BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
MONROE — After 15 years as an art teacher, Helen Mahong Rudnick is branching out and essentially starting a journey as a professional artist.
Her first solo art show, which showcases 24 pieces of her artwork as a professional artist, is being held at the Fine Arts Gallery at the Monroe Township Library, which began officially on Feb. 20 and will be showcased through April 30.
Rudnick said the gallery’s theme is “Everything with wings,” both visible and invisible, utilizing acrylic, water color and multimedia.
“All my pieces are totally from the heart,” she said.
The showcased artwork includes flowers, butterflies and swans.
Her oldest artwork that is being showcased is her graduation piece from the Master’s Fine Arts Education program at Kean University. It is a piece divided in three showing her past, an older woman depicting her mom in black and white; her past and present, herself and her time growing up in China; and her future, her daughter Grace living the American dream.
Rudnick was born and raised in Hangzhou, China. She received a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from The Academy of Fine Arts in Hangzhou.
In 1994, Rudnick came to the United States, became a United States citizen and received a master’s degree from Kean University.
In 2001, she opened her own art studio called Helen’s studio, which had three different locations over the years including Princeton Junction, East Brunswick and South Brunswick.
After 15 years of teaching, Rudnick, with the support of her husband Randy, decided to close her art teaching business, which drew in hundreds of students from children to adults, in order to focus on being a professional artist.
Rudnick said she scheduled her solo show at the library two years ago.
“There was the first half of the year that I didn’t do anything,” she said.
Then a lightbulb went off and Rudnick said she was able to turn over many pieces of artwork that are showcased in the show.
She said her artwork builds up like a volcano, and once that moment comes, her heart and spirit spill out on the canvases.
Rudnick said she likes to create fantasy and mystery type pieces.
“My favorite movies are ‘Avatar’ and ‘The Matrix,'” she said, noting that she admires artists Georgia O’Keefe, Gustav Klimt, Vincent Van Gogh and Andy Warhol.
In the next few months, Rudnick will participate in two group art shows. She already has a solo art show lined up for October, 2017, when she will have a one-month show at Gourgard Gallery in Cranbury.
Rudnick said, in 2018, her family is planning to set up a two-month residency in France where she said she would be able to actually visit the various art museums where artists are able to learn, create and copy artwork.
For more information, visit www.helenstudio.com.
