Helena O’
Artist Statement

I paint because I love it and because painting allows me escapism from reality. I have obtained a freedom when I paint because I do not confine myself to themes, surfaces or medium. 

Even though my present work is more abstract, it is ever changing and by not confining myself to one technique or one theme, I have a freedom to push and follow the paint wherever it needs to go.

When I start a painting, I do not have any preconceived idea about what I am going to do. I start painting and usually the colour or the shape will guide me to the next step. Colour plays an important part in my paintings and this is why Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky Miro and Hofmann inspire me.

I do not title any of my paintings because this might influence the viewer. I prefer that the observer obtain his or her own interpretation of the painting.

In recent work, I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and decided to scratch and sand back into my paintings. While some of the strokes in my scratches were intense, others were more considered and temperate. I found that as well as adding another layer to my artwork the scratches also added texture.

   “As a painter we need to take a child’s approach-painting shapes, not things.

    Painting is putting correct shapes of colour notes in the right places. “

     (Andries Veerman)