Natasha Henderson's Blog 'Bout Art

art cards

2011-04-22T23:35:00.001-04:00

It's true! I've finally made art cards that I am happy enough with to sell. I have about eight designs available on my "Etsy" page (http://HendersonArt.etsy.com/) and I made only a limited number of them. If I do sell them all in the next short while, I'll make more. Also I will more than likely make some of other paintings, too...

Another update from the studio: I am making several puppets in felts at the moment. Most of them appear to be forming into cats. I love cats! The felt is hand-made. If you look at the above-mentioned Etsy page, you can see them (when they're done!) Unless, of course, they sell before I can post or document them. That does happen sometimes!

Happy Easter!!!

new stuff

2011-03-22T11:55:00.004-04:00

There is so very much going on in my life, it is tough to update a "personal style" blog. Sorry! However, here is a brief run-down:

-I am opening a gallery/studio/workshop space with a friend who will also maintain her herbalist practice in the space. We're writing another blog right now, updated almost daily. We provide tips on creativity, arts, herbalism, gardening... cooking... DIY stuff... all types of wonderful things. Also there is a page for a featured online artist. I highly recommend checking it out. Fleurbain.

-I am looking at doing my Master's in Art Therapy. However, I need some phych credits first... so will be doing them part-time over the next while. Worst-case scenario, I learn some psych stuff that will help me with teaching workshops.

-I am painting like a maniac. It's good.

-I am involved in a few things around town... arty things. Details later.

-My cat is almost fat! Hurrah!!! (He'd been somewhat underweight when he moved in with me a little over a year ago.)

-We are being teased by the hope of Spring in Montreal. Soon. Soon.

-I am enjoying some dance classes at the local YMCA. Fun and fitness! Yahoo!!!

-I'd tried to get some part-time work in the embroidery industry, but no call in a month. Guess it's not meant to be! :)

-I am a petsitter now. Just call me Crazy... Crazy Cat Lady Petsitting Service, that is! Find my page on Facebook.

OK, I thing that's about it, besides making felted soaps, cat-toys, and other things besides painting and scarves. I am trying to write some articles, too... oh and am applying for exhibitions. Much much much. Good life!

Natasha

Herbal Creativity Spa Weekend

2011-01-19T14:05:00.003-05:00

Herbal Creativity Spa Weekend: Valentine

The pinnacle of the dark, dreary days of winter is a purgatory that rests between Christmastime and Spring… February. Installed into February is a day that is supposed to be a celebration of “Love”. Many lament the commercialisation of Valentine‘s Day, and resent the high expectations and sadness that come with so many of our holidays.

Traditional Valentine’s expectations dictate that one should enjoy chocolates, give expensive gifts, and be in love. Well, let’s take some of the good from those traditions and embrace them! Even if you are single, you deserve some chocolate. Actually, you deserve more chocolate. Feeling a bit bloated after a winter’s eating? This is an opportunity to sharpen your skills in making HEALTHY treats. Herbal-infused organic chocolate truffles, anyone? Or perhaps a cup of Healthy Hot Chocolate? True love. Love is in a good cup of tea, a soothing bath that invigorates the spirit, or a beautiful hand-made gift box to hold treasures.

The brains behind the Fleurbain concept, Tammy Schmidt, Clinical Herbal Therapist and Natasha Henderson, visual artist and arts instructor, are offering an Herbal Creativity Spa Weekend workshop in February. There is an option to take one or both days during the Herbal Creativity Spa Weekend, on Friday the 11th from 7 to 10pm and Saturday the 12th from 1 to 4pm.

Friday night, we will enjoy a relaxing glass of wine (or herbal tea) with some dessert treats and fine cheese. Participants will learn how to make an herbal Love Potion. The Love Potion is a special euphoric herb that is distilled in a vodka base. Everyone will get to take home a sample of this to try themselves! Tub Teas are all the rage, and for good reason. What could be better than infusing your entire body in an organic, herbal bath that is designed to soothe the body, mind, and spirit? Participants will learn some of the properties of the herbs used in this special Valentine’s Tea Bath, and take home a sample. Finally, we will make a Boudoir Gift Box, a gift box made from scratch that will be decorated with fine fabrics, papers, lace, and beads. It will be suitable as a gift box for chocolates, jewellery, fine treasures… and can be re-used to hold your favourite special things.

