Helen Cook

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Paths

Accommodations

A loose watercolour of a maroon shadow falling over blue stairs A loose watercolour of an blue alleyway with a yellow glow in the distance A loose watercolour of a tile pattern loosely depicting either a quilt or a checkerboard of houses and gardens An abstract painting of a path, glowing in an impressionist manner in pinks and blue An abstract painting of a field in purples and oranges, with rows of crops running into the distance A loose watercolour a closeup of a pinecone A loose watercolour of trees on opposite sides of a small river as it curves into the distance A loose watercolour of blue tree in the upper left corner, and a blue space down the right hand side, against a background of orange-brown very granulating watercolour.

Black Windows, White Bombs

Experimental

Watercolour using transparent pastel resist to form round shapes giving the impression of a pair of tornadoes, or an octopus Watercolour using transparent pastel resist to form round shapes giving the impression of looking up into a 5 cornered tent, or into the petals of a petunia. Watercolour using transparent pastel resist to form round shapes giving the impression of the underside of a bolete mushroom Watercolour frottage in the shape of tomato sepals, formed from dried tomato vines Watercolour frottage in the shape of a tomato leaf, formed from dried tomato vines Watercolour frottage of a tomato plant in red and green, reverse side Watercolour frottage of a tomato plant in brown Watercolour frottage of a plant inverted to look like roots Watercolour frottage of a tomato plant in blue and orange An abstract painting of a lake at sunset, glowing in an impressionist manner An abstract painting of blue and brown pigment running from the sides of the page towards the middle. A pale blue dot is on the left, and a glowing crescent is on the right. An abstract painting of blue and brown pigment running from the sides of the page towards the middle. An abstract painting of a purple and yellow background with lines carved into the paper, taken from medieval graffiti found in a church in Kingston An abstract painting of a purple sky and drybrushed greenish, spindly clouds An abstract painting using line that's carved into the paper to resemble an egg shape, on a maroon and blue background

Weeds

Loose watercolour painting looking down on a poppy.  The watercolour bleeds indicate veins in the magenta petals, and leaves or grass are loosely suggested in the background Loose watercolour painting of 3 thistles, where the bleeds of purple watercolour mimic the pointiness of the flowers, on a grey-green background Loose watercolour painting of 3 thistles, where the bleeds of purple watercolour mimic the pointiness of the flowers Loose watercolour painting of ragwort, yellow flowers with orange centres in a sea of green leaves Loose watercolour painting of two clumps of ragwort, yellow flowers with orange centres in a sea of green leaves Loose watercolour painting of one clump of ragwort, yellow flowers with orange centres in a sea of green leaves and stems on a purple background Loose watercolour painting of a close up of a poppy where the petals meet the stem. The form is suggested in the foreground, fading into watercolour bleeds by the petals in the background. Loose watercolour painting of a close up of a poppy on the centre of the flower.  The stamens and pistils are defined, and the red petals bleed into the green background Loose watercolour painting of 4 or 5 thistles, where the bleeds of magenta watercolour mimic the pointiness of the flowers Loose watercolour painting of 4 or 5 thistles, where the bleeds of magenta watercolour mimic the pointiness of the flowers

Lucidity

Double exposure image of a yellow woman's face looking up, and a pink version of the same face thinking. Double exposure image of a man's face looking startled to the left in teal and looking down thoughtfully in ochre Double exposure image of a man's face wide eyed looking up and looking down and to the right, thoughtful. Double exposure image of a man's face looking up and to the right, and thoughtfully down and to the left Double exposure image of a woman's face looking to the left, and angled looking down with contempt. A loose watercolour of a girl hand raised against a flowing background that a figure can just be seen in A loose watercolour of two figures pointing towards a vaguely suggested figure in the background A loose watercolour of three figures pointing to the sky, with falling motion suggested in the background A loose watercolour of two figures looking at the sky, with falling motion suggested in the background A loose watercolour of a woman with fingers pinched as if measuring something precisely A loose watercolour of a man holding his hand as if writing A loose watercolour of a man holding his hands as if pulling strings A loose watercolour of a woman's face looking to the right, and a second face hidden in her hair looking to the left A loose watercolour of a man staring towards the right, and a second faint exposure of his face looking down A loose watercolour of a woman talking to a man in silhouette

