2 minute read
2023 Portraits Competition, 1st Place Winner, Janine Helton
Sometime the rough patches in our lives lead us to the things we love most. That was the case for Janine Helton, a nationally recognized watercolor artist. She had always loved art as a child, but it wasn’t until years later, during a difficult time in her life, that she decided to try her hand at watercolor painting.
“My husband and I were enjoying the artwork on exhibit at Mosaics Fine Art Festival in old town St. Charles, Missouri,” Helton said. “We entered a booth filled with beautiful watercolor wine collages by local artist Jean McMullen, and I was interested in buying one. But my husband had just seen the artist’s sign which advertised watercolor classes, and he asked me, ‘Why don’t you paint one yourself.’”
That was the beginning. Within weeks Helton had signed up for the classes and was soon hooked on watercolors. “I was drawn to painting birds, which I loved to watch, photograph, and identify in my backyard. Since then, I’ve become enamored with painting animals, flowers, and especially people.”
Helton’s artistic sensibilities lend themselves perfectly to watercolor. Her loose and expressive brushwork in the backgrounds of her pieces makes for intriguing counterpoints to the more precise details shown in a heron’s feathers or a person’s expression, hair, and clothing. And every watercolor is bathed in vibrant color and light.
Helton has refined her technique by taking workshops with such nationally-known artists as Carl Purcell, Janet Rogers, Fealing Lin, and Ted Nuttall.
“Watercolor painting for me is challenging, relaxing, and exciting all at once,” Helton says. “I enjoy experimenting with techniques and colors as I continue to learn and grow as an artist.”
Website: www.janheltonartworks.com
Instagram: @janheltonartworks
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JanHeltonArtworks
