For over thirty years, Helen P. Shipman has been creating and exhibiting her artwork and its accompanying writings professionally.  She has had the opportunity to have a number of solo or two-person shows, and has participated in many group exhibitions.  Mostly, these exhibitions have taken place in the tri-state area.  Often, though not always, the exhibitions have been centered on themes of spirituality or some form of healing, because these subjects are of great interest to her.  Her work presents her reflections on these subjects, so she tends to seek out exhibition opportunities that welcome an interest in these areas.

Many articles have been published about the exhibitions in which Ms. Shipman has participated or soloed in such newspapers as The Greenwich Time, The Stamford Advocate, Artspeak, and Gannett Westchester Newspapers, among others.  Her paintings and writings have also been included in two published books, The Greenwich Oral History Project and The Encyclopedia of the Tarot, Vol. III by Stuart Kaplan.  Along the way, she has had the honor of fulfilling many commissioned consignments, both public and private, which have given her great satisfaction.  These have included portraits, paintings for church sanctuaries (some as large as nine feet by nine feet), and theater costumes, among others.  Her work is represented in many public and private collections, as well.  She has gained experience in public relations through interviewing with newspaper, radio and television personnel, and in making appearances on several radio and television programs.  

She has had the opportunity and pleasure to give illustrated lectures and present her work at many schools, churches and other locations.  Sometimes these lectures included demonstrations in airbrush technique and workshops.  Several times, she has been invited to schools to act as Visual Artist-in-Residence.  She has taught private lessons to groups and individuals in her home studio.  Also, she has been honored to be awarded positions in the form of curator, judge and featured artist, and has had experience in leading docent tours, both for her own work and for the work of other artists in group exhibitions.  She particularly enjoys acting as docent, especially for an exhibit of her own work, because she feels so comfortable talking about all the intricate symbolism and iconography with which she is so intimately familiar in her paintings and writings. In addition, she has had the great challenge as well as wonderful fun of being in charge of hanging exhibitions.

Around 1997, she was introduced to the founder of “Gaining Your Voice Through the Arts” (GYVTA), Lynn E. Owens, at her opening reception at The Stone Studio of the Our World Gallery in Stamford, CT.  What followed was a wonderful experience in “art for life” or art for healing, because this Greenwich, CT-based organization was created for the purpose of using art for healing from all sorts of problems that negatively impact upon the human condition.  For her, this was a match made in heaven.  Her work was and has always been mostly about healing and spirituality, a crying out for understanding and a calling for human kindness.  Unfortunately, this organization only lasted a while and was later terminated.  It was highly energized and exciting, however, during the years that it thrived.

Since GYVTA, Helen has gone on to participate in more exhibitions that focus on healing through the arts, as well as other exhibitions.  For the future, she is focusing on widening her range of public awareness, and hoping to find a publishing venue, through which people who cannot afford to buy an original piece of art might be able to afford a book or pamphlet from which they would still be able to enjoy her heartfelt and healing message.

   

Helen P. Shipman