Portraits

loose watercolour portrait in shades of orange and teal of a woman's face in 3/4 profile looking down, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of teal and orange of a person's face looking down, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of yellow and purple of a person's face with furrowed brow looking to the left, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of pink and purple of a person's face looking forward, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of red and blue of a person's face looking forward, with strong lighting coming from the left, abstract watercolour effects make up the majority of the image, with the highlights defining the form of the face loose watercolour portrait in shades of green and red of a person's face looking forward, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of blue of a person's face with closed eyes, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of orange and blue of a face looking down, with lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of yellow and brown of a face looking like their head is exploding, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of brown and blue of a woman's face giving side eye to the right, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of yellow of a woman's face looking forward, with spotches of saturated blue and magenta flecking the shadows on one side of her face, and strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of brown of a woman's face and shoulder, nearly crawling out of the frame, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of blue of a face looking forward, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of pink of a woman's face looking to the left, abstract watercolour effects form the majority of the painting, especially the hair, and just a touch of detail defines the lips, chin and nose loose watercolour portrait in shades of pink and orange of a woman's face looking up, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of red of a face very angry and screaming, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of purple and brown of a woman's face screaming, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of green and purple of a woman's face looking sad, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of orange of a long face, with lighting coming from the left, the watercolour bleeds define the form loosely, but the form of a face is clearly recognisable loose watercolour portrait in shades of blue and yellow of a man's face grimacing, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of yellow and purple of a face screaming, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of red of a face with furrowed brow, very many watercolour bleeds define the form of the face and just touches of detail are added around the eyes and mouth loose watercolour portrait in shades of blue and pink of a scrunched up, squinting face, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of pink and purple of a woman's face looking to the right, with lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of purple of a contemplative face, with very strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in shades of red and brown of a woman's face, pinched and looking down, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in green of a woman's face looking warily to the right, with strong lighting coming from the left loose watercolour portrait in pink and purple of a woman with hands holding the sides of her head, looking like she's seen something terrile loose olive and brown watercolour portrait of a face looking down and sad loose yellow and pink watercolour portrait of a face screaming A loose watercolour portrait in red of a woman looking down with strong lighting coming from the left a loose watercolour portrait in shades of purple of a woman looking wary a side profile portrait in orange and dark blue of a woman looking to the left, head inclined a female figure with her back to the viewer, turning to show her profile a young man turning to look at the viewer, proportions slighly distorted to focus on his right eye a woman looking to the left with her right hand cupping her face gently a man sitting in a guarded position, elbows on knees and turning to look at the viewer an old woman painted in bright yellows and blues a female figure looking up and to the left, painted in a high key a female figure peeking over her shoulder with eyes closed a female figure with pursed lips, painted such that much of the detail on the face has dissolved, except for the lips a female figure peeking over her shoulder and looking to the left a black male figure looking toward the camera, painted in bold blue brush strokes a figure hides behind their hand a female figure poised to start running to the left, looking forward with determination a female figure looking up and to the right, painted in bold red and blue brushstrokes a bald male figure with hands behind his head, looking down a female figure grimacing with hands raised in front of her a male figure with one hand on his head and another on his chin, painted in red on a green-blue background a male figure with arms wrapped around himself, and bending over to crumple in on himself

Transparency

A green octagonal cup stands in front of a blue bottle and shows the refraction of the blue bottle in the column like features of the cup. A yellow dish is seen through a purple vase. A red cup eclipses a yellow tealight holder that is behind it.  The holder appears twice in the distortions in the red cup. the foot of an yellow dish concentrates the colour of the glass and looks orange.  In the distance is a second foot and the rest of the dish, much paler, arcs upwards. A glass vase sits on a windowsill in front of some trees.  The reflections on the vase are formed of runs and bleeds in the watercolour. The horizontal lines of the rim, base and reflections of a purple bowl interact with the vertical lines in a yellow cup that sits behind it. a red cup stands on the base of a blue wine glass, and is tilted but the frame of the painting is oriented with the red glass a green dish in front of a red wine glass the sky viewed through a yellow glass serving dish, some trees and a sunset visible a 12 sided green drinking glass viewed from the top with a window in the background seen through the far side of the glass a bright yellow glass serving dish stands on an upside down blue glass dish the threaded top of a brown glass bottle rests on a yellow glass candleholder with blue glass vase in the distance a glass tumbler with a blue rim at the base, a yellow glass candle holder and a yellow glass bowl overlapping in space a collection of glass objects in front of a purple glass bottle with a blue partially cloudy sky in the distance looking through an empty glass tea light holder at the shapes formed by green and brown glass objects behind it

Mushrooms

A loose watercolour of turkey tail mushrooms on a curved log graphite drawing of oyster mushroom gills graphite drawing of oyster mushroom gills graphite drawing of oyster mushroom gills watercolour painting of oyster mushrooms with brown caps watercolour painting of oyster mushrooms with brown caps watercolour painting of white oyster mushrooms graphite drawing of oyster mushroom gills watercolour painting of oyster mushrooms with yellow caps

Paintings

one hand holding an apple and the other pinching the stem with the fingers fanned out red and yellow onions in a copper pot next to a sprig of green sage a yellow sunflower in profile on a purple background a red poppy, the center in focus and the edges fading into a green background oranges, one peeled, on a blue ceramic serving dish yellow-green pears on a dark background chiaroscuro a spread of red japanese maple leaves with green veins four panels of a jellyfish floating in a dark turquoise sea pale yellow wheat with purple shadows, the zigzag shape of wheat repeated throughout the image glasses, a book and a ribbon, all white on a white background an image of a copperhead snake in a bed of clover a hand touching the face in an expression of exasperation


Stay in touch I'll send bimonthly updates about my creative process, what's inspiring me, and where there is joy to be found.

Copyright (c) 2025 Helen Cook