Helen Harris grew up in upstate New York, where early experiences in fields, lakes, and brooks sparked her lifelong connection to nature. This bond became central to her art.
She earned a BFA in Graphic Design from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and began her career in commercial art. Helen worked in New York City with DC Comics and took on freelance projects and teaching roles, including coloring books and spot illustrations. Later, she expanded her work to signage and display in New Jersey.
After settling in New Jersey to raise her three daughters, Helen shifted her focus towards painting. Over the years, she has worked with watercolor, acrylics, mixed media, and oils. Her subjects vary from seascapes and florals to abstracts, but landscapes remain her primary inspiration, reflecting the places of her childhood.
Helen’s art expresses her tactile memories of nature. She says, “I have walked the fields and played in the lakes, brooks and hiked the hillsides as a child, and it was the remembrance and love of the tactile excitement of that experience that I wanted to focus on and share with my art collectors.”
Her early recognition came from mixed media and collage work combining rice papers, torn paper, textured gels, watercolor, and gouache. Travels across the country, especially to the West Coast, have influenced her evolving style. Recently, she follows a disciplined daily painting routine, often in oil, capturing her ongoing artistic journey.
For over 50 years, Helen’s award-winning work has been shown at East Coast galleries and outdoor shows. Her landscapes range from majestic Western mountains to peaceful Eastern beaches. Collectors appreciate her skill in blending texture and color to transform familiar scenes into compelling art.
Outside of art, Helen enjoys gardening, hiking, and activities with her 6 grandchildren.