Helen Utsal

Helen Utsal was born in Montreal. Her grandmother Salme, was a Montreal artist who painted figurative and landscape imagery in oils and watercolours.
‘She inspired me and shared her secrets and brushes.’

Helen studied at Concordia University, in Montreal. Through school she worked as a studio assistant; underpainting large oil paintings, making grounds, sizes, frames and stretching canvases for two professional artists.

An IATSE member in Toronto, Helen worked as a scenic artist and painter on dozens of feature films, independent films, television, music videos and commercials.
‘Painting enormous scenic backdrops for movies really loosened me up, and allowed me to make the transition from realism to a more impressionistic style.’

‘In the move to British Columbia my subject matter shifted from figurative to landscape. The spontaneity and unexpected exuberance in nature is captured with popped up colour and expressive brushstrokes.’
‘These paintings needed to be large because I really wanted the viewer to easily enter the scene…’

Helens commissioned works extend to private residences, restaurants and hotels including the five star Atlantis Casino & Resort, Nassau Bahamas.