A Few of My Favorite Things… Art by Susan Hellmann

The Cornwall Library is delighted to present “A Few of My Favorite Things…,” a selection of paintings by artist Susan Hellmann, whose lush, heartfelt work often depicts Cornwall. Typical subjects are soft valleys and glades, farm animals, and wistful views through country windows. In certain pieces she can recall Chagall or Grandma Moses, but for many people who know Cornwall, her work has a convincing realism, and the soft-focus scenes are familiar and emotionally meaningful.

Hellmann’s first relative in Cornwall arrived in 1763 and members of her extended family have lived there ever since. Hellmann grew up elsewhere in Connecticut, but spent many significant days as a child with an aunt at Echo Rock cottage on Cornwall’s Cream Hill Lake. She says, “From my perception as a young child, [Echo Rock] was a magical place where I could explore and feel free. It was a sensory experience rich with textures, colors, smells, and visual treasures everywhere. I was grounded there.” And she learned to appreciate the qualities that make Cornwall special.

After secondary school, Hellmann, whose mother was an artist, took classes in drawing and design at different colleges. She raised a family on Cape Cod while pursuing interests that included artwork fabrication, sewing, and designing; only later did she begin to paint. She also studied psychology, receiving a BS degree in Occupational Therapy from Boston University.

As an occupational therapist, Hellmann specialized in mental health issues and used artmaking as a method to help patients manage symptoms like stress. She believes that making art is an effective technique for regulating mood and helping patients feel accomplishment. This work also influenced her own understanding and use of line, form, and color.

Hellmann is now retired and lives in West Cornwall. She spends her days painting and living the rural community life that she loved as a child. It also includes hanging out with Johanna, a Kooikerhondje pup, and Cajsa, a ginger kitty. If you see her around town, you might ask her how to pronounce “Kooikerhondje” or, for that matter, “Cajsa.”

Hellmann has had solo art shows at the Cornwall Library and the Cape Cod Cultural Center.

A Few of My Favorite Things…, an exhibition of art by Susan Hellmann at the Cornwall Library from December 3 to January 15, will offer paintings and holiday cards for sale.