My Mentor

Tim and I started painting in the early 2000s while living in Detroit.  We admired many artists, and were aware that painter Helen Cartmell was quite the local celebrity.

 

Artwork by Helen Cartmell

In September, 2007, Helen was featured in a solo exhibit called "Destinations" at the Art Center in Mt. Clemens (a Detroit suburb).   Unfortunately, we were unable to attend the opening reception, but visited the exhibition later in the week.

Artwork by Helen Cartmell

Helen's work was just jaw-dropping.  How could we have missed the opportunity to have met her on opening night?   Oh, how I wanted to take some photographs.

Artwork by Helen Cartmell

I talked to the director of the Art Center and she jotted down Helen's home phone number and suggested I call her to get permission to take pictures.   Well, I was too embarrassed to just call her, so I made Tim do it.  Helen not only graciously agreed to let us photograph her artwork, but invited us to visit her home studio the following week.  She also suggested we bring along some of our own paintings and drawings.

Artwork by Helen Cartmell

Between gathering pieces of art to show Helen, I did a little detective work on the computer.  Just who was this Helen Cartmell or how nervous should I really be?  Well, I got more nervous when I read some of her accomplishments. 

Helen went to Cass Tech, that special local high school for the smart, artsy kids.  Then she attended the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts, later renamed the College for Creative Studies, the best art school in the Midwest.  Wyland even went there!

Artwork by Helen Cartmell

Multiple fellowships at the Ossabaw Island Project in Georgia and LaNapoule, France were awarded to Helen.  She studied in Italy.  She painted in Greece.   She also took numerous master classes with Jack Beal (the father of the New York Realist movement) and his artist wife Sondra Freckelton on their farm in New York.  She took annual portrait workshops with Milton Kobayashi in Arizona for years.   Helen's work was in public and private national and international collections.  That got my attention.

Artwork by Helen Cartmell

So, the day of reckoning finally arrived.  Tim and I knocked on her door at about 10AM.   Thinking back, we didn't have any mutual friends; we could have been Bonnie and Clyde or something for all Helen knew...

Anyway, the door opened and this beautiful 84-year-old woman appeared.  Her big smile melted our nervousness, and we spent the next four and a half hours looking at and talking about art. 

In fact, we spent the next four and a half years looking at and talking about art. 

Artwork by Helen Cartmell

Tim and I visited Helen once a week, usually on a Thursday, pretty much without exception.  And the more we got to know Helen, the more we realized how blessed we were to have met this generous woman.

Artwork by Helen Cartmell

Our weekly visits with Helen ended when we moved from Michigan to Oregon.  Losing our face-to-face time with her was heartbreaking, but Helen's encouragement and "I love you"s can still be heard over the phone. 

In fact, I hear her voice every time I'm in the studio ("Patience."); every time I'm tempted to rip up a piece of artwork ("Not yet!"); every time I sell a painting ("I'm so proud of you!").  

Artwork by Helen Cartmell

Helen and I have laughed together and cried together.  I have had the honor of watching her paint,  learning some her painting secrets, and ingesting her excellent advice.  But Helen has also shared important life lessons with me -  things that have taken her years to understand.

Artwork by Helen Cartmell

Because I met Helen, I am not only a better artist, but a better person.

Helen

Thank you, Helen.