Art ideas evolve and grow....

In this video I talk about following threads and opening doors in our art making and how sometimes our ideas just take time and many different iterations to get where they are going.
One small experiment or drawing might be the key that opens the door to another thing, which opens a door to another thing, which leads us down a weird and wonderful path to something unexpected, yet delightful in our art making.
Useful links:
🎨 Helen Wells’s art blog: helenwellsarti...
❤️ Online class: helenwellsarti...
💌 Email newsletter sign up: helenwellsarti....

[@SimoneWhippArtist]

Good idea to write about what we want our art to feel like. Every time I saw an elephant drawing in your sketchbook it made me smile! Your enthusiasm has really rubbed off on me and helped my art practice. Oh, by the way, I did your sketchbook revival session last week and filled 5 pages of my sketchbook with the technique you shared. I love it! Have a lovely week Helen. x

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh wow Simone that's so lovely of you. Thank you for watching and good luck with all your creative endeavours x

[@susanfield2444]

Your sketchbook absolutely blew me away. Fantastic stuff. Congratulations

[@HelenWellsArtist]

You are very kind. Helen x

[@Ladyme218]

Your work is wonderful. I love seeing all of it. I also like the idea of writing how I would want my art to feel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge for all of us that crave a high dose of color, joy and happiness. Best regards

[@HelenWellsArtist]

You are so welcome! What a lovely thing to say... thank you so very much. Love Helen

[@ArleneAdkinsZell]

Thank you SO much for sharing, I have finally come to understand that 'art' and 'artist' doesn't apply exclusively to museum quality, now I feel free to explore my creative side without the suppressing pressure and your videos are so helpful in my exploration!

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Glad it was helpful! Wishing you all the success with your art journey x

[@madelynsmith8281]

I like the idea of an art journal. What we want our art to look like. I feel like I have been in an artists slump for some time. Trying to see what type of art interest me is not easy. I love your beautiful paintings. Thanks for sharing all of your tips for making and understanding the art process. ❤

[@HelenWellsArtist]

You are so welcome I hope you find your way out of the slump. Love Helen x

[@karinmeira]

Your own “stepping stones“ are the “treasure” I found for forwarding my own art process, Dear Helen! These big home inspired paintings on your sketchbook is what I want to explore next! I just feel so grateful for the guidance you provide on social media and your book is a must have: I have been using it from cover-to-cover again and again. Wishing Y♥️U a HÄPPY Easter 2023! xx

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh that’s so lovely of you. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@pinkcookies2568]

Love this! Love how expressive you are. Thank you for sharing those gorgeous colors and how you set your intentions ❤

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh thats lovely thank you so much. Helen xx

[@gailwhitter3293]

Another wonderful share Helen full of colour; inspiration and enthusiasm. Take care💗

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Thanks you so much 😊 generous Gail! Helen x

[@gailwhitter3293]

@@HelenWellsArtist always love your videos my friend .. so look forward to them!

[@Freefolkcreate]

You are a breath of fresh air ❤

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Gosh that’s lovely of you! Thank you for your kind comment! Much appreciated Helen xx

[@catherinetaylor2690]

Absolutely love this video!! Thank you for sharing. So many awesome points and ideas. I really need to create more and follow the breadcrumbs!! Off to paint and create ❤

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh that's super lovely of you Catherine, so glad it was helpful in some way. Love Helen xx

[@lisaburda5490]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I should definitely start writing down my ideas. Btw I absolutely love how your new series is coming out so far! ❤

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh that's lovely, thank you so much Lisa! x

[@barbaramccoy3592]

A feast for the eyes;). I am always reminded of Matisse’s Art when I see yours. Since writing is my ‘first language’, so to speak, it will be fun exploring what I want for my visual art. Thank you 😊

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Wonderful, Barbara that's great, glad it was helpful. Love Helen x

[@westysutube]

Hi Helen! I LOVE your vids!!!! Always inspiring, joyful, colorful, and invigorating❣️I’m gonna write as you have as I get not only how that helps create a focus…I also totally see how my art expression and my life expression are intimately intertwined. So obvious now altho no one has ever voiced that Truth to me before you. Thanks for the HUGE gift in that. So glad I found you! You add to my life every time I see you ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh gosh what a beautiful comment! Thank you for your kind words and enthusiastic response. I do appreciate it and I’m glad what I share had connected with you. Thank you. Love Helen x

[@donnam6099]

Your work is like a celebration 🎉 sharing how you arrive at your vivacious paintings is such a generous and helpful gesture. I really enjoyed this insightful video - each week your channel is creatively inspiring, engaging and just joyous; I’m a mature novice learning as I go along and there are always gems of wisdom here😊 grateful thanks from County Durham

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh what a wonderful thing to say, thank you so much for your beautiful comment. I really appreciate it. PS we're all learning as we go along! Love Helen x

[@melli8384]

I always enjoy browsing through your art. You inspire me a lot. I really like the one picture in your series, that you don't like that much because it contains so many small things. :) Have a nice Easter time

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Thank you so much 😀 it’s always the way x

[@alissakuroda5523]

The big painting that felt "too tight" was my favorite of those four too. I love the colors and details.

