Helson Gallery Members Show

State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 13.5 x 10.25
Artist's Statement: This painting of New York Ironweed was painted ‘en plein air’ in the Pollinator Garden at the Toronto Botanical Garden. (TBG) The mission of the TBG is to connect “… people and plants, fostering sustainable communities and developing reciprocal relationships with nature….” As a landscape architect this resonates with my interests. With this in mind, I wanted to acknowledge the importance of native plants while sharing the beauty and delight of experiencing all native and non-native (exotic) flora and fauna in harmonious co-existence. While an eco-centric culture is critical to the healing of the earth, it is increasingly important to view ornamental (exotic) plants without disdain. It was also important for me to convey that the reciprocal relationship humans have with nature includes a fair amount of discomfort and melancholy.
Year painting was created: 2025

State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 28.5 x 20
Artist's Statement: My painting "Ativan and Old Lace" is a narrative composition depicting the gradual unravelling of structure and the transient nature of a life. Despite the chaotic arrangement and darkness of the background, there is light as well.
Year painting was created: 2024

State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 14 x 21 x 1
Artist's Statement: One of my favourite views in the Rockwood Conservation Area. A.J. Casson also painted in this area about 100 years ago.
Year painting was created: 2022

State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 15 x 22
Artist's Statement: Tuscan Icon Sight is a transparent impressionistic watercolour. There are vizited places that will stay with you forever, they will captivate your attention, they will make you feel well, at ease, like you lived there sometimes, somehow. You start to ask yourself: What is the spirit of this place? Maybe is linked to medieval times and its 500 years history. What a challenge for an watercolourist! To try to get on the paper more that we all see and always photograph. Tours, old buildings, narrow streets, people walking. You may say: This it is an easy task solved by a good composition of shapes, tones and edges, presented with atmospheric perspective. I would say: The difficult task is to be able to paint the FEELING, the soul, the essence of that place that resonates with you and maybe will resonate with the viewers. This was what I hoped to achieve in my impressionistic "Tuscan Icon Sight" - to present MY magical place.
Year painting was created: 2022

State/Province: ON
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 13 x 11
Artist's Statement: Much of my figurative work is about memory — those small, ordinary moments that stay with us long after they’ve passed. The Duet – A Nostalgic Memory comes from one of those places in my heart. It shows my best friend and myself at about ten years old, practicing for a Christmas recital. There was no photo reference — just a clear picture that has lived in my mind for years. I painted it as a gift for her 60th birthday, as a way to honour that friendship and the joy of growing up together. More than anything, this piece is about connection, shared experiences, and how certain moments can become part of who we are.
Year painting was created: 2024

State/Province: Alberta
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 14 x 10
Artist's Statement: On a visit to the Mexican Baja penninsula, I was always relaxed and fascinated by the shimmering palm fronds dancing in the breeze. The shifting light and colours add their own dancing rhythm.
Year painting was created: 2022

State/Province: BC
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 15 x 30
Artist's Statement: The Gallerie Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy, is a covered arcade situated in a prominent location on the north side of the Piazza del Duomo. It is not only one of the most distinctive landmarks in Europe from the 17th century but also a beloved gathering place. Here, the essence of Milan is gathered, embodying the soul and beating the rhythm of the city. You can find gleaming fashion showcases, quick coffees at the bar, endless shelves in bookstores, tourists shoulder-to-shoulder engrossed in taking selfies, the most luxurious and prestigious hotels, and fast food with a local, street-level flavor.
Year painting was created: 2024

State/Province: AB
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 11 x 14
Artist's Statement: The painting studies the effects of angled sunlight on a white clematis bloom. The interplay of light and shadow reveals the flower’s geometry and texture, translating its quiet radiance through the subtle transparency of watercolour.
Year painting was created: 2025

State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 13.25 x 20.25
Artist's Statement: ‘First Fruit’ series are watercolours of colourful ripe larger-than-life fruit, fruit still growing in the landscape. Each painting is a close-up of a specific vine or tree, in a single Okanagan Valley orchard owned by my family over 90 years. These fruit are infused with light, shaped by shadow, vibrating with colour. I started this series in the mid 1990’s, to honour my Grandfather, a WW I veteran, originally from Newfoundland, and his English war bride who grew this orchard.
Year painting was created: 2024

