Helen Zoubi Colors,

Walking through Childhood, focus on interpretations of childhood memories. The large-scale paintings in this exhibition will feature self-portraits painted in colorful, expressionistic, and abstract environments symbolizing the exuberance and excitement of youthful imagination.

The concept for this project originated from a reexamination of my childhood. This project will be a creative self-study that will enable me to develop positive images of the past. Each painting’s narrative will build on the positive aspects of my formative years, while at the same time replacing negative memories. Utilizing real childhood memories and photos of myself, I will create new paintings that depict a child’s view of the world, filled with fantasy and daydreams. What I am looking for in my work is that elusive place in between happy and sad expressions, contrasting harsh reality against an imaginary dream world.

In these paintings, environments will interact with the subjects to tell a story. The imagery will be the result of an honest confrontation and examination of my subconscious and conscious memories. Instinctual feelings will play a major role in the choices made in this work. This painting process will consist of direct responses to the qualities of the paint, paying attention to what the paint is doing, how it flows, and how the colors come together. Using acrylic paint, masking tape, cloth, and modeling paste I will create complex, eye-catching textures. The many layers of texture, marks, and spontaneous splashes of color across the canvas will symbolize my desire to know myself and to help create new images and memories. My work will begin with the choice of expressive photos of myself as a child. Guiding my choices in the photos will be the body language, facial expression, and movements that best fit with the emotions.

The environments in these paintings will assume an important role in the narrative of my work. The backgrounds will be symbolic of the subject’s mood and emotions. For example, an uncontrolled, gestural background will symbolize how much a child does not have control over their life. A vague and empty environment will reveal a child’s vulnerability. The environment can also depict the wonder and the free-spiritedness of a child’s imagination.

Colorful patterns in my environment are an important part of my childhood memories. They include wallpaper, tablecloths, clothing, and printed ribbons. Patterns continue to be a big part of my life as an adult.

Memories of Thing Past, #40113-5472011, painting size 60”x 36”Acrylic on canvas

She is from the exhibit walking through childhood its about child hood. She is in deep thought. Walking through child hood was my way of working through past hurts. walking through childhood basically was my way of working through my own childhood experiences sorting out the good memories and the bad ones. then calculating the worthy memories. keep in my life to enhance my future experiences and leave the painful ones behind . and in the end creating a new and better childhood for myself.

WALKING THROUGH CHILDHOOD

5/ 4/2011-5/7 /2011

This was about changing my child hood

Memories of Thing Past, #40113-5472011, painting size 60”x 36”Acrylic on canvas $ 1,080.(sold)

No Roses, #40213-5472011, painting size 60”x 48” acrylic on canvas $1440. (Sold)

Bonny and her melancholy mate, #40313-5472011 painting size 48”x 60” Acrylic on canvas $1440.

Little Woman, Weeping River, #40413-5472011, painting size 60”x 48” Acrylic on canvas $1440.

Raggedy shoes #40513-5472011, painting size 60”x 48” Acrylic on canvas $7,440.(Donated, and to Auctioned /fundraiser for victims of domestic violence)

Wiggles, #40613-5472011 painting size 60”x 36”Acrylic on canvas $1,080.

Solitude, #40713-5472011, painting size 60”x 48” Acrylic on canvas $1,440.

It is Just you and I #40813-5472011 painting size 60”x 48” Acrylic on canvas $1,440.

Peanut,# 409 13-5472011 painting size 60”x 36”Acrylic on canvas $1,080.

Urban Girl, # 401013-5472011 painting size 60”x 48” Acrylic on canvas $1,440.

Daydream, #411 13-5472011, painting size 48”x 60” Acrylic on canvas $1,440.

Youthful Imagination, #41213-5472011 painting size 60”x 48” Acrylic on canvas $1,440.(SOLD )

Marmalade #41313-5472011 painting size 60”x 36”Acrylic on canvas $1,064.

I believe the experience of the past is the foundation of the future. What sets this study apart from what has been done before is that it will be inspired from a child’s way of thinking. By remembering what I was thinking during childhood, I will reveal through my paintings the world as if through a child’s eyes, from the inside out. Typically, paintings of children are external views, from an adult’s point of view. My intent in this study will be to depict a glimpse into a world of a child, a world most adults have forgotten. This work will not attempt to sanitize the experience of childhood; it will contain both the highs and lows of life’s experiences. Childhood is not perfect and many childhood experiences can be extremely painful to recall. My work will deal with both the good and the bad, ultimately creating a new vision of remembered experiences while creating positive images of the past.