My First Commission

During July, I was asked by a client to create a large painting for a specific room. The room had a wood floor and an inviting fireplace. The painting was to go over the fireplace. In considering a piece to fill the space, I was reminded if a recent trip I had taken to Paris in April.

The sun was shining, and we went into a famous brasserie and was struck by the colors that set these spaces apart from other eating places. I developed several impressions of these colors in small studies. The wooded bar, the bright red colors and the combinations worked well in the space for which they were designed. One of the impressions was chosen by my client. It was done as a 24" x 36" acrylic on canvas. Here it is:

French Brasserie

July Work Explores What Makes an Abstract Figure Look Like Eastern Art

During the month of July, I became excited about experimenting with a softer palette, one that uses bright but aqueous colors in different context. I tried to mute the canvases of these works and everyone told me that they reminded them of Japanese and Chinese Art -- but with completely abstract figures.

Here are several examples of these works:

Happy Day

Asian Feeling

More Development in June

Now that I am painting in larger time blocks, I am able to explore how to create effects by use of the brush and colors. I have always been impressed, in realistic art, by how the artist is able to create the effect of a veil or lace by painting a light overcolor on a figure.

In abstract art, we have our own lace or veils by way of the window, through which we see the shapes. Not all windows are clear. Indeed if you look at most of the windows you see in real life, they are cloudy or dusty and the prettiest scene is often seen through an imperfect glass.

Several of my works were strong and impactful shapes but even these might be viewed or toned down by the barrier through which they are seen. Here are several of my pieces painted in June. Notice how the painted "veil" imparts new and different meanings the the works.

Through a Stained Glass

Under The Boardwalk

May 2007 was a productive month

During the month of May, I plunged into my work as never before. I've been exploring a number of approaches of combining colors and various media. Inspired by the recognition I received at the Guild Hall Members show, I became intrigued with the use of a bold background palette with abstract shapes representing bold contrasting colors.

As with abstract art, I apply these colors with a combination of planning and randomness. Planning in where I put he shapes -- randomness in how they are applied. Here are three examples:

Purple Sunsets

Explosion

On this canvas I added a geometric reference to my design with striking results as you can see below:

Hay Ride

Welcome to my Art Blog

This post is the first entry in a blog that will continuously be updated with new works as I complete them.

But first let me introduce myself. My name is Annette Heller.

Since the beginnings of my active life I've always had a flair for design, shape and color. But career and children always came first. In my spare time I took art courses and my work with the sculptor Ursula Witt yielded a number of acrylic sculptures which I still display in my home.

In addition to parenting, I received a degree as a school psychologist, and became a teacher and entrepreneur. When the kids left to high school I concentrated on my business career. I was time challenged especially holding down two jobs -- mother and business woman. But even in this career my sense of color and design came through in planning the decor of my offices.

While the kids were at school, I started a company called Art to Wear. I designed and made jewelry of all types and designs, learned the technique of "lost wax" casting and purchased a centrifugal casting machine to cast some of the silver and gold pieces. I sold jewelry at fairs and outdoor markets and several of my designs were purchased by Bergdorf Goodman in New York City and Nubest in Manhasset, NY.

Later in my life when the kids left home for college, I went into the consumer research business and designed a large consumer research facility where people gathered to express their opinions (Long Island Groups in Focus.) In my next career, I provided input into the design and colors of the snack food products of our family company, Harry's Premium Snacks.

When in 2002 we moved to East Hampton after selling our businesses, I started taking courses in art. I narrowed my choices in the beginning to oil and acrylic on various surfaces. I also chose abstract art as my mode of expression.

Why abstract? Because it is a representation of pure color, form and shape. But even more important, it is the only form of art where the viewer brings his or her perceptions into the art. Despite the fact that a specific painting may be a unique combination of colors and shapes inspired by real life moods and experiences, viewers tell me that they see many things in my art. Some say they see animals, insects, lighthouses, faces and in one case -- a piano. In all these works none of these objects were drawn, but the mood of the painting yielded the perception. I got tremendous satisfaction when one colleague suggested that one of my works represented a Parisian Bistro. So in a way I can represent a mood or feeling in an abstract work better than in a representational work. And also I can choose to work in an infinite variety of palate colors because I do not have to represent a specific object.

I began to enter my works into student and art exhibits and I have received much gratification. I sold a painting in my first exhibit. It is called Stormy Day.

Stormy Day

East Hampton is a marvelous artistic community. Jackson Pollack worked 1 mile away and Willem deKoonig lived 1/2 mile from my house. Hans Kline was a neighbor and friend before he passed on. David Geiser, one of the great abstract artists in the U.S. is a good friend and we share ideas (or rather I look forward to his comments.)

One of the major exhibits in East Hampton is the Guild Hall members show. This year was the 69th annual show. Imagine my satisfaction when my painting "Summer Dream" was judged the Best Abstract in the show by Faye Hirsch, Editor of Art in America.

Summer Dream

So this diary will update readers on my work and artistic growth. In the following posts I will share with you my work as it evolves. Comment on them if you would like and if you need to talk to me, feel free to send me an email.