jenniferhutchison1

An artist in the Australian Oxford Dictionary suggests it is ‘one who practices on of the fine arts’ however, I believe there is more to the meaning ‘artist’ as I got the pleasure to sit down and talk to admired artist Helen Stanley. Born in England and now currently living in the rural country of Gunnedah, on a farm with two children, Patsy and David, Helen has continued to produce wonderful and inspiring artworks around the community. I myself find Helen one of my favorite artists and often look at her work for inspiration and guidance. ‘ I was going to be a occupational therapist but a man dribbled on me at work experience and put me off ever doing it as a job. My dad wanted me to do art as a hobby but I had different ideas’. Helen says as I sat down to find out more about her story and art practice. Growing up in England you had to do a foundation course before doing a degree and in this Helen learnt that textiles and fashion was what she wanted to do and got accepted at the Winchester school of art in Hampshire where her practice started to develop. ‘I like colours and pattern’ she explains her work was very abstract and she created many prints and fabrics. Helen went to France and Italy numerous times to view the culture and to gather ideas for her art practice. “You would always carry a drawing book where you would collect design labels, colours, you would even sketch textures from walls and shutters” Helen says “the drawing book became your bible”. Interested in colour she became influenced by the impressionist exhibition in Paris, and Matisse in her first and second year of schooling and by her third year Helen was accepted to display her work in an exhibition in Winchester and in London at the Covernt Gardens. “My plan was to work in London as a designer when I got a placement and a finalist in a designer company , they asked me what way I want to go?and all I could think of I want to go to Australia to see Ken”. Helen says , “ I meet Ken in my final year at art school in Northfolk”. Ken was a farmer from NSW and Helen explains that she “promised to visit him ASAP”. With this she work five jobs as well as making clay beads to sell Helen saved and went to Australia and lived with ken for a year. Trying to find a job in design was harder than in England and Helen work as a waitress instead. After her working visa was finished Helen return home only to find it was almost impossible to get another visa. “I received a phone call from ken and I explained the situation and his reply was we better get married then, with my reply well you better ask dad before he goes to work”. Helen parents had never met ken and had to organize a wedding in one month. After this Helen lived in Sydney and then Gunnedah on a farm with Ken where she taught art and did commission work. Helen explains that her style has change living in the country “it is more traditional and realistic where as if I lived in the city I would produce more abstract pieces; you have to fit within the environment. In summing up the interview I toke away an interesting quote “I love to create; the hardest part is a looking at a white piece of paper”. Helen not only being recognized for her art but is doing a physiology course to help young adults in mental health as she states “I always lacked something in my life, I need to help people”. “I still want to do art, I feel like it’s an itch I want to scratch, I always look for patterns and continuously noticed things all the time, art… it’s a part of you”.

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