Splashing Through Life - Art by Patricia Henderson

 Yesterday, I was trying to stay away from doomscrolling on my phone and I was trying to figure out something to do in my art room. A while ago I had used some leftover pieces of matboard and used my gel plate and home-made stamps to put backgrounds on them. One of my Etsy clients reminded me that I had done some collage flowers on them, but that seemed too complicated. I just wanted something to do that was simple and meditative.  These are what I ended up doing. I figured that the world needs a little more love right now.  Made from love words from friends and family written on cards, plus more from magazines and catalogues.  Some of them have little spaces not filled in. Like broken hearts. Appropriate to the times.  They are tiny: 3.5 X 2.5 inches.  I still have some more background cards with nothing on them, so there may be more of these down the road! Check these out in my Etsy shop HERE . These will be available to US shoppers, as they are small eno...

Not the band, but the spicy vegetable! (Or are they a fruit?) Here's some Red Hot Chili Peppers to keep you warm on these blustery days!  This was a challenging one; lots of details and tiny pieces of paper. I was working hard on it one morning, and I guess I was slouching. When I stood up, I threw my back out! Ouch! It took a few days to get back on track, but I finally finished it. I did use a little bit of "cheating" by adding a few touches of white acrylic paint for some of the highlights. I just could get the effect I wanted with paper. Red Hot Chili Peppers 6 X 6 X 1.5" on Canvas Available in my Etsy Shop (Sorry, not shipping to the US currently. Folks local to me can contact me by commenting below or messaging me on Facebook )

  I have been having lots of fun in my very cheap sketchbook that I bought a few months ago. I think I said a few posts back that I was going to start a new sketchbook and make it myself. Well, I did make one, but I've decided to use it for special projects like Sketchbook Revival or something similar.  I got this book at Walmart and I think it's supposed to be used for pencil sketching or writing. But I decided it was something I could use to play in and not worry about ruining something.  I've been doing very, very quick mixed media abstracts on the left page (a lot of collage involved) and on the right page I do something completely different, but using similar colours. Last night, I was laying in bed and thought, "It's been so long since I have done any sketching!" And it's been quite a while since I've sketched a bird. A few years ago, mostly during COVID, I painted and/or collaged 100 birds. I guess I was a bit birded-out after that!  I also have...

 I recently saw one of my older collages on Pinterest. It was a piece that I had previously put on FineArtAmerica to be sold as a print. I have taken down my Fine Art America site as I never really made much money from it.  I thought it must have been pinned while it was still up on FAA, but when I clicked the link, it took me to an online jigsaw puzzle site. And the picture had the Fine Art America watermark on it! Not the first time someone did a screenshot from there and used one of my images. So frustrating. I'm glad I'm no longer part of that site. I have had to send proof that this is my art. I no longer have an actual website so have sent some links to my Facebook page. I used to do reverse images of my art, but it would take a long time to search for copyright infringement that way, unless someone else has a quicker way to do it! Anyway, that's what greeted me in my email this morning. 

 I finished a collage today! It's been a while since I've done one, so I'm pretty happy about it. This one is a vibrant red pomegranate with some ruby-like seeds. I enjoyed this one, but couldn't come up with a witty title, so it's just Pomegranate! Pomegranate - Paper Collage on Canvas Find this in my ETSY shop! *note, I am not shipping to the USA currently

 I bought a cool square mixed media sketchbook over two years ago. I decided to set a goal for myself to fill it with fun stuff within one year. But life has a way of messing with plans and good intentions.  But the other day, I was quite excited to finally finish this art journal! It took about 2 years and 4 months. I actually felt quite a sense of accomplishment, even though this book does not contain any "fine art", nor does it have cohesive theme. It was just a place to experiment, play, scribble out my feelings, and learn new techniques. My next art journal has less pages! Maybe less intimidating? I recently learned a few basic bookbinding techniques, so I'll be making more journals by hand in the future I think! 30 seconds of what goes on in my head! I stole this idea from the artist Austin Kleon who wrote the book Steal Like an Artist . I'm sure he'd approve. Over 300 grams of "stuff" added to this journal.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash  Due to the US administration’s decision to end the de minimus exemption of tariffs on products under $800 on August 29th, more items entering the US will be subject to tariffs. There is uncertainty on whether the products I produce will be included.  I currently ship with Canada Post at fairly low rates. But Canada Post currently cannot include the price of duties with the shipping cost. They would have to be paid by the buyer when the item is delivered.  I looked into the cost of other shipping companies and I believe that their prices are too high, especially when the duty is added on. For these reasons, I will temporarily be stopping the shipment of my artwork to the United States until things become more clear, or the tariffs are removed. Thank you for your understanding.

