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Helen Shideler

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Helen Shideler
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    • Mussels and More
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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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  • Blog
  • Contact me
  • 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

  • 2025 A Year of Color and Attention
    In Artful Reflections, Scapes - Coastal and Land, Still Life - Florals & Much More
  • 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
  • Events,  Kudos

    Stone Church Artist’s Residency

    23 October 2022 / 4 Comments

    And just like that our week with Stone Church Artist’s Residency program is behind us. What a gratifying and humbling week it was. I am sure neither Dale Cook or I will soon forget this experience! We really didn’t know what to expect. The Church is absolutely beautiful. Full of architectural details that amaze. The ceiling over the altar was designed to resemble a ships hull – much like the Saint John City Market. The sun backlighting the magnificent stained glass windows will stop you in your tracks with pure awe. The Soul of the Church It interesting that it was not us trying to capture the physical attributes of…

    Read More
    Helen Shideler

    You May Also Like

    SCA Art Chat with Helen

    30 April 2021

    Memories of California

    11 May 2017

    My Painting in 2014 CSPWC Show

    1 November 2014
  • A Tale Unfolds,  Artful Reflections,  Artwork,  Kudos

    Spring is finally here

    24 March 2022 / No Comments

    Spring fever and a generous slice of humble pie As we finally start to move away from the distractions that we all lived with during much of the pandemic, I am so happy that the warm Plein Air painting opportunities are slowly returning and to see smiling faces once again (maskless).  I don’t know about you – but I have serious spring fever! It’s been a Corvid kind of Covid As you probably know, I almost always paint in a series. This year is no exception I have painted three crows and a blue jay! Both are members of the Corvid family! A Tale Unfolds Intrigued We started to feed…

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    Helen Shideler

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    The problem with Prussian blue – A comedy

    21 July 2018

    Lots of work happening

    11 March 2023

    Home Away From Home

    11 February 2024
  • Events,  Kudos

    SCA Art Chat with Helen

    30 April 2021 / No Comments

    I’ll let you in on a secret Sometimes we are presented with an opportunity that pulls us out of our comfort zones. You know it will be good for you but still you resist. You can run but you can’t hide! Confession. I do not like to be photographed. Never have. I am the one with the camera. It’s the perfect way to avoid having my photo taken. Much worse is my aversion to being in a video. EGADs!! So when I was invited to participate in the Society Of Canadian Artists (SCA) Art Chat I was really happy and knew absolutely that I should participate with the interview –…

    Read More
    Helen Shideler

    You May Also Like

    Experience the Beauty of Coastal Art This Summer

    12 July 2025

    Painting Returns Home with Two Awards

    9 December 2014

    I Had a Total Blast

    6 October 2013
  • From My Studio,  Kudos

    Pretty Perfect Paint Prize Package

    1 March 2016 / No Comments

    I am so completely excited!  And a bit dim! Look at the wonderful prize package I just received. Giddy with glee I was very fortunate and won an award at the CSPWC Open Art Show in November.  The prize was a gift certificate for Stevenson Paint – made right here in Canada. And what was so wonderful (other than receiving the award) was that I was able to select the type of painting and colours that I wanted.  Oils.  Acrylics.  Watercolours.  Smorgasbord! Delightful! Giddy with glee me! I have to admit that it took me awhile to decide what to order.  So many choices and other artist materials as well. A…

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    Helen Shideler

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    Playing with ChatGPT

    26 April 2024

    Icky ick ick ick

    4 January 2015

    My Process to Start a New Painting

    1 December 2015
  • Events,  Fauna - Feathers and Fur,  Kudos

    Great News “Call of the Raven” Won an Award at the CPSWC Open Water Show

    8 November 2015 / No Comments

    Dear Helen, we are thrilled to inform you that your painting Call of The Raven has been awarded theD.L Stevenson Award, (Gift certificate award)…. ​Congratulations on this prestigious prize. Pretty exciting.  Especially since I embarked on a project to paint ravens with the CSPWC Open Water juried show in mind.  Last year when we visited  Yellowstone National Park there were a number of particularly friendly ravens in the parking lot at Artist’s Point.  They were walking around the travel trailers looking for handouts and cawing their hearts out.  One raven in particular was following me around and without being intrusive, I was able to get many really nice reference photos.…

    Read More
    Helen Shideler

    You May Also Like

    SCA Art Chat with Helen

    30 April 2021

    Another 30 day challenge complete

    31 January 2017

    Early wrap to this years challenge

    25 February 2018
12

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

  • A Tale Unfolds (5)
  • Artful Reflections (15)
  • Artwork (78)
    • Fauna – Feathers and Fur (18)
    • People (4)
    • Scapes – Coastal and Land (14)
    • Still Life – Florals & Much More (37)
  • Events (25)
  • From My Studio (11)
    • Product Review (7)
  • Kudos (9)
  • My Painting Process (50)
    • Helpful Hints (7)
    • Lessons Learned (23)
    • Poured Watercolour (13)
  • My Plein Air Adventures (19)
  • Travelling Colours (19)

Tags

coastal art Feathered Friends florals and feathers 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.

Finally back at it. I have confessed many times th Finally back at it. I have confessed many times that I am a Master Procrastinator. I can’t help myself…I get quite close to completing a project and it’s like I freeze frame. I’ll walk all around the project - almost refusing to make eye contact with it! I think it’s an anticlimactic thing. When it’s done the relationship changes into a different phase. No longer building. 

At this point, the work on the shells is pretty much complete. I do have to let it dry for a couple of days before I attempt the background and buts of seaweed. This is mainly because I’ve gone back in to freshen some of the colours, soften some edges and crisp up others. I don’t know where the wet paint is to keep my hands out of it.

#eastcoastartist #artinprogress #livelifeincolour #helenshideler #studiowork
Round tuit January comes with a fresh batch of i Round tuit 

January comes with a fresh batch of inspiration and opportunities. And it’s time for me to get a round tuit! I love and appreciate when the new years starts with commissions. It sets a nice pace to start the new year feeling productive and with many goals. 

I’ve already prepped the smaller panels - now it’s time to prepare this rather impressive canvas.  Here’s to a wonderful New Year!

#artinprogress #studiowork #eastcoastartist #commissionswelcome #letsgooooo
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
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Recent Posts

  • 2025 A Year of Color and Attention
    In Artful Reflections, Scapes - Coastal and Land, Still Life - Florals & Much More
  • 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

Categories

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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