Helen Currie

Oil painting, sculpture, and drawing

Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, Class of 2027
Figure and portrait study at Studio Incamminati

First place, 2026 Congressional Art Competition, Pennsylvania's 3rd District. The Republic Dreaming hangs in the U.S. Capitol.

Honorable mention, 2026 Oil Painters of America student competition.

Figure and portrait studies

Studies from life at Studio Incamminati, a classical atelier in South Philadelphia. These include nude figure studies.

Full-Body Oil Study

Oil on canvas · 16 in x 20 in · 2026 · Studio Incamminati

21 hour study over 3 days, from life.

Portrait Oil Study

Oil on canvas · 16 in x 20 in · 2026 · Studio Incamminati

3 hour study from life. Minimalist color and purposeful glimpses of canvas tone beneath to create multiple values with one color using opacity.

2 Full-Body Oil Gestures

Oil on canvas · 16 in x 20 in · 2026 · Studio Incamminati

4 hour and 3 hour study respectively, both from life. Using strong, purposeful brushstrokes to capture shapes of light and shadow.

Full-Body Oil Gesture

Oil on canvas · 16 in x 20 in · 2026 · Studio Incamminati

1 hour study from life. Simplifying light and shadow into main forms.

Portrait Early Construction

Oil on canvas, in progress · 16 in x 20 in · 2026 · Studio Incamminati

3 hour study from life. Geometric base structure to compare form angles and capture likeness.

Sculpture

Scrabble

Ceramic, fired and painted · 14 in x 11.5 in · 2025 · CAPA

Inspired by Greek amphora vases. Hand built using coil method and pinch pot method.

Otisfield-Pontoon

Plaster, metallic finish, shells and pearls · 11.5 in x 6.5 in · 2025 · CAPA

Color and sheen inspired by oil slick on water. Made by creating facial mold, casting in plaster and using additive and subtractive sculpting methods.

Drawing

Graphite Portrait Study

Graphite on paper · 18 in x 24 in · 2026 · Studio Incamminati

6 hour study, 2 sessions over 2 weeks, from life.

Full-Body Charcoal Gesture

Charcoal on paper · 19 in x 25 in · 2026 · Studio Incamminati

30 minute study from life.

Full-Body Charcoal Gesture

Charcoal on paper · 19 in x 25 in · 2026 · Studio Incamminati

1 hour study from life.

Full-Body Charcoal Gesture

Charcoal on paper · 19 in x 25 in · 2026 · Studio Incamminati

1 hour study from life.

Small paintings

Five portraits on three-inch canvases.

Mini Portraits

Oil on canvas board · 3 in × 3 in · 2025-2026 · independent

Size of a post-it note (size comparison below), 2 hours each.

At one scale

Three of the paintings above, laid on top of each other at the same scale: Big Little Sister at 36 by 36 inches, The Republic Dreaming at 16 by 20, and Laugh at 3 by 3.