Art In Bloom with Helen Dealtry

Painting Landscapes With Gouache

Helen works with gouache paint to recreate her favorite landscape photograph from a recent vacation to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She uses masking fluid and layers to create a multidimensional version of the Aspen trees she experienced.

Painting a Betta Fish With Ink

Helen pulls inspiration from Betta fish as she uses an array of ink colors and water to create a blooming effect for the tail. She also implements a bleach splatter technique to give dimension to the piece.

Florals, Butterflies and Insects

Helen shifts her attention outside her studio to focus on insects, florals and butterflies that are local to the area. She pulls inspiration from the colors of the flowers and butterfly wings and uses pen and ink to capture the details of the insects.

Monochromatic Seashells on Black Paper

Helen uses black paper and white ink to create layers of different seashell varieties, pulling inspiration from memories of her childhood visits to the beach.

Painting a Handcrafted Ceramic Vase

Helen visits her potter friend, RJ, and is gifted a handmade ceramic vase. Helen decorates it with a landscape and florals before firing it in a kiln, and RJ explains the firing process and how the vase becomes waterproof.

Watercolor Landscape of the Studio Space

Helen returns to her roots and paints a landscape of the studio space, including the lake that has inspired her since she arrived, and the varying foliage.

An Array of Roses

Helen pulls inspiration from her favorite flower, the rose, as she uses an array of inks and watercolors, as well as a salt technique to create texture along the petals.

End-of-Summer Harvest Still Life

Helen paints multiple fruits and vegetables using a variety of watercolors, creating an elaborate still life that pays homage to the end-of-summer's bounty.

Holiday Wrapping Papers With Friends

With her friend Nicolette, Helen creates three, holiday-inspired wrapping papers using craft paper and house paint. She includes some kid-friendly techniques, including sponge brushes and splatter painting, to encourage the involvement of little helpers.

Dahlias in Glass Bottles

Helen uses a pre-painted canvas, gouache paints, stencils and a plethora of playful techniques to create a unique painting featuring a variety of dahlias arranged in glass bottles.

Canadian Holiday Landscape in Gouache

Helen works with gouache to paint a landscape inspired by photographs from a recent vacation to Nova Scotia, Canada. She uses varying hues and sweeping strokes to recreate the tide pools and sandy beaches.

Pattern Play With Mushrooms

Helen showcases a more illustrative technique -- using a dark canvas, two-toned gouache and precise marker pens -- to create a bold pattern of mushrooms inspired by her work in textile design.

Landscape of Peter's Garden

Helen takes us to one of her favorite places to find inspiration -- a dear friend's garden. She uses acrylic and pastels to paint an elaborate landscape, capturing its structural, landscaped elements as well as its native areas.

Bird and Berries in Watercolor and Pastels

Helen finds inspiration in nature and wildlife for this piece, using charcoal, watercolor and pastel to paint a detailed blue jay perched on a branch with clusters of winter berries.

Painting Ferns Onto a Lampshade

To showcase an alternative canvas that can be incorporated into home decor, Helen paints a variety of green ferns onto a lampshade using different shades of house paint and paint pens.

Watercolor Still Life of Helen's Home Pond

Helen welcomes us to her backyard pond for today’s inspiration. She uses watercolor to create a beautiful still life painting with her sweet turtle, Mo, as a focal point.