Art of Mary Theisen Helm FAQ

• Q. How do I locate the price, title, description, etc. for a select piece of artwork?
• A. Each piece has a unique identification number usually displayed above the photo when viewed. The number corresponds to an entry on the price and description sheet. Note the number(s) and then look up the information. It may be helpful to open the price sheet in a new browser tab so that it can be quickly referenced.

• Q. There are so many styles represented. Why?
• A. Mary was above all driven by creativity. Rather than limit herself with one style of expression, she explored constantly.

• Q. There are over one thousand works of art represented. Is this her whole body of work?
• A. This collection represents what are completed (for the most part) works retained by the artist at the time of her passing that can be displayed. It by no means is her entire body of work. Hundreds of her paintings have been purchased through the years and are in personal collections, museums, etc. Also charcoal and pastel works which are unframed are very difficult to handle and display. May of these may be added at a later date.

• Q. Are the works framed?
• A. Some are, and some are not. The paintings are sold with frames if the work is framed presently. The buyer may choose to re-frame the works or not.

• Q. What is meant in the description by "reverse of…."?
• A. Some works (especially water colors) may have another work on the other side. Paper was expensive, and Mary sometimes painted on both sides of the paper. The cost for these works is not doubled. Effectively you get a ‘two for one’.

• Q. Some of the photos seem slightly askew, blurred, or etc. How were these photographed?
• A. This project has taught me (Erik) a lot about photography. Mostly that the project was a lot harder than it looked. Please forgive any less than perfect efforts. The photgraphs had to be of sufficient resolution to show the detail in the artwork. Through the process of watermarking, rotating, and sizing the images in order to allow them to fit in the galleries and allow one to see the image in a screen without excessive scrolling, the images were shrunk. Perfect high resolution photographs would be too cumbersome to work with over the web. The images are of sufficient size to allow the viewer to get an overall picture of the works. In going through the over 1,300 works I endeavored to re-photograph the works that were blurred. I obviously missed some.

• Q. How was she able to produce such a huge body of work?
• A. I think that the art was driven by being a creative outlet. Mary worked full time for over 40 years, sometimes in stressful and unfulfilling positions. She raised and supported a family. She still found time to paint and draw.

• Q. Did Mary study formally?
• A. For full info. please see Bio. Mary had no exposure to art as a child. There were no art classes to speak of in her schools, but art was in her veins from early childhood. She expressed a desire to attend art school after high school, but her father was a practical man. He sent her to secretary school in Eau Claire instead. After she moved to Milwaukee two years later, she saved her money and began study at the Layton school of art. She could never attend school full time as she retained a full time job at an advertising agency. She studied at various private painting tours, several art schools, universities, etc.

• Q. How were the paintings measured?

• A. The measurements are approximate only. If the work itself could be measured then the numbers represented are mostly accurate. However, if the painting was under glass or shrink-wrapped then the mat or frame size may be represented. It is recommended not to purchase any frames for the artworks until you, or a professional have measured them yourselves.

• Q. What is meant by "EST….’ in the date field?

• A. Some works are signed but not dated. I have done my best to estimate the date of origination using my own memory and knowledge, as well as like styles, age of paper, etc.

• Q. I am offended by the nudity in the figure studies.

• A. Then don’t look at them.

• Q. Why must the works have that annoying 'MTH' logo over the content?

• A. The 'MTH' logo is called a watermark. A watermark is installed on on-line pictures to prevent theft and misuse of the material. The original works do not contain the logo, only the web-based pictures.