Saturday afternoon starts off with a healthy, delicious beginning. Participants will learn how to make Healthy Hot Chocolate (yes, this version is truly healthy), and enjoy a cup. While sipping our treat, we will make organic chocolate truffles, which will be flavoured with high quality, organic herbs for unique flavours. These are perfect to tuck into the Boudoir Boxes made the previous evening. Then we will think about the physical and mental well-being that a good bath brings, and make a felted soap loofah for our next bath. These soaps combine sheep’s wool with a high-quality Ginseng or Evening Primrose soap to be an exfoliating and moisturising addition to your bath. Finally, we will create a batch of Love Tea to take home and enjoy.

All courses use the finest quality, pure and organic ingredients. Take one afternoon or evening for $75, or treat yourself (or a friend!) to both sessions for $135. Location of workshops will be in a Montreal artist’s studio, converted to a Valentine’s Factory for our workshops. Please email fleurbain(at)gmail.com for information and registration.

Restaurant Review: El Chalateco

2011-01-10T09:36:00.006-05:00

Over on the Fleurbain blog, there is a new review on an El Salvadoran restaurant! El Chalateco is a good restaurant that serves up a comfortable atmosphere and delicious, nutritious, fresh food. When you're in Montreal, pay a visit to South America for a pupusa. Miam!!!

New Workshops in January and Spring Break...

2011-01-03T16:07:00.006-05:00

Hi folks! Just a quick word, if you are in the Montreal area you might like to check out my website for just-announced workshops. I have workshops for adults, teens and kids. Here be the link. Hoorah!

Also please note that I offer workshops for groups of adults, kids, birthday parties... anyone who needs a productive and fun, or team-building activity please contact me. I will be studying in the field of Art Therapy soon, and am applying all that I learn to my basic fun workshops, too. Cheers and a happy new year to you all!!!

2010-11-15T17:03:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned a few days (or was it weeks? ack!) ago, I am involved in another blog. This new blog isn't just "personal stuff" like this blog that your eyes are currently dancing over. The new blog, Fleurbain.com, is a joint venture. Click this to see my latest entry, though, about my drive to change to a non-toxic art form...

On another, more personal note boy I'm hungry right now! Time for a slice of bread.

That being said, lately I've gotten a membership at the YMCA, have been using the veggies I get in my CSA box well and smartly, and have been enjoying brisk walks to the studio almost daily. Things are going well. I am in two exhibitions right now (well, soon opening) and will be in a craft fair just before Christmas. I'm pet-sitting, too! I love pet-sitting. My cat puts up with the new smells remarkably well.

I am going to try and get my Master's degree in Art Therapy. Yes, indeed. It looks like a long-haul situation, though. I wonder if I woudn't be smarter to "just" get my regular Master's in Fine Art... oh, decisions!!!

Another Blog...

2010-11-06T20:33:00.004-04:00

I am involved with another blog. This one is a Group effort, and it focusses on Verdant Life In The City. Gardening, art, herbalism, cartoons, a beautiful life, food... and much much more will be a part of this... Fleurbain. I will keep this-here blog for more personal ramblings... will also continue to co-post my art reviews and cartoons here! However, I do reccommend checking Fleurbain.com out, too.

November Single-Day Workshops: Felt in Montreal

2010-10-28T10:02:00.005-04:00

Workshops schedule for November:

Make Your Own Felt Wool Scarf, and Felted Soap Loofah
For ages 15 to Adult, the perfect way to make a couple of deluxe Christmas presents!

In this three-hour course, students will create a felt wool scarf, and also a felted soap loofah. The basics of the wet-felting process will be taught.

Choose one day of: Tuesday November 16, 10am - 1pm; Thursday November 18, 6:30pm - 9:30pm; or Saturday November 20, 10am - 1pm. Cost for one of these courses is $40 (materials included) OR $37 each if you take more than one course...

Make Your Own Felt Pouch/Purse, and Felted Soap Loofah
For ages 15 to Adult, A fun three hour session in which we will create a felt wool pouch or purse, suitable for a camera, cellphone, or just to have a nice little purse! We will also make a felted soap loofah for the bath.

Choose one day of: Tuesday November 23, 10am - 1pm; Thursday November 25, 6:30pm - 9:30pm; or Saturday November 27, 10am - 1pm. Cost for one of these courses is $40 (materials included) OR $37 each if you take more than one course (including the Scarf option, above.

