Helen Stanley creates idealized works of astonishing detail. The adherence to nature in them is astounding, but they are neither from photographs or plein air. An avid hiker and lover of nature, Stanley takes delight in its idiosyncrasies and humor. She relishes the red bark of the Madrone tree and its improbable contrast with the bright green wood underneath. Her works are populated by the multitude of “critters” actually there, but seldom included in most artist works, all rendered with amazing fidelity.