Splashing Through Life - Art by Patricia Henderson

The whole time I was creating this collage, I couldn't get the song "My Darling Clementine" out of my head! Now I've probably put it in yours....sorry 'bout that! This collage started out with a much different composition and I wasn't happy with it. The nice thing about collage is that you just have to "collage" over the parts you don't like! You'd never know there had been a third ugly clementine, and a much higher "horizon". I think I'm finished now, if only to get the song to stop! My Darling Clementines 6" X 6" X 1.5" Paper Collage on Canvas $45 Check this out in my Etsy Shop!

We've really been enjoying the fresh fruits and veggies at our local produce stand this year! And one of the best things about summer that we've been savouring  is watermelon. So sweet and juicy! A Slice of Summer 6" X 6"  on Canvas $45 (Available in my Etsy Shop or contact me directly)

This past weekend I attended the Ninth Annual Wetcanvas Watercolour Ontario Meet, which was held in Dundas Ontario. This is a bunch of artists who met on the Wetcanvas website over the years and have become good friends. The weekend usually consists of a watercolour workshop and various other demonstrations, lots of good food and conversation, and tons of fun! This year, my friend Charlene McGill demonstrated how she paints glass jars in watercolour. She is an excellent teacher, very patient with all of us! All of the paintings turned out great. Mine isn't quite finished yet, but I did get over my fear of painting glass! While Char was teaching, and when people had a free moment, I demonstrated some Gelli® printing, which we also played with the next day to make covers for some fun books Char taught us to make. More on that later! Here is my mostly finished painting: Char's Jars Char demonstrating her techniques: And the "Wall of Fame", al...

I have finished my latest little fruit collage, and I'm particularly pleased with this one! It has my favourite turquoise background (although as usual, my camera won't pick up the exact colour), and I just love the orangey-pinky colours of the grapfruit sections. Available in my Etsy Shop , or by contactim me directly. Pink Sunshine 6 x 6 x 1.5" $45

A little history for those who are new to my Facebook Page or Blog. I recently retired from my "day job", and have been enjoying spending more time with art. I've really fallen in love with collage or "torn paper paintings", but want to keep in touch with my  watercolour  beginnings. I challenged myself to do some kind of watercolour every Wednesday, just to keep my brushes wet. And then I post them, no matter if they turn out good or bad. It's also a good drawing exercise, as I have been starting to sketch the majority of them from life.  The Easter Lily that my hubby got for me is still blooming away on the kitchen counter, so I sat and sketched it this morning. I love the unpredictability of Hot Press paper. It is not very absorbent, so the paint sits on the surface a little longer while wet. It tends to create some interesting "blooms" here and there. Especially when you are impatient like me and don't let things dry long enough! Easte...

Who knew three little strawberries would give me so much trouble? After doing the sketch last week, I thought I'd attempt a collage with the same three berries. I usually do a complementary colour scheme for the background, so I went with a green background for the red strawberries. Wellll....the first green I chose was too bright and garish, so I covered it up with a more dull green. That turned out to be too dark, so did a wash of white over top. That made it kind of dull, so I added a wash of yellow. Now I had an olive green, which was kind of drab. I added some pink to tie in with the berries, which was okay....but, I wasn't really sure about it. Also the green tops of the berries didn't show up very well. So, yesterday I thought I'd start all over. This time I chose a blue background. I think I like this one better, but as usual my camera hates all things blue or turquoise, so it doesn't show the completely correct colour here. So here are the two versions:...

These darling Clementine's are so sweet and juicy, I just had to sketch them before I eat them up! I was happy with the whole one, but had fits painting the partially peeled one. So, not so happy with that one, but it's just a sketch for me. And I had fun doing it and that's all that matters! Darling Clementines In my Moleskine Sketchbook 3.5 " X 5" (The photo is a bit dark, but you get the idea!)

I've been fighting a doozy of a cold this week! Yes, you heard me, I used the D word! It has really kicked my butt, but today I'm feeling quite a bit better. Good enough anyway to get out my sketchbook and doodle a little still life of my favourite remedy, tea with honey and lemon. Remedy 5" X 3.5" In Moleskin sketchbook Holbein Waterbrush and Pigma Micron 005 pen

She's a little bottom heavy, but it only adds to her charm! This fun little collage is another in my Fruit Salad series, and as always is available in my Etsy shop , along with a growing number of other paintings. Check it out! Pear Shaped 6" X 6" $45

This banana has appeal! Get it? A peel! Anyway..... My newest little addition to the Fuit Salad series. And as always, it's available in my Etsy store. Just click HERE to shop!

I'm continuing on with my "Fruit Salad" series, with a little lime. These little torn paper collage paintings are all 6 x 6" on gallery wrapped canvas. (Which means the sides of the canvas are quite deep - 1.5") They look really fun and bright all hung together. Three have already sold, but there are still two available in my Etsy shop. Lime Time Click here to see Etsy listing Here are the others in the series: Click here to see Etsy listing for Pucker Up!