Fine Art
HELEN OPREY: Painter
Portrait of Adolescence: Four Seasons in One Day
Acrylic on Linen © Helen Oprey |
Adam Spencer: The Measure of Me
Acrylic on Linen © Helen Oprey |
In this Old House
Acrylic on Canvas with Textured Paper © Helen Oprey |
The Love of a Dog
Acrylic on Canvas with Textured Paper © Helen Oprey |
Hey Little Boy
Acrylic on Canvas © Helen Oprey |
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Helen Oprey is an emerging Australian artist who uses a variety of media and techniques in her paintings. She is permanently represented by Studio Gallery Melbourne and 19KAREN Contemporary Artspace. She has received several awards, including the Campbelltown Fishers Ghost Art Award, Finalist and the Bowral John Copes Portrait Prize, Finalist. She is particularly proud of being invited as a "headline artist" for The Global Women's Project (Trailblazers) Art Exhibition fundraiser.
Myrna Haskell, managing editor, asked Helen how she developed her style.
My style has evolved greatly over the years. I initially practiced realism, but I've since moved away from this style in preference for the freedom and adventure of expressionism and abstraction. My evolution started whilst living in Byron Bay NSW when I was surrounded by so many artistic styles. This appealed to me as it opened up the creative process. Many experiments later, I have settled into a style that focuses on color, texture and composition. My style allows me to explore human emotion which particularly interests me [Helen holds bachelor's degrees in psychology and social work]. Each piece starts as an adventure, and I basically take it from there. I sometimes feel it's a combination of emotions colliding with mathematics - the freedom of breaking the rules in the experimentation stage and being respectful of the rules to complete the artwork. I am influenced by Picasso in this sense because although he distorts his subjects his compositions are perfectly balanced and in harmony.
Myrna Haskell, managing editor, asked Helen how she developed her style.
My style has evolved greatly over the years. I initially practiced realism, but I've since moved away from this style in preference for the freedom and adventure of expressionism and abstraction. My evolution started whilst living in Byron Bay NSW when I was surrounded by so many artistic styles. This appealed to me as it opened up the creative process. Many experiments later, I have settled into a style that focuses on color, texture and composition. My style allows me to explore human emotion which particularly interests me [Helen holds bachelor's degrees in psychology and social work]. Each piece starts as an adventure, and I basically take it from there. I sometimes feel it's a combination of emotions colliding with mathematics - the freedom of breaking the rules in the experimentation stage and being respectful of the rules to complete the artwork. I am influenced by Picasso in this sense because although he distorts his subjects his compositions are perfectly balanced and in harmony.
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Partial Artist Statement:
"I like to paint the colorful, the thoughtful and the wacky. My work is inspired by my environment. As a social worker, I have been exposed to the vulnerable, the wonderful and the quirky. Since becoming a mother, I am exposed to innocence, wonderment and a mother's stress. All these elements combine to influence my work.." ~ Helen Oprey |
