Bright, Colourful and Emotive; Read about Helen Goode and her love for Abstract art.

HELEN GOODE

Looking at Helen's art and seeing how vast her pieces can be, I wanted her personal 3 words to describe it. She describes her work as Bright, Colourful and Emotive and I couldn't agree more. Helen explains "I’ve always been drawn to bold bright colours, quite like a magpie always looks for shiny objects."

With everyone I get to talk to, I love knowing about their time within creativity so I asked; Have you been doing art since young or is this a newer passion of yours?

“So I have loved art ever since I started my first watercolour aged 10, I just remember I was obsessed with colour and flowers. I have always been drawn to painting and I studied art at GCSE and A level. But I have recently got back into it around January 2022."

Art has many meanings for people whether it be self expression or just a fun hobby so I asked Helen; What does art mean to you?

"Freedom, you can really express yourself through the artwork you hang on your walls."

Helen boldly loves expressing herself through Abstract art and so I wanted to know what it was about Abstract art that she loves so much?

"How it doesn’t fit the 'mould', that it can have different meanings and be seen completely differently to the eye of the beholder."

Artists tend to change their style overtime and so I wanted to know how Helen's has and if she sees it developing further.

"I have recently gotten into palette knife painting, I just love the texture it creates. I started out playing around with Dutch pour painting but now I’m more into palette knife painting techniques. I could definitely see it evolving into brushes and more mixed media but I believe as an artist you don’t have to sit in one box you can just do it all if that’s where your creativity takes you!"

When you paint, do you have a mission in mind? Something you like to focus on, a message/meaning or is it mainly quite free?

I just think of expression and how I feel in that moment. My paintings quite often reflect my mood or sometimes what I want my mood to be….”my happy place” 

As a woman in the industry, is there any advice you would like to give other female artists?

"Don’t compare yourself to what is out there just be authentic to yourself and your vision, we weren’t all created to be the same, just be you!"

I asked Helen to share some of her favourite pieces and the process of making them:

“It’s so difficult to choose a favourite, one of my favourites is “Sunset” because it was one of my first paintings that I created that I felt free and instantly happy with, this was created with a large palette knife and multiple layers.

"Another favourite would be 'Chaos' this was the first painting I created that I just didn’t think about colour or pattern I just created with how I felt in that moment, a series of layers over an old unused painting!"

What are some of the biggest challenges you have had to face as an artist?

“Rejection, not everyone will like your work and there are days when I doubt my work, but then I remember you cannot please everyone! “

Is there anything on your bucket list you would love to do with your art?

“I would love to have an exhibition one day! “

Is there anything new coming up that you would like to promote?

"I am taking part in an even called Drawn at the end of April  - Sunday 30th, where there are a lot of creatives getting together and selling their work! Should be a fantastic day! It’s at the Flaxmill maltings, Shrewsbury, Shropshire 10.30 -4pm! I will be showing my collection, available to purchase!"

FOLLOW HELEN GOODE ON INSTAGRAM HERE