These workshops are just three hours, and you will learn skills to make felt obects at home, if you so choose. Please see: (Link to the right of these words!) for more information.

Rick Leong and Michael A. Robinson at Parisian Laundry

2010-09-22T15:11:00.006-04:00

Rick Leong and Michael A. Robinson, Parisian Laundry

Show(s) visited Sept 18, 2010

A fellow painter, Rick Leong’s work is something that I can appreciate. Nature is the major inspiration for his large-scale oil on canvas works, but he delves into a fairy-tale, mystic and imagined place. The wonder of seeing is ever-present. Shapes and forms that magically appear amongst the trees, moss, sky, and vegetation are like a brief reverie within the midst of contemplation. I recall seeing his solo exhibit at the Parisian Laundry just over three years ago… they were intriguing paintings, and they performed that delicate dance between memory, observation, expression, and representation. Good painting, I would call it. So when I realised he was exhibiting at the Parisian Laundry again, I decided to stop in.

I went into the ‘Laundry not knowing what to expect, but my hopes were high. The work of Michael A. Robinson greeted me on the main floor. His work is a grand-scale for a commercial gallery space, and it was effective. The content was perhaps simple (for the serious nature of the work) and highly accessible. I liked it. Visually compelling, visceral, the work made links between stark materials (wood, plaster, simple construction-objects) and bomb imagery, warfare, and the techniques of it. Three large sculptures dominated the voluminous space, accompanied by a few drawings.

A big wall-hanging that was comprised of chiselled plaster-covered wood was covered in scratches and worked-upon images of “falling” bombs. This piece must have been about 12 or 15 feet tall, and massively wide. There seemed to be three juncture-points of the lines, three places where the tension of the composition was highest. It formed a pleasing composition, quite classic in form. Perhaps as “dropping bombs” they would be most effective in this formation, too.

The second large sculptural piece in this show was a selection of thin, flat, jagged edged plaster pieces, carefully arranged in a circle on the floor. There was a sense of “putting the pieces together”, a feeling of trying to figure something out… The individual plaster pieces looked like they were lifted from the large wall hanging, mentioned above.

Also included in Robinson’s exhibit was a series of drawings that appeared to be studies on bombing, attacks, and warfare. They were clearly drawn with an ink pen, using a ruler. There was a graphic, clear, and somewhat spare formality to them, and they seemed like technical drawings that bordered on illustration. Certainly minimalist, cut back to the basics of the forms that inspired them works… again warfare. There were about five or six of these drawings.

The most captivating piece in the show was, hands down, a huge construct of wooden objects. This seemingly exploding form must have been about 20 feet in diameter. I walked well around it, checking to see if there were any eyes poked out by all the projecting pieces of wood. It was comprised of crutches, easels, ski poles, a distinct absence of hockey sticks, and many simple pieces of wood… the type found leftover on construction sites. It was almost a cartoon drawing of an explosion; the drawing made of wood pieces in a 3-D format. The overall effect was a disassociation from the grit and grime of war.

Overall, the work in Even When Bombs Are Gone spoke more about construction and drafting, layers of building and re-building, and a closeness to materiality than “War“. "War" was a reference point, with pieces of the visual graphics and planning for war utilised in this work. “War” was isolated as a concept, as a source for dislocated, objective subject matter in and of itself.

After seeing the Main Space exhibit, I went down into The Bunker (yes, it is called that) to see Rick Leong’s show, The Roaming Gloam. This is a space accessible through a staircase underground, and many attendees would need to duck while traversing a certain passage (I did). Once you arrive in The Bunker, however, the ceiling opens up to about 20 feet or so. It’s a great space. Dramatic, no windows, no light but the spotlights on the one large painting on display. It was… a pretty good painting. This painting displayed a magical-seeming forest-scene. The tree-forms were impeccably painted, the bark seemed to glow from within, an ethereal light. Little cute polka-dotted mushrooms added a sense of scale in the bottom. For some reason, though, it all left me feeling a little empty. I think that more context, another couple of pieces perhaps upstairs would have… oh wait… there were two pieces of Leong’s upstairs. In the Upstairs (above the Main Space) Leong showed two pencil drawings, of an accessible scale, approximately 3’ x 2’ . These were exquisite renderings of tree-like shapes, with tendrils and doodads dancing about the treetops and trunks. Very lovely. There was a lot of empty space upstairs…. It was elegant and open, and delightful for some odd reason. I felt that Leong’s exhibit really could have used a couple more pieces. One large painting and two exquisite drawings separated two floors apart just wasn’t enough for me. It should be noted that the gallery suggested in a little text handed out that this large painting would converse with some smaller paintings that Leong was showing (in theory concurrently) up the hill at the McClure Gallery. Not complaining about Leong’s works, rather, I wanted MORE of it.

