Featured artist – Helen Kleczynski
EastEnd Studio and Gallery – West End of the Building – A Painting by Helen Kleczynski
The Art of Architecture:
Preserving our Past, Building our Future
Helen Kleczynski
EastEnd Studio and Gallery invites you to our 10-Year Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, April 16, 2016 from 4-6 p.m. where you will have an opportunity to meet the award-winning pastel artist, Helen Kleczynski. Live Music, Food, Drink, Tours of the newly refinished and still in the works upper levels.
EastEnd Studio and Gallery
143 WEST Michigan Ave.
Marshall, MI 49068
www.eastendstudioandgallery.com
Artist’s Statement: “I am inspired by dramatic lighting found just after dawn or before sunset, or in unusual weather conditions, which brings out the extraordinary beauty in ordinary subjects. Most of my paintings feature man-made forms, often contradicted or balanced by the natural environment. I often focus on a small portion of the building or the object, in order to emphasize the abstract shapes of light and shadows, interesting textures, and details. I appreciate the beauty of local architecture, whether it was inspired by classic Roman architecture, or built by farmers with hand tools. Although I see beauty in old, weathered structures with peeling paint, it saddens me that they are falling into disrepair and vanishing from our landscape. Through my paintings, I hope to preserve their place in our history.”
“I like to explore unfamiliar places with my camera and watercolor sketchbook in hand. Sometimes, I return to the same place time and time again, at different times of the year, or at a different time of day, or in different weather conditions. It is a gentle way of slowing down and getting to know a place, and improving my drawing and observation skills. My journal is simply a diary with words and images, but may also inspire a larger painting. When I return to my studio in Vicksburg, I select my favorite photographs for larger paintings and create small studies to select the best composition. I begin by painting the focal point or the most complicated area, and then work my way out until the paper is completely covered. I fine-tune the entire painting and ask myself if it tells the story that I intended. My pastel paintings are created with soft pastels (Unison, Great American, Ludwig, Girault, Richeson brands) on sanded Wallis or Pastel Premier paper.
My pastel paintings have received international awards from the Pastel Journal, The Pastel Society of America, The International Association of Pastel Societies and Strokes of Genius. I am a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America and a Master Circle member of the International Association of Pastel Societies.”
Visit Helen’s website at: http://www.helenkleczynski.com/