Splashing Through Life - Art by Patricia Henderson

 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...

  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!

  The Enchanter 20X16" Currently not for sale. In the spring and summer I tend to spend more time outside of my studio and in the garden enjoying nature. That's why it's taken me quite a while to finish my latest paper collage piece I've titled The Enchanter. We think his eyes are quite mesmerizing, hence the title! This piece is going to live in our home for a while, but will eventually be up for sale. I'll be sure to let everyone know when that happens!

  Finally! Bird #100 of 100! Mar 9, 2022 Updated: Oct 26, 2023 Way back in the beginning of 2019, in the "before times", I gave myself the challenge of painting or collaging 100 birds. To make it easier on myself I decided that it would be 100 birds in total, not necessarily 100 separate individual birds, so some of the paintings could have more than one bird in it. Finally, here we are in 2022 and I've recently completed my 100th bird, another crow. They are one of my favourite subjects. With their black glossy feathers that actually shine with so many colours, to their intelligence and character, I find them endlessly fascinating to paint. I want to thank everyone for their interest and for cheering me on. It took me a lot longer to finish than I thought. The pandemic didn't help. While some artists took advantage of being forced to stay home more often and created volumes of work, I found that I was often not motivated at all and often spent time playin...

I think I'm finished with this one! Will be entering this and a couple more of my recent pieces to Eye 4 Art exhibition at the Thames Art Gallery in Chatham, ON. Great Blue Mixed Media (Torn Paper Collage/Acrylic) 18" X 24" X 1.5"

Getting closer to the finish! I find it really helps to put a photo up on the computer. I can more easily see what needs to be tweaked, or what might have been forgotten.

Still working through the ugly stages...adding one feather at a time!

A rainy Saturday, hot tea, mellow music, quiet company and collage. My perfect morning! Working on some feathers.... My companion and fellow ripper of paper.

Time to stop for lunch! (Me that is! But this fellow could be fishing for his...)

Here's a peek at where I'm at on this one: Starting to take shape!

Here is a peek of what I'm currently working on, a lovely Blue Heron. So far, the background is done and I've applied my drawing of the heron. Next I will be starting to collage! Not the best photo, but you can see the ghostly outline of the heron. Reference photo courtesy of PaintMyPhoto.com

I've been working on this collage on and off all summer! It seems like these hot days are more conducive to swimming, reading and watering the garden than working on art. But I've buckled down and finished this today. Still pondering on a title...I've got a few in mind, but if you think of anything fabulous just leave a comment! This piece will be dropped off at ARTspace in Chatham tomorrow. Untitled (for now) 24" X 12" X 1.5" Torn Paper Collage on Canvas And here is the original concept sketch! Done way back on June 1st.

Every month I get together with a wonderful friend and we play! We try out different art techniques and media and  get our creative juices flowing. Yesterday we got out two books by Mary Todd Beam, Celebrate Your Creative Self and The Creative Edge . I was lucky enough to go to one of her week long workshops at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee about 4 years ago. It was great to get out her books and try out some the excercises. It brought back some wonderful memories. Here are a couple of experiments that I tried yesterday: I Dreamt I was a Dragonfly 9" x 7" Acrylic on Mat Board Under the Mountain 14" X 9" on Mat Board

I've been working on a mixed media collage of this handsome fox, nicknamed "Mulder". He turned out to be a little more tricky than I had imagined, but I'm pretty pleased with the way he turned out.  Here is the finished painting, and underneath are a few of the steps I took along the way. The Watcher 24" X 18" X 1.5" Step One: The Drawing Step Two: Creating the Background, layering papers Step Three: After dripping and drizzling Clear Tar gel medium, starting to apply acrylic paint over the background Step Four: Transferring the drawing to the canvas. Step Five: Starting to collage painted paper scraps to Mulder. Step Six: Continuing the collage process. Step Seven: More of the fox is appearing. Step Eight: Almost done! Adding grass at the bottom. Step Nine: Finished!

Maybe it is appropriate that my last painting of this year is of a crow. According to some legends, the crow can be a sign of change. We are changing from the old year to the new, and that always comes with the expectation of changes, hopefully for the better. Wishing you all a Happy New Year full of wonderful changes, new beginnings and the comfort of things that we want to stay the same. Family, friends, and home. Patty A Sign of Change 5" X 7" Watercolour, ink, coloured pencils (Click on picture for larger image)

We've had more Blue Jays around our feeder than we ever have, and even though they can be a bit loud mouthed and bossy, I just love seeing that flash of blue! And I swear they can see me putting out peanuts from miles away! This collage is a bit different from most of the others I've done.  I created monoprints of backyard leaves by using my Gelli® Printing plate and embellished them at the end with some watercolours. The bird was done with my regular method of applying all sorts of coloured bits of paper. I'm still not sure I like it, but it is growing on me! A Flash of Blue 12" X 12"

Sometimes when I'm stuck for what to do in my studio, I get out the Clear Tar Gel Medium. What is this stuff? Well on the container of the Golden Clear Tar Gel, it says it "Generates fine lines by dripping from a palette knife or other tool." Here is a little demo I did a couple years back that shows how you can use it. CLICK HERE FOR DEMO . One of these days, I'll learn how to set up a video demo, but for now you are stuck with photos! I have a few of these on the go right now. Here are two funky flowers! Each one is 20" X 7.0" on Peterboro Illustration Board. I used Fluid Acrylic paints. Yellow Flower                    Pink Flower And here are some closeups:

I had taken a break from Watercolour Wednesday for a few weeks...(okay, I was lazy!), but it's back!! I was missing my little green tree frog that was sold the other day, so I decided to tackle a couple others. These guys are really colourful and fancy, and probably poisonous...but I thought they were cute! They are mostly watercolour, with a bit of ink and crayon. And both are available in my Etsy Store . Feeling Blue! ACEO 2.5 X 3.5" Fancy Frog ACEO 2.5 X 3.5" (Reference Photos courtesy of Morguefile)

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)

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