After seeing the two exhibits at the Parisian Laundry, I was inspired to go up the hill (heeding the instructions of the ’Laundry) to see the additional works of Leong at The McClure Gallery. Alas, it appears that that show is actually set for a later date. Upon re-reading the text provided by The ‘Laundry, perhaps Leong’s exhibit at the McClure gallery in concurrent with one in New York later this fall… well, either way, good job Rick Leong! Three major exhibits in one autumn.

Instead of Leong’s work at the McClure, there was an exhibit of large-scale, beautiful paintings by Russell T. Gordon. It was something of a retrospective/celebration of a fine, fine artist. I loved his paintings. However, I would have cut a couple of the smaller pieces from the show, and one or two of the larger ones as well. Two big pieces were competing with one another on a wall that couldn’t accommodate them. The lesser one I’d have bumped. Just a note, not reviewing that show. But Over Easy – Metaphores en series runs ‘til October 2 and it is good painting…

I am glad to have wandered into the gallery today, it’s been too too long. Next gallery I hit up will be the Musee des Beaux Arts. I hear there are some pretty darned stunning pieces down in the contemporary temporary exhibits rooms right NOW…

Update On Some Stuff!

2010-07-17T12:48:00.009-04:00

You know, I just came to a realisation about 15 seconds ago as I was pondering "what to write" here. I don't have a cartoon to post, I am too lazy to find/insert photos or something... I have a dash of a hangover and really just want to noodle around on the keyboard and share something. Something like an "update" on what's going on in my life. No, not everything... THAT's what occurred to me about a minute ago, now. (Back on topic!)

When I had started a blog, a few years back (I managed to erase years of writing, serious attempts at Art-Reviews and even Music ones when I erased my Myspace account... oh well...) I knew that I couldn't write about my work-place. I didn't want to lose a job, get sued, any of that stuff. Now, as a self-employed person, I can do that! So... I must say that my boss is very lenient. She lets me take breaks, start, finish my work whenever I feel like it. If I want to research galleries at 2am and call that work, it's ok! The only issue I have with her is the amount of pay she provides. However, with this excellent working environment and tons of perks... I can't complain.

In addition to my self-employment, I am looking for work. Perhaps work that has fewer perks than my self-employment provides... but higher pay! A little above minimum-wage would be fine. Or a lot more. Whatever. Honestly, I would work up to full-time, but am hoping for part-time. I'll keep you posted on what happens in this realm... I have applied for a couple of jobs, have talked to folks at a couple of places.

I am looking for work in the fields of art/design, embroidery, fashion, illustration, photography, costume design, vegetarian food-prep, light house-keeping, daycare, teaching, art instruction, and general office-help. I should find something... I am sure there is much more that I am qualified/able to do, just don't know that these industries/jobs exist. It's a huge world out there!

I taught a couple of sweet children how to make felt, then drew, painted, and sewed with them for a few days last week. The day-camp idea is fun to do. Yes, it can be draining... however it is rewarding to work with children! I like it.

I currently have an exhibition up; I've sold a couple of paintings through it. I am hoping to have a "closing" or "finissage" party, in September for this show. Worst case scenario, we have a party. Best case, one or two more paintings sell!

I am looking for a studio-mate, in order to cut down costs a bit. I have talked to some people, and so far no luck. I do have another coming on Monday, who is a serious artist, and I am hopeful.

I just realised that this is not well-written, or planned, or edited or... well... sorry. Hangover and I really really need to go through my storage-closets, clean and find some things I am missing. This blog-post is a little like that, digging in and finding what's there. Examining it. The trick is to sort this all out, and put it into place.

Sugar Plum(p) Fairy

2010-06-16T20:25:00.001-04:00

Identity Crisis (Well Not Really)

2010-06-10T19:15:00.004-04:00

Cluck and Lurt Discuss Basketball

2010-06-08T22:06:00.002-04:00

Cluck Describes Some Basketball Moves

2010-06-07T18:45:00.002-04:00

Cluck Is A Little Jealous Of Lurt

2010-06-05T12:33:00.001-04:00

Lurt Wants To Teach

2010-06-02T18:08:00.002-04:00

Hiatus, Maybe Lasting a Whole Day Or Two. Not Really A Hiatus.

