Alice Helwig

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A.S. Helwig was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. From an early age she drew and painted. In fact, she has painted in acrylics since she was twelve years old when she painted in the coulee hills close to her family home. Helwig took a two-year commercial art program at Medicine Hat College and then a Bachelor of Education Degree (with Distinction) from the University of Lethbridge. Looking for adventure Helwig moved to Fox Lake, a remote native village in Northern Alberta. There she taught English and art while maintaining a studio in her home.

Presently residing in Calgary, Helwig remains an art educator and studio artist. She teaches art to adults and children and gives workshops to adult groups. You might have even seen her teaching painting on Canvas, a show that aired for three seasons on Shaw TV’s Channel 10.

Her work is in many private and public art collections. Helwig attended the Banff Centre of Arts in self-directed residencies in 2005 and 2008.

Her work is represented by Rouge Gallery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond, Alberta.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

For me, painting is a profoundly spiritual and meditative act.
I love the process of deconstruction and reconstruction. I will destroy an image and then bring it back. I love the nuances that occur in that process. Previous marks and colours are still there—but overshadowed by a stronger idea for the composition.

My sky paintings are about life and death, about resilience and hope. I can’t help but think of these and other big questions when I am in front of my easel. What is our purpose here? How do we build community and connectedness?

Perhaps together we can do a bit of good while living under these skies.

$1,500.00

Acrylic on canvas.

24x24x2"

Wapiti is the cree name for Elk. I photographed the reference for this one while at an art residency at the Banff Centre. The elk, who wander between the studios, although magnificent should be respected. They are powerful animals.

Alice Helwig

$1,500.00

Acrylic on canvas.

24x24"

WHILE MOST OF A BLACK BEAR’S DIET is vegetation, black bears are omnivores; meaning that they eat both plants and animals (grasses, berries, roots, insects, fish and mammals). So they can eat dandelions as a salad for lunch.

Alice Helwig