Splashing Through Life - Art by Patricia Henderson

Happy New Year, followers! It's that time of year again, when a lot of people make resolutions for the new year. I'm not really one to do that, but this year I do have one resolution: Create more art! (And I really should make one for posting in my blog more often too! Sorry about that.) I did have a pretty successful year at selling my artwork, with 15 pieces heading out across the U.S. and Canada! I also was commissioned to do a couple of interesting projects; one in paper collage and the other a watercolour. It was exciting to have three of my collages accepted into the Thames Art Gallery's biannual Eye 4 Art Exhibition in November. Even more thrilling was that one of my pieces, Galaxy, was sold! Above: Here I am with I'm All Ears, and Trickster Above: This piece, Galaxy, was sold. My goal this year is to build up my inventory, and to have fun along the way. When I'm not creating work to sell, I will be playing in my sketchbooks. I'm almost finished with one ...

I have a bunch of sketchbooks/art journals laying around that I had been sporadically working in. I get very excited every March when Karen Abend starts up Sketchbook Revival and I work away each day, discovering new ways to journal and sketch, and discovering wonderful artists, crafters and writers. But when March is over, I go back to only getting out my books just every once in a while. I've decided to change that and start a "Regular Art Journal Practice." That doesn't mean that I will be slavishly producing something wonderful every day. Some days I work at something quite intricate and intense, other days I will just cover a page with leftover paint from my palette! Other days I won't do anything at all. But it's not long before I get back into a sketchbook. I thought I'd share a few pages with you and how I came to make them. Many are inspired by prompts or demos by other artists that I admire, some come from books or prompt cards that I own. S...

  Updated: Oct 26, 2023 I've recently painted three happy sunflower watercolours and have added them to Daily Paintworks' Art for Ukraine Fundraiser. In this fundraiser, artists donate their artwork and people can bid on the pieces they are interested in buying. I would be so excited to have someone buy my paintings, and delighted to donate the proceeds to UNHCR Canada. This agency helps refugees throughout the world and right now desperately need funds to help the people of Ukraine. Below each painting is a link to bid on the art. My auction will be live for 10 days, starting today, April 7, 2022. Thank you! UPDATE: As of May 8, 2022, all three paintings have been sold! Thank you so much to the bidders.

My painting and collage have been put on the back burner for a while due to the holidays and then some family stuff. Until I get back to it, here is a little tiny tutorial on how to make stamps easily and affordably using things you might find around the house and the dollar store.  First of all, head to the dollar store or Walmart and buy yourself a package of craft foam that is adhesive on one side. Draw designs on the foam, and then cut out with a craft knife or scissors. You can then peel of the backing of the foam and adhere your design to almost anything. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Here are some examples of stamps that I have made: Craft foam adhered to jar and bottle lids. Leftover mat board, one with elastic bands, and the other with craft foam. Craft foam adhered to styrofoam cut from fast food containers. Design carved into styrofoam from fast food container with a ballpoint pen. Pattern carved into erasers with a craft (X-ACTO) knife. Be careful!...