2010-05-30T20:53:00.003-04:00

Identity

2010-05-27T15:36:00.003-04:00

Nutritional Chicken

2010-05-25T16:44:00.000-04:00

Curious Curios

2010-05-22T11:27:00.002-04:00

Just 'n' Joust

2010-05-21T20:35:00.002-04:00

Hockey Game and Art

2010-05-12T23:40:00.002-04:00

Well. I live in Montreal. For the last few hours, there has been a lot of excited honking, yelling, happy noises... the Montreal Canadiens just won an "important" hockey game.

I figured out the win, after having spent several hours in my studio prepping for a big open-studio event this weekend. I heard lots of yelling, honking, etc whilst in there... and then a couple of hours after it had all started it was time for me to walk home.

I walked home, almost hit by about five different drunk bicyclists (I guess it's better they were riding rather than driving... but walking would have been even better) and thought to myself, "Yay, Team. Slayer!!! Wooooo". Not really, I just think it's cute people can get together and be happy over something. I am secretly (ok not so secretly) hoping that the current state of semi-eupohoria seeps into the local Art Market... it' be nice to sell some paintings this weekend!!!

Upcoming Flashback...

2010-05-08T18:01:00.002-04:00

Ooopsies Forgot To Post This One Yesterday...

2010-05-07T19:44:00.001-04:00

Cluck 'N' Lurt Prep For New Story

2010-05-07T19:16:00.001-04:00

Cluck 'N' Lurt Get Reaquainted With Their Draw-er

2010-05-06T09:18:00.002-04:00

Cluck And Lurt Are Making Their Fabulous Return!!!

2010-05-05T18:47:00.002-04:00

Bus Moment Last Night

2010-05-01T20:09:00.003-04:00

Last night I took the bus. It was from a place in Westmount towards my humble abode. I wish it was an humble adobe, but alas it is but a condo.

Two interesting things happened while I was on this bus-ride of about fifteen minutes... The first, is that there was a woman talking loudly to herself. No, that isn't unusual or odd to notice, on the bus. What was interesting, though, was that West of St Laurent she spoke to herself in English. Then, when we had crossed that street, she began to talk to herself in French. Lucky woman, she`s bilingual! St Laurent Street is the border between East and West in Montreal. Very roughly speaking, the West tends to be English-speaking, and the East is more French. I just took note of her ability to alter her speech as we traversed the little un-official border-line...

Shortly after having crossed that street, a young man stood up to get off the bus. He paused in front of the man sitting in front of me; and offered him a bag of crackers, and a piece of something-wrapped-in-tinfoil. Looked like cake. The older man gratefully accepted, and not a word was said between the two.

The crackers looked quite delicious. It was one of those odd, heart-warming Montreal Moments.

Workshop Schedule...

2010-04-27T20:59:00.008-04:00

Hey folks! I am teaching some workshops over the summer, fall, and into the winter. Here is the link to the schedule. There is stuff for kids, adults, and teens too! If you have any requests or ideas please feed me some of that feedback. Thanks everyone!

http://natashahenderson.com/page/workshops

New Studio... Courses Offered Soon!!!

2010-04-15T14:36:00.003-04:00

I just went by my soon-to-be-new-studio today. Saw the friendly land-lady again, paid the rest of May's rent... and got the keys!!! I didn't think I'd have access 'til May, but Landlady is nice. Happy happy!

So in the next couple of days, I will be heading over there with tape-measure and papers and pen in hand. Like any time that I start in on a new space (for example, back in 2002 when I bought my home in Courtenay, BC) I like to make a little "dream-map" of what I imagine things could be like there. I want to set this place up well, so that I utilise the space to its best. Shelving, extra lighting... things that will make it all the better.

I will be teaching courses in this space for kids, teens, and adults. The courses will be administered through the Salamander Arts Centre, but people can contact me directly, too. There will be courses in felt-making, painting, and mixed media stuff. The kids' courses will run mostly in the summer, and the teens/adults right through 'til Christmas. When I have the exact dates and times worked out, I'll provide a link to the lists. In the adult courses, we will make things like felt scarves, felt coasters, felt purses, felt beads, felt cat-toys...

