The Innovative Artist: Abstracts and Mixed Media

Art has always been a passion for popular mixed media artist Helen Kaminsky and her work has evolved through her love of experimenting with different techniques. She is predominantly self-taught, working intuitively and energetically over a diverse range of subjects. Since attending a mixed media course at Central Saint Martins, London, Helen has gathered together an astonishing range of versatile effects, loving the challenges offered by using different and unusual materials. The synergies of the techniques used combine to establish an intuitive, original and diverse portfolio that has attracted the attention of many art collectors internationally. She is a member of the SAA and recent awards include their Artist of the Year Award for Across the Bay (Highly Commended) and Red Angel (Commended). Helen has also had work selected for the Society of Women Artists exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London. Helen has written for The New Artist Magazine and has also produced various articles and demos for the SAA's Paint Magazine. Helen lives in Cheshire, UK.

Introduction 6, Inspiration 10, Demonstration: The Toolmaker 12, The art of the abstract 18, Colour 20, Demonstration: Rock Strata 28, Demonstration: The Meeting of the Waters 30, Composition 36, Demonstration: Playtime with Matisse 40, Design 42, Demonstration: Rocky Road 42, Interpretation 46, Demonstration: Pollen for the Bees 46, My working process 52, Demonstration: Cottage on a Hillside 57, Materials and tools 60, Mixing the media 72, Creating backgrounds 74, Demonstration: New Directions 80, Demonstration: An Artist’s Garden 87, Demonstration: A Different Perspective 95, Collage 100, Demonstration: Retro City 114, Veiling and lifting 120, Demonstration: Watermelon Woman 122, Transparency 130, Printing 134, Mark-making 144, Demonstration: Red Lilies 168, Varnishing and completing 174, Index 176, Acknowledgements