Artist Statement

This exhibition expresses the happiness I feel when making art. Since leaving school teaching I have had the great privilege to work as a full- time artist. I am self-trained and consider myself as ‘not there yet' as something new about my art reveals itself every day. Drawing is my natural form of expression and I would describe my style as contemporary realist. I love working purely tonally as well as in colour and regularly swing between each approach. I like to work in series exploring an idea or concept. This results in a number of related artworks which have meaning for me and an obvious visual connection. My most recent series has been based on the idea of “Sleep’ and since 2023 I have held three solo exhibitions around this theme. Mediums include charcoal and pencil, soft and oil pastel and oil and acrylic paint. More recently I have worked in 3D creating assemblage sculpture. My subjects are equally various but I have a particular love of portraiture and have exhibited in many national portrait competitions in Australia. My portrait of ‘TheSeekers’ is held in the permanent collection of The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

*A percentage of sales of these artworks will go towards a Multiple Myeloma treatment centre in Warrnambool.

Instagram: helen_edwards_artist Facebook: Heli Fran

helenedwards.artist.com.au