The painting course for adults that I will offer is one that I had designed a few years back, and offered in the Comox Valley... however there was never enough interest in it then. I am hoping that in all of Montreal I will find 4-8 people who would like to "Add Depth To Painting"! It will be a fun course, despite the dry name. Depth is a good, good thing!

Anyhow, I must get on to packing things around the home that will be transferred over there, now. Soon I'll get movers to come and haul furniture and etc for me, so I need to get a-boxin' up. I'll also need to shift stuff from my old, shared studio space to home in the next couple of weeks...

Busy, happy, exciting time! Really, living the dream.

I am not really a blogger

2010-04-11T18:16:00.005-04:00

I am not really a blogger... Just looked at "last published" and it was over four months ago. WELL!!! I HAVE been working one day a week, so am waaaaay too busy for writing! Ok, not really.

To make a long, rambling story a tiny bit more succinct, I am going to be renting a studio of my own, starting in May. I will be offering classes and workshops for kids, teens, and grownups in felt-making as well as painting. Some of the kids' summer programmes will be mixed-media creations... should be fun!!!

When I'm not teaching over these next few months, I am planning to work on paintings. The new line o' paintings will be based on the format of music... here, to absolutely bore you, is my proposal that I just sent out for a grant recently:

"In this project, I will produce a new group of paintings that are based on the structure of musical forms. In the recent past I have made works that are based on the structure of poetic forms, namely the Sonnet and the Ghazal. I intend to give some musical forms a similar treatment in paint.

Rhythm, line, form, pattern, texture, body, repetition… many art-terms are also musical ones. What could happen if some of the strict rules of format are taken from one realm (music) and applied to another (painting)?

I will research forms of music, then assign codes and indications for myself as to how to represent the specific rules of music formats in a visual sense. Some examples of musical genres I am thinking of… Classical, Hip-Hop, Maritime and Quebecois Folk/Traditional. I will narrow down and specify which particular musical formats I will use during the research stage.

When I paint these new pieces, I will apply a sense of landscape to them. This sense of landscape would be inspired by the musical genres, themselves… as well as being a situation that the viewer of the work could imagine themselves as inhabiting. I hope to give the viewers of this work a unique experience; a point of reflection and contemplation.

For six months of work, I anticipate to make about 12-15 major pieces… large-scale paintings. I will also make a number of smaller studies, sketches and small paintings. The large-scale works would be about 5’x5’."

OK. So if anyone's made it through that, you win a prize!!! A pat on the back.

If I do (and, if I don't) get that grant, the next series of works will be based on an old, old, old proposal (well, about four years old) that I had made to create "Impossible Views"... paintings that are based on mirrors, corners, and... stuff. Hard to explain. You've already had way too much reading. Later, later. You'll get a pat on the back for that one, too.

Things are going well, in general.

N

Some Good Old Fashioned Resolve

2010-01-01T22:19:00.003-05:00

It's time for the annual list of hopes, plans, and things I'd like to accomplish/put into gear this year. I drew out a general timeline for the stuff I want to get done, and then boiled it down to some generic things. Then I made some sub-lists and stuff... it's a long and drawn-out, complicated process. A recipe for my next year, in a way.

But you'll get the short version and here it is:

**********

-slice the potatoes
-put them in the oven with some olive oil
-make a packet of gravy
-buy some cheesecurds.

When the potatoes are all done in the oven, put the gravy and cheesecurds on top. Enjoy!

**********

Haha, just kidding. Here's my short version of this year's resolves and stuff:

-have more art exhibitions
-do more vounteer work
-do more teaching of art
-apply for grad school

Yay! That is all do-able. I'll try to not have poutine so often, too.

I Am Trying To Post A Recipe...

2009-12-29T13:14:00.004-05:00

I am trying to post my Mom`s infamous recipe for Peanut Butter Balls. The issue here, is that Google or my computer or `someone`` thinks that I am typing in another language.

So... sometimes things are printed that shouldn`t be so.

OK. I`ll do it anyway. At least I have a good excuse for typos... It`s in Lithuanian!!! Haha. Ha. Ha. :(

Mom`s Infamous Peanut Butter Balls

1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup Icing Sugar
1 Tsp Vanilla
3é4 Cup finely chopped Peanuts

Combine. Shape into balls, store in fridge overnight.

Coat with chocolate!