[@willywonka1854]

love your videos! cheers from Berlin

[@HelenWellsArtist]

I'm so glad you like them! Thank you, thank you. Love Helen

[@willywonka1854]

@@HelenWellsArtist 🥰

[@julieroller3780]

Thank you for sharing your process and insights into your arting. Inspiring and helpful.

[@HelenWellsArtist]

You are so welcome Julie. Thank you so much for the kind words. Helen x

[@phyllishigley6161]

I love the sketchbook pieces. Even more than the larger abstract ones. Would you consider cutting the large pieces into large chunks and combining chunks from the different original pieces to make it even more abstract and to play with the relationships between them?

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Well I’ve worked on those paintings some more since I filmed this, so won’t be cutting them up, but I’m always happy to play about and cut things up if I think they’re not working, it’s a good way to discover new things x

[@cassandrascott2613]

Another great video! Thank you!

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh you are kind Cassandra. Thank you so much. Helen x

[@wildlightarts]

The not your favorite paintings could also be cut up and used in collages, which could be very fun. Some could serve as backgrounds for a new layer. 🎨

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Yes you’re so right I often cut up paintings… nothing ever goes to waste! Love Helen x

[@mhd5826]

I love the picture you didn't like, I feel it has so much zing! The other 2 next to it seem so much flatter, to me. Loving your channel, I'm a noob and really REALLY needing some of your energy and inspiration. Sorry to hear about your mum - I lost mine too. It sucks. But you lady, you don't!

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh thank you. The joy of art is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Also those other paintings weren’t finished, I was just preferring their energy and where they were heading..Thank you 🙏🏼

[@mhd5826]

@@HelenWellsArtist Yes, I thought about this after I posted and wondered if that's where I often go wrong. Whenever I get to a fork in the road, I do seem to settle quickly on the path of least resistance, or even just stop and believe I've finished. Maybe from having wrecked things from pushing it too far. Anyway thankyou for interesting and valuable lessons. Especially 'what I love about this is...'.

[@ailishniriain787]

This is lovely - there is so much to see in your work. I have had so much stuff that I have given away and now looking at yours I sort of wish i had kept it all. But getting older and needing to downsize played a big part if all that. Helen, if you read this...can I ask, what paper do you use? Your work is very vibrant and feels exciting to me. I followed you on Sketchbook Revival and have tried a couple of pieces by myself. I just love colour and you definitely use it. Thank you.

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh you are kind thank you. I use all sorts of paper but these paintings were on Fabriano paper I think 300gsm x

[@tammypapp7774]

I really like the one you didn't like as much.

[@HelenWellsArtist]

It’s often the way…everyone likes different things and we bring ourselves and our preferences to the looking xxx

[@anahurm4456]

Hi Helen , thank you for another inspiring video. I love your boldness with color. I have a question, what did you say was the paper you used for the big images you are flipping through?

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh thank you, it was some heavy duty watercolour paper...x

[@andreatorraca8755]

I love that one………….

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Thank you so much Andrea, it is always the way.... Helen xx

[@chakraraja]

I took some time off from painting, and your sketchbooks helped me to be inspired again . Thank you! Also for teaching how to make a sketchbook... Can I ask whether I can find a big enough paper to make bigger sketchbooks? Whats the biggest paper size you would recommend ? Love, Meric

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh I’m so glad to hear I’ve inspired you. Happy creating. You can make sketchbooks any size you wish as long as you can fold the paper. That’s part of the beauty of making your own xx

[@chakraraja]

@@HelenWellsArtist 🎈Thank you!

[@UNKUHNOODLES]

Does speaking in that exacting accent ever become cumbersome? I mean no offense but I've been watching many art videos in the past week from different parts of the world and have become fascinated by how varied the putting on of an accent can be! The root language is the same but it seems like an awful lot of work to have to leave so much space between words! Last week I put on an Irish accent for the entirety of a day just to see what would happen and I was EXHAUSTED just 12 hours later when I finally had to stop... I'd become too tired to continue but it was an enlightening insight into jingoism and and how hard it is to perpetuate!!! Ennyways, I really enjoyed your video (especially your mantle) and look forward to watching your future exploits!!!😻

[@HelenWellsArtist]

I'm not putting on any accent, this is just the way I speak in my every day, it is a normal English accent. I'm sorry if you find it irritating. Good luck with your KZbin channel.

[@claireskey5439]

Dauby and blobby, NOT art terms? Well, they are now, Helen🤭.💖 🤎💜💙💚💛🧡❤🇦🇺

[@HelenWellsArtist]

Oh that's funny, thank you so much Claire x

[@claireskey5439]

@@HelenWellsArtist 🤣💖actually, dauby means smeary and adhesive, blobby, irregular appearance like bubbles. I just looked them up in Google dictionary. They're legitimate words. You genius, Helen 🤣💖🇦🇺