Helen Nicolay

Helen Nicolay: Available Paintings

“Shaker Lady”
Handmade finished corner gold leaf frame,
25.25" x 17.75

"Sand Dunes"
Gouache on “grey” paper, handmade gold leaf frame 14.25” x 20”

Gallery view with glass art by Randi Solon

"Walled city in Ruin"
Gouache on “grey” paper, handmade gold leaf frame 14.25” x 20”

2017: Statewide Exhibits & Workshops

ARTIST HELEN NICOLAY
"From Lincoln's World to Holderness"
(1866-1954)

Artist and author Helen Nicolay was the daughter of President Abraham Lincoln’s secretary during the Civil War, John Nicolay.
On a whim one hot Washington summer day in 1890, father
and daughter decided to make the journey to New Hampshire.
When they could not get reservations at Appledore,
a famous resort on the Isle of Shoals, they ventured north to the Asquam House, a palatial grand hotel in Holderness overlooking
the lake at the top of Shepard Hill. Finding the community and
its surrounding environment so enticing they decided to build
a summer home, Tannenruh, just below the hotel.

Honoring her memory, a collection of Helen’s paintings of
New Hampshire and images from journeys to Europe, Egypt and
the American West is the focus of exhibitions, hands-on workshops
and speakers from Memorial Day through October 2017.

More about Helen

HELEN NICOLAY,
“Tree on Top Of Shepard Hill”
Image ourtesy of Paty Sue Salvadore

The Historic Estate and Gardens of John Hay on Lake Sunapee

HELEN NICELY, Garden at the Fells
Courtesy of the Helen Nicolay Collection

“A Quiet Witness to History” an exhibit
of Helen's paintings was shown at
John Hay's NH summer home
from May 27th—August.

"Abraham Lincoln: Behind White House Doors,"
a three-part series featuring engaging and scholarly experts who delved into the complex politics, strategies and espionage of the Civil War
took place on Sundays in June.
Hours: https://thefells.org

John Hay and John Nicolay wrote a ten-volume biography of Lincoln, published in 1890, first serialized in "The Century Magazine." Their story is told in the recent book, "Lincoln's Boys,"
by Joshua Zeitz. The Holderness Free Library and
the Newbury Public Library read and held book discussions about this book in the spring.

The Holderness Historical Society and Holderness Free Library

HELEN NICOLAY, "Tannenruh"
Image ourtesy of Paty Sue Salvadore

Image courtesy of the Helen Nicolay Collection

A Visit to Tannenruh was held on July 15th thanks to the generosity of Kathryn and Mitchell Drew, the present owners of Tannenruh, John and Helen Nicholay's summer home on Shepard Hill. The event was presented by the Holderness Historical Society and the Holderness Free Library, as a fundraiser evening. which included a tour of the grounds and Helen's workshop, the first exhibition of Helen Nicolay's Holderness paintings, the display of the Drews' Nicolay and Lincoln memorabilia and a presentation by John Maguire.

The just published book about the life of this remarkable woman, “Lincoln’s Secretary’s Secretary.”
See helennicolay.org and facebook.com/helennicolayproject/

HELEN NICOLAY
"Pines at Tannenruh"

Helen Nicolay's paintings of Holderness,
both oils and watercolors, will be on display
at the Holderness Historical Society
on Saturdays from 7/22—8/26,
from 10 am to 2 pm.
Information: holdernesshistoricalsociety.org

The Squam Lakes Science Center

As part of "Art Inspired by Nature Series at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center,"a focus on Helen Nicolay's use of "En Plein Air" work during her travels included a demonstration of 19th century plein air painting techniques and workshops for both children and adults.
visit http://www.nhnature.org

Lauren Sansaricq

Inspired by Nature: Techniques of the 19th Century White Mountain Painters
by artist Lauren Sansaricq
Tuesday, August 8
7:00 p.m.
Adults
As part of a Holderness-wide celebration of the life and paintings of former Holderness resident
Helen Nicolay, artist Lauren Sansaricq discussed the approach taken by the Hudson River School
artists of working from drawings and plein-air sketches and how they saw and studied nature,.
then demonstrated the layered process used for their larger paintings.

Lauren also shared her process as a landscape painter and how it relates to the Hudson River School.

Write, Sketch, Paint: A Nature Journaling and Bird Drawing Workshop for Kids
by artist and author Sallie Wolf
Thursday, August 3
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Ages 8 and up
Wherever she goes, Sallie Wolf takes her journal, fountain pen, ink, and watercolors to
record the world she sees. Her children’s books grow out of these journals. Sallie’s latest book,
"The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound: A Birder’s Journal," is filled with her artful sketches and
watercolor paintings, questions, observations, and poems.

She showed her young students how to make their own nature journal
using sketches of birds, observations, and watercolor paintings.
They also met a live bird of prey up close to sketch.

MARYELLEN SAKURA, Waterville Valley Glow

Plein Air Watercolor Painting Workshop at Kirkwood Gardens
by artist and educator Maryellen Sakura
Thursday, August 10
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (lunch break from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.)
Adults and youth ages 16+
The spirit and practice of plein air painting is alive in the lakes and mountains of New Hampshire.
This class introduced the watercolor techniques and tools still in use since artist Helen Nicolay painted
here in the 19th century. Beginners as well as more experienced painters used Kirkwood Gardens
as inspiration. Sakura demonstrated everything from painting fundamentals, subject selection
to watercolor techniques and tools.. Participants completed short exercises and began two small paintings.

The Holderness School

"HELEN NICOLAY:
Artist/Writer, Spanning the Centuries."

A Collection of Helen’s Watercolors and Oils of New Hampshire and journeys to Europe, Egypt and the American West at the turn of the 19th Century opened Friday, October 15, at the Holderness school's Edwards Art gallery.
The exhibit continued through October 27th;

holderness.org/page/quicklinks/edwards-art-gallery