I use either belgian choc, or semi-sweet... note peanut butter is a little sweet already, and you add SUGAR to it, so don`t worry if your coc isn`t sweet.

I meant``Three Quarters of a Cup`` where it said something weird.

OK!

N

The Craft Rat

2009-12-18T11:31:00.002-05:00

As some of you are well aware, I sell things like felt wool scarves and my smaller paintings and prints of paintings on an Etsy page (http://HendersonArt.etsy.com/, in case you didn't hear about it yet...)

As of yesterday evening, I now have a second storefront on Etsy... this one's purpose is to showcase more punk styled things. I'm starting with the first item, a men's scarf that incorporates trash in it! Seriously, go check it out. http://TheCraftRat.etsy.com/

A huge thanks goes out to my punk friend Greg, who also has an Etsy shop (it's empty at the moment, but I'll link to it from TheCraftRat as soon as it's not!)

Cheers and happy holidays to you all.

To Jog Or Not To Jog... That Is The Question

2009-11-28T12:14:00.003-05:00

I have the sniffles. Should I jog? It's a sunny day. Heaven knows that soon enough I'll be looking out onto overlapping blizzards.

I'll jog. I hear that gentle exercise improves the immune system...

Yesterday I spent the day (well, about 8:30 to 2:30) out in St. Lambert, for a professional development day with ArtsSmarts. I'll be guiding an entire elementary school through making a big wall-hanging of some sort. As with ArtsSmarts projects, a lot of the goal is collaboration and process and spontaneity and hand-on problem-solving. So although I have some lesson-plans worked out, the whole project is really by, for, and about the students themselves. I am really, really excited about this!!! I'll teach 106 students how to make felt.

Speaking of felt, tomorrow I will have 20 scarves at a table in Ottawa, for a cool craft fair my friend is in. She offered to take some scarves in an amazing fit of generosity! In the meantime, I am churning out the things in an attempt to re-build my stock. Considering I now am fully self-employed (or freelance, depending on what term you like) it is important to just keep on chugging. And on that note, time to hit the road... jogging!

On Drivers Who Must Be Allergic To Their Brake-Pedals

2009-11-10T17:57:00.004-05:00

I went for a walk today, to try and buy some wool. The wool-shop was closed, but it was a gorgeous day for a walk. I ended up buying some delicious food from the store, of which I have eaten a healthy amount.

In the process of reaching the closed wool-shop, I was almost schmunched by a car.

It was a silver car, quite nice, and the driver was turning a corner in full view of moi. I was crossing the street on a green light in the cross-walk. The car swerved a little, like to try and "sneak by" me, but then realised it wouldn't work so they ACTUALLY tapped their brakes. I still had to run a little in order to not be clipped.

This event gave me the excuse to, once again, in my country-girl, trucker-swearing, backwaters-chick manner, to shoot the driver "the bird". It felt good, for a minute, then I was angry. I walked off the steam, up to the closed wool-shop and back home (via the market for previously-mentioned delicious-foodstuffs).

Now, I came to a job-search conclusion. Is it possible to be an undercover vigilante who hands out citizen's arrests AND is it possible to get paid for this? That would be an easy job.

More Observations Made During A Walk, Also Galleries That Were Closed.

2009-10-27T14:29:00.003-04:00

Due to horrific renovation-noise this morning, after I finished making a felt-wool scarf (this time with Jingle Bells!) I adjusted my list of things to do today, and went for a walk to check out some galleries.

The galleries I had specifically on my list were Galerie Push and Centrale Powerhouse. Both of them were closed. Up the street, I popped in to see the Simon Blais Gallery... closed. So I went for a bit of a meander to see the galleries at Centre Clark... closed! On my way home I went by a gallery that I'm curious about, seems to have work rotating through it, but is never open... closed. That one was no surprise.

Looked like everyone was in the process of changing exhibits. I suppose that means I should keep my eyes open to lists of vernisages this week and weekend!

I did have a fantastic walk, and it worked out my renovation-inspired frustrations (I no longer feel homicidal!). I observed a lot of gorgeous architecture, decoration, foliage, and other things that are pretty in this town right now. One thing in particular that I didn't really take note of before, is that the squirrels in Parc Lafontaine are really, really fat at the moment. Storing it up for the impending winter. SO CUTE! Little chunkers bouncing around the park.

DIY Blogger, like me!