 Now that it's summertime, a lot of people are enjoying beaches and cooling off in the water. I thought this was the perfect time to re-introduce Kevin the seagull and his family! I wanted to call this one  "Kevin, Get Out of the Water, It's Lunchtime and Someone Dropped their French Fries!", but that title seemed a little bit too long!! 😂 So instead, it's titled A Day at the Beach.  While a lot of my collages are created with torn pieces of paper, for the background water and sand I used cut pieces to abstractly indicate waves and sand. I enjoy finding paper with words that match the subject. I used some maps, and music sheets and hand painted and printed paper for this fun piece.  I created this a couple of years ago and it makes me smile every time I look at it hanging in my studio. Just the look on the face of the seagull in the water makes me laugh! I hope it makes you smile too! A Day at the Beach 16 X 20 X 1.5" AVAILABLE IN MY ETSY SHOP!

 This week is supposed to have record-breaking heat in our area, so I finished this collage just in time. It reminds me of a nice cold Gin and Tonic, or Margaritas, or even just a straight shot of tequila!!  I've been trying to do my outside activities early in the morning to beat the heat. Today I vacuumed the pool at 7 am! There were so many dragonflies flitting around, and later I saw my first Monarch butterfly flying amongst the garden plants and depositing eggs on the milkweed.  Summer has truly begun! Zesty and Refreshing Available in my Etsy Store

  I'm All Ears will be leaving StoneCottage in Chatham where she'll be sorely missed and heading off to Connecticut! Another one of my favourites will be getting wrapped up and mailed in a couple of days. Bye Bunny!

 On May 1st, I decided to participate in a wonderful free 2 week art experience with a whole bunch of awesome artists teaching their techniques and ideas. It was called  Mastering Mixed Media Expo 2025 hosted by the awesome Tamara Laporte @ willowing.org . Even though there were over 35 sessions, I was only able to complete 3! Life certainly has a way of foiling your plans. But I really enjoyed the ones I did. While my art is normally representative and somewhat realistic, I enjoy experimenting with more abstract ideas in my sketchbook. Those were the sessions I was drawn to this time. The first session I watched was by Laura Horn . I forgot to write down the name of the lesson, but it included using watercolour, pencils, acrylic markers and other types of media making simple shapes and marks. It was very calming and meditative. Here's what I came up with: The next one I watched was called Layers of Light by the fun Jackie Bernardi. Here is a link to her YouTube channel . Jack...

 As a Canadian, the last several weeks have been frustrating, frightening and confusing, amongst other things. Talks of annexation by the United States, tariffs, and tension with our neigbours to the south have made for a lot of anxiety and worry.  I'm finding it hard to concentrate on art-making, even though I know it is very therapeutic and I should be doing more of it. I've been turning to my art journal a bit more often because there are no expectations to turn out a good piece of art. I don't need to show any of it to anyone if I don't want to. During the pandemic, a wonderful artist from Michigan, Kimberly Santini, generously produced a series short videos on Facebook called Journal Through It. I watched quite a few of them and still use some of the ideas in my art journal today. One of the things she does is to write down whatever is in your head: just spill it out onto the page. Write out all of your fears, angry thoughts, worries, hopes. Scribble it down fast ...

Peel me a Grape 6" X 6" X 1.5"  Available in my Etsy Shop! Click to purchase Peel Me a Grape, paper collage on canvas. Finally finished! I am kind of struggling so far this year to make time for my art in a consistant manner. But I got this one done and will be moving on to my next one soon! I also have been having some fun in my art journal where anything goes. I'll post of couple of my favourites in a while.  

  Working hard on these grapes this morning! (Translation: Do a few grapes, stare at it for a few minutes, stare out the window, listen to music, warm up my tea, do a few more grapes. Repeat.) I think I might get this done in the next day or so... I find green a tricky colour to work with. As Kermit said, "It's not easy being green."

  After the holidays and much procrastination, I'm trying to get back on track. Pulled out my grape collage that I had finished the background on and worked on the dish this morning. Now to the grapes and I have to ask myself, "WHY?? Why do I give myself such small things to collage? And so many! So many grapes!"

  Two under-paintings done and ready for collage! Stay tuned for more progress on these two.

  I'm going to miss you, my little vain friend! "You're So Vain", is heading off to Massachusetts today. He's been my studio buddy for a while now, but he's going to a good home with a repeat customer, so will be among friends! Now I have an excuse to do another crow collage!

  It's "Crunch Time"! And it's been a while since I finished a collage! Lots of reasons why, but I'm happy that I got this one done and posted. It's in my Etsy shop now. EDIT: SOLD!

  Who's ready for some Summer Sunshine? I know I am! This 10 X 8" paper collage on canvas is available now in my Etsy shop EDIT: SOLD!

  I 'm an Orange Polka-Dot Teapot! A bright little chubby teapot to bring colour and warmth on these freezing January days! Check out the details in my Etsy shop. Edit: SOLD!