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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
    • Commissions
    • FAQ’s
    • Links
    • 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
  • Lessons Learned,  My Painting Process,  Still Life - Florals & Much More

    Bay of Fundy Blues

    19 January 2020 / No Comments

    Bay of Fundy Blues is my first completed oil painting for 2020! Mussel shells have always been one of my favourite subjects to paint and I always come back to them. It seems like a rather long time since i posted last. I’ve been quite busy. I completed a few Christmas commissions along the way – which I am unable to share, then the holidays with lots of family and we don’t have to get into the never ending sinus cold/infection fiasco. So many reasons! But I am back at it once again. Mussel shells revisited It is interesting how I keep coming back to subjects that I thought I…

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    Helen Shideler

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    Spring Scentsation

    1 December 2018

    Hat Trick

    3 February 2014

    The problem with Prussian blue – A comedy

    21 July 2018
  • Lessons Learned,  Still Life - Florals & Much More

    Spring Scentsation

    1 December 2018 / No Comments

    Spring Scentsation is a relatively large oil painting of a soft and fragrant while lilac that grows on our property line in the back yard.  There is quite a story getting the painting to this point. Inspiration is everywhere A few years back when visiting my daughter, we went for many walks around her area in Vancouver.   It seemed to me that almost every property we walked by had a tree line border framing in their yard.  They were really well designed.  Tall trees with shrubs at their base.  There really was no need for weeding as the growth from the shrubs kept them in check.  Everything grows uber…

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    Helen Shideler

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    My Journey into Plein Air…so far

    1 December 2022

    Another 30 day challenge complete

    31 January 2017

    Fetching Fun and a bit of trouble

    10 November 2018
  • 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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    Lots of work happening

    11 March 2023

    Spring is finally here

    24 March 2022

    Home Away From Home

    11 February 2024
  • Lessons Learned,  My Painting Process,  Poured Watercolour,  Scapes - Coastal and Land,  Still Life - Florals & Much More

    Summertime Promises

    20 May 2018 / No Comments

    Summertime Promises I completed this painting on the day of the Royal Wedding and also my husband’s birthday.  All this just happens to coincide with the Victoria Day long weekend.  All this is truly symbolic.  The May long weekend heralds in the promise of summer and is filled with hope.  Lazy long weekends, adventurous tours, putting in the garden… you know the feeling Warm enough to chill I don’t know about you, but my soul has been longing to be warm so we can just chill.  Our season on the East Coast is relatively short.  We wait so long for its arrival. So many happy plans and ideas – all…

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    Helen Shideler

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    Spring Scentsation

    1 December 2018

    Growing Skyward

    10 December 2021

    My Journey into Plein Air…so far

    1 December 2022
  • Lessons Learned,  My Painting Process,  Poured Watercolour,  Still Life - Florals & Much More

    Special Supper

    25 March 2018 / No Comments

    I choose to paint Special Supper because I felt I needed a challenge!  Jeepers!  Designing a poured watercolour around lobsters sitting on a lobster platter may not have been my smartest move. Wing and a prayer The thing is, I could see the finished painting in my mind.  Which when you start a painting I think you you should be able to do.  Breaking the colours out into layers in this case was very complex especially since the painting is basically monochromatic. And red. Once the values started to get deeper, I actually lost my roadmap.  I was unable to distinguish between critter and platter. You see, both the real…

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    Helen Shideler

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    Growing Skyward

    10 December 2021

    Hat Trick

    3 February 2014

    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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Categories

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  • Artful Reflections (14)
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    • Fauna – Feathers and Fur (18)
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    • Still Life – Florals & Much More (36)
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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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