Autumn Birch by Charlotte Laxen Helfritz

“Creating has been part of my life since I was a little girl growing up on a farm near Easton in Southern Minnesota.

In 1972, I earned my degree in Art Education from St. Cloud State University where I fell in love with watercolor.

I have been the recipient of several emerging and career grants from the Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council and have had many shows throughout the state.  In 2006 I was the featured artist in the Reedy Gallery at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum with a one-person show called “The Arboretum Through the Seasons. Another of my joys and privileges has been teaching watercolor in Monet’s Gardens in Giverny France twice, through a program that was called Art Study Giverny.  An experience of a lifetime!

About three years ago, I thought my painting passion had come to an end-however God had other plans! Upon discovering a canvas that you could use for all wet media, a new excitement for watercolor began. In 2016, I was part of a group of 5 artists in a show at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum called “Winter Wonderland-Beauty Revealed” focusing on our interpretations of winter, in which all of my work was on this new canvas!   I can’t seem to stop exploring my subjects -finding the story in each one. My new work is more colorful, joyful, simple and filled with more light- and I’ve only just begun!”

Size: 30×40
Medium: Watercolor Printed on Canvas