Helen Utsal
is a Canadian artist working in oils on canvas or panel.
Current work captures the shapes and spirit of British Columbia's magnificent landscape.
'I remember as a student visiting a gallery to admire paintings done by the Group of Seven. The brilliance of Tom Thompson's 8 1/2 X 11 painted panel 'sketches' had a powerful impact on me; they captured the moment and feel of a place so much more powerfully than any of the 'proper' paintings did. The actual paint on the surface was just as interesting and beautiful as the picture.
I prefer to work outdoors and will head into the woods with canvas and paints, stopping when I am inspired. Painting from life is always more conducive to capturing the immediacy of a particular place at a moment in time. The scene may change if you work too slowly so the work has a vibrant energy about it.
Transforming the landscape into blocks and shapes of colour, I try to create a loosely realistic image of nature that is impressionist in spirit.'