Helen Klebesadel thinks that if you have a talent, you should share it with the world. Even better, you should let your art guide your brush, pen or whatever tool you use to help people see your soul.

At least, that's how the Madison artist, known around the United States and internationally for her four-decade-plus career as an arts eduator, watercolors extraordinaire, feminist and environmental activist, makes. 

"We are animals," Klebesadel said. "We must save nature to save ourselves."

Klebesadel's works from her "Drawing A Day" series are part of Carnelian Art Gallery's "Surrealism" show that's on display until the end of December. This isn't the first time Klebesadel's artworks have graced our walls, however. When I first started as Carnelian's marketing director, Klebesadel had pieces displayed as part of "Landscape," Carnelian's 2024 fall exhibition. I remember being particularly astonished by Klebesadel's ability to blend vibrant colors and make normally muted natural scenes come alive, and achieve dreamlike quality. 

I had the privilage of visiting Klebesadel's studio earlier this week to get an inside look at her process, and to generally talk about her comeuppance as an artist, educator and human being who isn't afraid of their subconscious or to harness the power of their womanhood. 

"It depends on where I am in my creative process how I start a piece," she said. "If I have had a break for a while and I'm starting a new series, then I have to just jump in and do some creative play. I get my ideas while I am making. Then, I keep a sketch book handy. 

"Oftentimes, the way I do a series is to commit to an exhibiton somewhere. Then, I have to come through. Then, I have to forget that I promised that and play with the paint for a while. Most of the work that you would see of mine would be entirely transparent watercolor, unless its a piece before 1985 or after 2024. You might find me doing what I am doing right now, which is combining ink and watercolor."

Klebesadel said that having worked with transparent watercolor most of her career, combining that with another medium is a "radical act." But she likes to break the rules, she said, as well as spontaneaity. 

"I've approached my work like authors approach writing a book," Klebesadel said. "I think of each painting as a chapter in the book. 

"Sometimes, I start where I think I am going, and then the work will take me off in a different direction. I've had that happen a number of times. That's why I don't title my shows until its close to the date."

Klebesadel grew up in rural Wisconsin near Spring Green. She discovered how much she loved drawing and painting at a young age. When Klebesadel was 13, her parents brought her her first set of paints. An artist himself, Klebesadel's father taught her drawing skills and showed her that she too could make art.  She went on to study art and women and gender studies, completing her degrees  at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Now, Klebesadel has exhibited art nationally and internationally. Her art has been represented in several public and private art collections. She's been an arts educator at the college level for over 30 years. 

Klebesadel has also served as a member of the Wisconsin Arts Board, as the national president of the Women's Caucus for Art, an national and historic organization of female artists and art historians. 

Of being part of the Surrealism show at Carnelian, Klebesadel said "I am delighted to see, and to be showing with these emerging creative voices that are exhibiting so much courage through their art.”