- "When I paint, when I study birds and biology,
then I forget I am the cannon man."
- "In 1888 I started work on the Hermit
My Canvas turned out to be poor, and I was no better to boot."
- At the former General Lyman Field, now Hilo International Airport, circa 1958
Illustration and graphics are a natural extension of my experience Painting and drawing from an early age, which eventually led to my current secondary focus on landscape, which was initiated in the mid nineties. This interest resulted partly from an appreciation of the European landscape painters of the mid to late 1800's who, after technology gave them the handy paint tube, took their tools out of the studio into the countryside and set to work in the heat, wind, and cold, where they were tormented by insects and rapidly changing light. Their example, among other things, led me to experiment with the considerable challenge of plein-air painting. These endeavors have been beneficial experiences, and I've recently returned to the studio to apply the knowledge gained from working outside to working indoors on larger panels, which are unwieldy and don't lend themselves to treks through the trees or across rocky or sandy shorelines.
In the islands those of us who paint the sort of landscape I practice may find themselves caught in an effort to balance conflicting impulses. There are phenomenally gorgeous places here that present potential subjects, but the painter's enthusiasm can lead to a kind of caricature of spectacular island features, and many of us naturally tend to exaggerate the special nature of polynesia with lurid sentimentality, often against our own best judgement.
In my work there is a constant struggle to do a kind of artistic justice to the tropical Pacific world which has fascinated many who have lived here or visited these shores. The powerful impression island scenery makes can be tempered with thoughtful study, and I hope to produce work that conveys some of the Hawaiian landscape's extraordinary beauty while maintaining a degree of sobriety in the images which I hope will enhance rather than diminish portrayals of my favorite subject. A cook can pour too much sugar in the pot, and like a satisfying meal, the type of landscape that interests me most generally has a balance of "flavors."
Michael Helms
Volcano, Hawaii-March 2004