Helaine Becker

Helaine Becker is both a digital artist and the bestselling author of more than 90 books for children, including the #1 Canadian national bestseller and “enduring Canadian Christmas classic” A Porcupine in a Pine Tree (Scholastic Canada). Her artwork has been exhibited in two Society of Canadian Artists juried shows, Toronto's Aird Gallery (juried shows), the Ontario Society of Artists juried show, Keller-Williams Gallery Space (two-person show), The Square Foot Show (juried show), Neilson Creative Centre Emergence Gallery.

Most recently, Helaine was selected as the 2022-23 Artist in Residence for the Toronto Heliconian Club. A solo show of her work was presented in the historic space in June, 2023.

Helaine creates both small, intimate works on paper, larger pieces on both acrylic and brushed metal substrates, and large scale murals for commercial applications. She is an active member of the North Toronto Art Group, Artists Network, and Don Valley Art Club.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

In physics, the Heisenberg Effect describes how a researcher’s own observations literally change the thing observed – i.e., reality. I believe an artist’s observations go one step further. They can change reality, but also create new realities. This is doubly true in art that makes use of modern technology. My artwork, for example, relies on techniques that were unavailable to previous generations and creates an entirely new genre of visual art.

Like David Hockney, my current visual art process is entirely digital, i.e., I paint with pixels on a computer. Using readily available apps, I create vivid original paintings on my phone (Yes!), using my index finger as my brush. They’re not modified photos, but completely original artwork and completely hand-painted.

On the macro scale, this form of digital fine art fits somewhere between art photography and classical painting techniques – the synthesis of O’Keeffe and Stieglitz, if you will. On the micro, digital artwork also exists in a liminal in-between space, shifting back and forth between abstract and representational, concrete/physical (the Print) and metaphysical (the Pixel).

Stylistically, my work is Figurative Expressionism, with an emphasis on landscape and florals. My palette is confident, bright and vibrant; my subject matter life-affirming and joyful. The most common response to it is, “It makes me feel so happy!”

Because my current process is entirely digital, i.e., painted with a computer aid, my original, limited edition work can be presented in ANY SIZE and in a wide variety of media.

Choose from a broad selection of ready-to-roll images. I will customize them to your specifications. Your prints will look great as small pieces - printed on paper, suitable for framing under glass, on canvas, or for a more contemporary look, on acrylic or metal panels.

I can also tweak existing images to suit a particular colour scheme or theme, or paint a new image to coordinate with a design brief.