in all over the edges), onto the side of my water bottle, across the protective cardboard I had put under my work.  Phew!  Now if you know anything at all about Prussian, it has a reputation of getting away from you and today was a clear testament…

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    Helen Shideler

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    Snack Attack

    27 October 2019

    Spring is finally here

    24 March 2022

    Lots of work happening

    11 March 2023
  • Artful Reflections,  People,  Travelling Colours

    New York Minute (sigh)

    18 May 2014 / No Comments

    Last week, I cannot believe it has been a week already, we had an opportunity to got to New York City!   Pretty unbelievable place.  Although there seemed to be far more people there than I remembered from the last time, the place is WONDERFUL! And bright! And colourful! We stayed right on Times Square for the first two nights. Right outside our hotel door seemed like millions of people. And then moved to Central Park for the next two. Took lots of photos, ate really well, walked until we dropped – quite literally!   And we took in “The Lion King” as well as The Museum of Natural History…

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    Helen Shideler

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    My Painting Process

    8 September 2022

    When Your Art Page Gets Hacked

    4 November 2025

    A nice story

    18 June 2019

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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  • Artwork (77)
    • Fauna – Feathers and Fur (18)
    • People (4)
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  • Kudos (9)
  • My Painting Process (50)
    • Helpful Hints (7)
    • Lessons Learned (23)
    • Poured Watercolour (13)
  • My Plein Air Adventures (19)
  • Travelling Colours (19)

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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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