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 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

 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

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!

This one was a long time in the making, for various reasons, but I finished her today and she makes me smile! I've named her Henrietta, the "Little Red Hen". She's keeping an eye on things in the studio right now. She is collaged onto an 8 X 10 X 1.5" canvas and is ready to go in my Etsy shop! (Edit: SOLD!)

  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!

  Underpainting - ready to apply paper! You can see how the collage is also on all sides. No need for framing! Finished! Lollipop! and Candy is Dandy! (Licorice Allsorts) are heading out today to my collector in Washington state! What a fun commission, I enjoyed creating both candy collages so much! Thank you Erin F. for the opportunity.

Candy is Dandy! 6X6X1.5" paper collage   I have been commissioned to do a couple of small collages for a very nice lady in Spokane, Washington. She had seen some of my older pieces on Pinterest and contacted me! She wanted something in the theme of candy/sweets and has given me free rein as to what I chose to do. How awesome is that? I've just completed the first one and of course I gave myself a challenge. LOL These colourful Licorice Allsorts have A LOT of tiny pieces, considering the canvas is only 6" X 6". I like how it turned out though. The next one will be on a 10" X 10" canvas. Stay tuned to see what I decide to do!

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!