Helen Dean Art
dancing light
2019
These paintings on canvas were painted during 2018/19. I was determined to produce a series of paintings that looked consistent, explore more layering and a range of brush marks using a limited colour palette of greens and pinks. This series was a long time coming. It was good to go slow, and have that time to explore. I was surrounded the by paintings in my studio so could look around me for direction and run with an idea from to another piece. Some of them surprised me, and suddenly I couldn't keep my eyes off them and had to hang in my living area. Some of the larger ones I painted over them many times until I was satisfied with the shapes and forms connecting and drifting towards each other .
When I paint I'm very focussed on manipulating the paint, the qualities of the brushstrokes and colour, but I can’t help but be aware of my surroundings. My painting studio is surrounded by native bush, big overlapping plants and trees that is kind of wild and out of control. As the sun moves around the light catches the trees in a certain way and shadows dance around with the wind.
When I look at these paintings now I can see parts of this landscape - a path, shadows, the light through the trees or sunlight on moving water.
