What if you slept?
And what if in your sleep you dreamed…
And what if in your dream you went to heaven and there
plucked a strange and beautiful flower…
And what if when you awoke you had that flower in your hand.
Ah, what then?
Coleridge
Paintings as the meeting point between memory, dreams & the quiet poetry of nature
Helen Leaver's oil paintings unfold as meditations on cyclical time, exploring how uplifting moments or emotions can hold energetic imprints, resonating out to be felt again and again. Memory and sensory experience are held together as meeting points in which past, present and future coexist in a way that celebrates the interconnectedness of all things.
Patterns and shapes found in nature are echoed through a form of embodied muscle-based memory, the marks are made in a way that feels like the brush already knows where to go. Repeating strokes in a softer hue or translucency, mirror how memories can blur, fade and soften at the edges.
Primarily painting on natural linen with oil paint, the surface develops through overlapping inky-washes, veils of glazes hinting at previous layers and drips that slowly descend, suspended when dried as if holding time in place.
Playing with the oil paint, with its almost edible, spreadable texture, lends itself to a slow, patient way of working. Allowing for the layers to dry, Helen says, 'During periods of waiting I'm searching for a balance between knowing when to pause and spontaneous bursts of movement. I find moments of stillness in my practice, that quiet space between intention and instinct. I’m listening, lingering, waiting to act from a place of response. The untouched silent spaces exist as something more than an absence, its where the breath comes from.
Being neurodivergent, I’ve found an outlet to process my sensory experience and emotions’.
Helen’s paintings carry memories of memories, acting as conduits for feelings and the transience of beauty in nature, inviting the viewer to become part of the connection.
BIO
Originally from Bristol, Helen now lives in Cornwall and paints from her light and tranquil garden studio surrounded by farmland. She embarked on the intensive year-long St. Ives School of Painting ‘Porthmeor Programme 2023’ and has exhibited and sold work in solo and group exhibitions in St. Ives, Falmouth, Newquay and the Royal Cornwall museum. Her work is now in private collections throughout the UK, USA, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands and New Zealand.
Paintings available at The Summerhouse Gallery, Marazion, Cornwall
‘Aetheric Echoes’ exhibition 14-18th April at The Poly, Falmouth
May-July The Square, Berkeley Sq, Clifton Bristol