State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 17 x 11 x 0.01
Artist's Statement: As a former writer and editor I used words to tell my story. As an artist I tell my story using light and shadow, colour and shapes. Watercolour is my medium of choice because it is a pro-active medium. the paint, when mixed with water and applied to watercol0ur paper takes on a life of its own. Although I often guide and manipulate the paint, I also try to let it work its own magic on the paper. I hope you see a little of that magic in my paintings, that they often reflect my love of landscape - both familiar and exotic - as well as the beauty revelaed in everyday objects around us.
Year painting was created: 2024

State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 21 x 14 x 1
Artist's Statement: Idiosyncratic palace on hilltop north of Lisbon, Portugal
Year painting was created: 2024

State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 12.5 x 27.5
Artist's Statement: I sometimes pull out reference photos I have taken over the years of buildings or places, only to find they are not there any more or are altered to an unrecognizable extent. Fortunately, this area of Queen St. in Toronto is still standing intact, if somewhat changed slightly. I often get out early in the morning to capture the scene, before the people and vehicles get in the way to distract from the subject I am interested in portraying.
Year painting was created: 2020

State/Province: Nova Scotia
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 11 x 15 x 1
Artist's Statement: The Bay of Fundy is home of the highest tide changes in the world. This is where the super continent of Pangea split and started the continental drift creating the world we know today, 160 million years later. The water, the sky, the wind converge here at Cape D'Or creating one of the most exciting experiences a painter can hope to be part of. The lighthouse is the beacon for fishermen that brave these unpredictable waters of the Bay of Fundy. A secret spot in Nova Scotia to most travelers.
Year painting was created: 2025

State/Province: ON
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 0.5
Artist's Statement: "Reflections in Quiet Transition", is a watercolour portrait that captures a moment of thoughtful stillness. The piece focuses on the subtle details of my fathers face-the thoughtful expression, gentle texture of his skin, the soft wrinkles that carry a lifetime of experience, and the calm expression framed by his glasses. The background is intentionally blurred and the lighting soft to keep the attention on him. The composition quietly honours a personal passage, inviting reflection on change and resilience in later life. This work is very personal, capturing a moment of change with quiet respect.
Year painting was created: 2025

State/Province: ON
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 12 x 15 x 1.75
Artist's Statement: My paintings reflect personal experiences, emotions, and the atmosphere of nature. Through warm colors and expressive landscapes, I aim to bring a sense of calm, healing, and inspiration to those leading busy lives. Working primarily in watercolor, I focus on moments of light and emotion rather than realistic detail. Each piece tells a personal story, inviting viewers to pause and reconnect with a sense of peace. My work has been exhibited at the Nova Scotia Public Archives, Dickmann Gallery in Toronto, and the Helson Gallery in Mississauga. In 2024, one of my paintings was selected by the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC). Currently, my works are on display at Memory Lane, where I continue to share art that encourages reflection and emotional healing.
Year painting was created: 2024

State/Province: ON
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 10.25 x 14 x 1
Artist's Statement: Plainted with the Bala Plein Air Group. The water was rushing through the channel, the path led to light in the woods,the trees rustled in the wind. A beautiful day for painting outdoors.
Year painting was created: 2025

State/Province: AB
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 21 x 13 x 0.1
Artist's Statement: This is a painting of my Mother, Sister and her infant daughter. Much has changed since the photo this painting is based on was taken. My Mother has since passed and the infant child is now a young lawyer practicing law in Winnipeg. It is painted in Paynes Grey hopefully capturing a sense of timelessness.
Year painting was created: 2022

State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 18 x 18
Artist's Statement: My images explore interpretations of every day events and are inspired by an internal response to an emotion, a memory or a life experience. I am an intuitive painter, allowing the image to dictate the direction it chooses to evolve.
Year painting was created: 2025

State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 16.5 x 16.5
Artist's Statement: This red fox has been making her occasional appearance in the backyard of late, tracking wild rabbits. A very rare sight indeed.
Year painting was created: 2025

State/Province: NB
Country: Canada

Dimensions: 11 x 9
Artist's Statement: My name is Tony. I am a watercolour artist based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Painting figures and portraits is simply my way of connecting with people. In an increasingly fast-paced world, taking the time to slow down, engage meaningfully, and let someone know, ‘Hey, I see you,’ is something that deeply resonates with me.
Year painting was created: 2025