Helen Hanrahan

Helen Hanrahan has been a keen painter since her early teens. She works in watercolour, charcoal, ink and mixed medium. She loves painting water and seascape. Movement, light, transient weather effects and the randomness of nature are common themes. Random effects of water paint can become part of the work. Some images are semi-abstract or abstract. Helen often uses vibrant, dissonant colour. She enjoys the contrasting textures of wash, wax and pastel with paint or ink, and strong tonal contrast. She is also passionate about life drawing in charcoal and ink. In 2015 she won the Hogan Gallery award and Brunswick Small Works Exhibition for two minimalist nude ink drawings. Subsequently she was invited to exhibit with 3 generations of artists in her family, the "Generations" at Brunswick St Gallery, Fitzroy. 

For this year's show she has entered a mix of work,3 from her trip last year to Alice Springs and Uluru, 1 seascape and 1 large charcoal nude. 

Helen was mesmerised by the intense colours and vastness of the outback. In particular she loved the extraordinary shapes and intense terra cotta found at Kata Juta. 

Helen has exhibited work in galleries in Queenscliffe, South Yarra, Warrandyte, Williamstown, Aireys Inlet, North Fitzroy, Fitzroy, Balwyn,Clifton Hill and Hawthorn.