Helen Van Wyk was a renowned artist, author, and
educator, best known for her popular PBS television series on oil
painting,
"Welcome to my Studio". The show aired in
the 1990s and established her as one of the most respected painting
instructors of her time.
Helen's teaching emphasized basic natural fundamentals and
principles like color theory, light, darkness, and good design. She
taught thousands of artists that subject matter was secondary to
mastering the core basics, providing them with the confidence to
paint anything. Her work often focused on beautiful still life
paintings and portraits.
Helen is quickly recognized by thousands of artists as the host of
PBS's Welcome to my Studio television show. Helen took the time to
teach us the principles and reasons behind painting each element in
the progression of a work. Helen's sensibility in basic natural
fundamentals taught us we can paint anything by employing these
basics. Subject matter was a minor consequence to Helen. Using the
basics, thousands of artists received the confidence to paint any type
of subject. This site and the HelenVanWyk YouTube channel are
dedicated to the memory of Helen and her painting style.
