Helen Smithwick
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* - The items shown here are a representation of the artists work and are not necessarily available for sale. Contact the artist for availability.
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Artist Bio
Helen Smithwick grew up in England, but after marrying Bob, an American she met in West Africa, she has settled on the west side of Colorado Springs. She and her husband have had many adventures and have done much travelling. Although neither of them is a native of Colorado, they have lived most of their lives surrounded by the mountains they love and consider the Rocky Mountains their home. They shared their love of outdoor living and their enjoyment of nature with their three sons. They consider themselves very fortunate to now have five (soon to be 6!) grandchildren.
After retirement, Helen returned to what she had always enjoyed - drawing and painting. She began taking classes at the Denver Botanic Gardens in 2010 and fell in love again with everything – the opportunity to study, the different media to which she was introduced, and the excellent instruction. She graduated with distinction after completing the requirements for the Foundational Certificate in Botanical Art and Illustration in 2013. She received the Sydney Parkinson Award for excellence in botanical illustration and best overall portfolio of her graduating class. She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Illustrators and the Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists. Her work has been displayed locally in several juried exhibitions. Helen is inspired by the beauty and complexity of the plants she sees. She tries to capture their wonder and beauty on paper, using different media. She specializes in watercolor, but also uses colored pencil, pen and ink, and graphite. She has discovered that botanical illustration is her escape – her way of disappearing from this world and entering her own, where time and place no longer exist. She hopes that the joy she experiences in creating a piece of art will be shared by those who view her work. Email: smithwickbh@gmail.com Phone: (719) 200-5590 Website: www.smithwickbotanicals.com |
