Helen Sharp Potter

Helen Sharp Potter

Helen Sharp Potter

                Helen began her training in High School, taking all the Art Courses available. She spent her Saturdays studying the techniques of other Artists while enrolled as a student in oil painting classes at the Lyman Allen Museum., Connecticut College for women.  Upon graduation from High School, she was accepted to the Yale School of Fine Art but instead married Ellis W. Potter.  A free Lance Illustrator and Teacher, He became Helen’s mentor and teacher.  During the time her children were growing, Helen painted everyday while working as Head librarian at the WareHouse  Point, Connecticut Library.

                In 1970, her husband retired from commercial art andthey left Connecticut and moved to Homestead,  Florida, where the Potters entered the World of art festivals. They attended at least 16 shows a year throughout Florida and New England until her husbands death in 1981. During these years, Helen won more then 25 Best of Show awards, as well as many others.  Starting with 5 paintings at her first art festival.  Helen has completed over 4000 paintings in her career, each numbered and catalogued.

            Returning to New England  each summer gave Helen a chance to live and work in many of the regions most beautiful places.  Although she has painted from Nova Scotia to  Panama, and as far west as and North Dakota.  Helen has been a frequent visitor to Nantucket since the early 1960’s and in 1987, decided to build a home on the  Island. Helen taught and painted in Englewood, Florida during the Winter, and on the Island in Spring and Summer.  She has received many awards and belongs to several art associations in Massachusetts and Florida. She is now a year round resident of Nantucket.