A Long Way Coming
Acrylic on Canvas
60h x 48w
Helen Steele’s compositions are spontaneous, yet certain themes recur throughout her work, particularly the use of the human figure to explore psychological states such as harmony, serenity, anxiety, and isolation. While the figure serves as her starting point, it is not the true subject of her art. Rather, she delves into human presence and absence.
Her approach is intuitive, favoring suggestion over detail. As she works and reworks the canvas, images emerge only to elude her, reappearing later in a different form. Steele’s process involves multiple layers, where images and words are buried, paint is wiped off, and layers are peeled back, revealing the evolving composition beneath.
