Arts Festival Celebrating Creativity
at the Heart of the Community
Helen Jameson
I grew up believing art was limited to drawing and painting - something only people with innate artistic ability and special talent could do. For many years, I confined myself to academic endeavours and, after completing my first degree in Chemistry and Psychology, I qualified as a teacher and began my teaching career.
Fortunately, in 2005, while researching the importance of learning through play, I began to open myself up to different forms of creativity. Further research for my master's dissertation at Cambridge University, considered the interplay of irony and the synergy between text and illustrations in postmodern children’s picturebooks. I was drawn to the eclectic use of mixed media collage many talented picturebook illustrators employ.
Subsequently, I discovered a passion for working in this way myself, taking classes and learning from many of the talented artists I got to know. I am fascinated by colour and particularly enjoy using painting, printing and free motion sewing techniques that allow the colours in the medium employed to take on a life of its own in an unpredictable and organic way. I delight in the tactile experience of working with textiles, fusing bright colours, interesting textures and unusual combinations of pattern to create art in many forms including colourful quilts, collages, wallhangings, soft furnishings, bags and unique, wearable pieces of art in inclusive sizes.
Gradually, my focus has shifted to working with reclaimed fabrics, wool, threads and other recycled items as I aim to create joyful, playful pieces of art. Making art and junk journals using a mixture of reclaimed paper, card and fabrics, together with my own mixed media artwork opened yet further avenues to investigate.
I continue to explore a variety of media and techniques in both 2D and 3D. Most recently, I have been working with natural watercolour pigments, experimenting with colour and form to create bold, abstract works that reflect the beauty of the natural world in ways that make me smile! Pablo Picasso famously said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Allowing myself to play and create using mixed media is the way I choose to connect with my inner artist.