Mixing and mingling painting and prose

The pursuits of Helena Clare Pittman

By FRITZ MAYER

LIBERTY, NY — After trying to get her work published for five years, Helena Clare Pittman finally caught the attention of an editor in the early 80s, and her book “A Grain of Rice” was published a few years later in 1986. Pittman wrote the story and created the illustrations. In 2004, her agent got a paperback deal for the book and it went on to sell more than 250,000 copies, and is still selling.

Much to the author’s delight, “A Grain of Rice” continues to be reprinted. A review from Amazon.com reads, “This is a great story for teaching how something as small as a grain of rice can earn a farmer a marriage to the princess, and a kingdom.”

Not bad for a writer and painter who originally started out with the idea of doing only the pictures. Pittman, who these days makes her home in Liberty, said in an interview, “I started painted seriously at about 14, and when I was 15, I knew I had to spend my life painting or I would be very sorry. It was really a call.”

After graduating from the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York City, she thought her career would mostly involve painting canvasses. But, she said, “It gradually became clear to me that was a little disappointing, because after painting the paintings, you had to find a gallery, you had to part with your paintings. I began to conceive of the idea of becoming an illustrator, because I could keep the original, and the picture would reach a lot of people.”

Then in 1978, she discovered words. “I decided to write this little story. I wasn’t a writer, of course, but just seeing the words with the pictures—it was so magical. It just blew me away and still does.

Her pursuit of writing lead to a relationship with Daniel Pinkwater, a commentator on National Public Radio and also a prolific author of children’s books. It was his editor at Hastings House, which Pittman called “one of the great old publishing families,” who discovered “A Grain of Rice,” and that led to a career writing picture books targeted toward children. She had a stint with a publisher in Minneapolis, Carolrhoda Books, Lerner Publications, and created 10 books with them. She said they truly respected authors and painters, and wanted to make beautiful books. All the while, though, she thought she should be back with a New York City publisher.

When she did get back to the Big Apple, the publishing industry was in the midst of change. Large publishers devoured little ones, editors came and went, the corporate center became increasingly distant from the authors and illustrators, and as it turned out, some of Pittman’s books came to be illustrated not by her but by people chosen by the publishers. It was not an ideal situation for a Pratt alumnus. She said, “It was so cutthroat and brutal. The art directors would just kill your work; it drove me out.”

In 2000, Pittman inherited a house in Liberty, near where she and her sister had gone to camp decades earlier. Her sister passed away 14 years ago, and Pittman wound up with the house. She said of that time, “I turned my attention to being up here and to the house.” But that doesn’t mean she stopped writing or painting.

Throughout her career, Pittman has passed her knowledge on to students at various colleges and universities, and for many years has taught writing and painting two and a half days a week at the Nassau County Museum on Long Island. She said she enjoys the weekly journey back to deepest, darkest suburbia, the place where she used to live, and enjoys her community of students. In the summer months, she also teaches courses at Big Twig Studio in Callicoon Center.

In recent years, she has expanded her writing to include the adult audience, and she’s hoping now to publish her books independently or perhaps find a small publishing house to form a relationship with.

The artwork also still keeps her busy. At the holidays, she said, “I produce prints and cards, and this year I’m working in block prints with Christmas themes.” The piece she has contributed to the silent auction at Roasters in Narrowsburg, and also featured on the cover of this section, is a pastel called “Two Figures in Blue.” She said, “It’s really my central pursuit—drawing and painting.”

She said she likes all of it, though: the painting, the writing, the teaching. Asked to give advice to people who might be thinking about following her into painting and prose, she said, “Just work, just do it. You just have to work and see where it takes you. The most important thing is to work whether you ever get it out into the world or not. The first person it’s for is yourself. “

The painting will be on display with the other five works of art until January 4.

Proceeds from the sale of Pittman’s painting will be split between the Liberty Free Theater and WJFF Radio Catskills.