2009-10-23T10:08:00.002-04:00

SOmething I just saw... On this blog-site, there is a give-away for a lovely necklace...

http://nicolebergman.blogspot.com/

Also, there is, what looks like to be, a really yummy burger recipe! I am now following this blog, and look forward to more recipes and images of jewelry!!!

OK, back to my coffee and getting into some painting. Happy weekend to all.

Random Observations Made During Walk Wednesday pm.

2009-10-21T15:43:00.003-04:00

I just got in from a walk. During this walk I made a few observations (when I say observations, this time, I mean mostly just random visual ones, not big, esoteric, important or meaningful ones.)

Two blocks over and one block up from my place I saw a tow-truck backing up to collect a car from a driveway. There were about five or six scruffy-looking teens hanging around, and while walking past them I almost stepped on a squashed squirrel. No-one blinked. There were two dogs keening to get out of their enclosure in a porch, and one of them eyed me like he thought I'd be tasty.

At the same time, I saw huge plumes of black, black smoke coming from someplace within a few blocks. For once, I decided to allow my curiosity to guide me, and went towards it. In the space of a few minutes, however, the smoke had cleared up. Towards the end of this smokey show I was sprinkled by some black ash. Fortunately it wasn't livid.

I meandered into Parc Lafontaine, where I saw happier, not-so-squashed squirrels being fed by generous (if illegally behaving) humans. The pigeons and seagulls seemed well-fed and happy, too. It's funny that the park isn't completely overrun by animals, however I guess they have their little areas staked out, who gets to live where, let's fight over it, no I don't want to, ok I'll live in that tree next to the dog-house where uncle Nibbles got squashed last year... etc.

Final observation: the trees right now are really pretty.

Winter Daze felt wool scarf with sequins by HendersonArt on Etsy

2009-10-20T11:16:00.000-04:00

Winter Daze felt wool scarf with sequins by HendersonArt on Etsy

This is my latest felt wool scarf. This time I included blue and silver sequins, that pop out a little here and tere. Not flashy, but a dash of the unexpected! I will make a green scarf today.

I am also going to finish off a pile of smaller paintings very, very soon! Yippee!!!

Teaching and Elephants

2009-10-15T12:00:00.003-04:00

Those of you who follow my little updates from time to time know what I mean when I say "Elephants".

I refer, of course, to my upstairs neighbour, who is in the staggeringly lengthy process of renovating his condominium. I pluralise "Elephants" because his workers like to CLUMP HEAVILY around on the stairs (which, in my funky pad, form part of the ceiling/wall) and now bare floor (which is, of course, my ceiling). There are at least three, possibly four Elephants.

That is bad enough. Honestly, the drilling and jack-hammering of marble tile, I don't mind. I just wish they could manage to tread a little, itty-bit lighter. Consideration! Love thy neighbour...

If you've made it through my little rant, then here is a happy reward. I have good news! Happy news. I taught a day-long workshop: "Painting From Poetry", to a group of thirteen-year-olds. It went well! I am going to sign up officially in the Quebec Registry of artists who teach.

Also, it looks like I will most likely be working with an entire school to make a large wall-hanging. This will be from November to March, and will employ me for one day a week. I like to have a job description that is "Artist". Bingo! Perfect! Happy!

As for The Elephants... the renovations must end at some point. Honestly, I am considering moving out of here next year, if nothing collapses or explodes first.

OOOOOOh Exciting. Sort of.

2009-09-15T10:39:00.002-04:00

I'm sitting in my little loft-home, waiting for my pal Gaby to show up. We are going to try peddling our wares to some local crafty-type places, and swanky posh shops and etc today. She makes GORGEOUS jewelry, and I make my lovely scarves. So. That's about it, I expect the bell to ring any second now...

Later I'll report on how it all goes.

Soon I'll go around, on my own, to the art galleries with some photos of my work, maybe even drag a small painting around. Yep, I'll report on that when it's all done as well.

Here's to Happy Sales!

Helpful Folks

2009-09-01T16:34:00.003-04:00

Over the last (desole... les derniers) deux jours, j'ai parle avec vers trois gens qui sont aident-moi. OK, I know that is possibly about as bad as garbled, "I don't know what I'm doing" French gets... howEVER it is pretty much how I would speak it.

Over the last two days, I have been so fortunate to speak with about three people who have helped me, helped me in a "service" way, but really helped me in an "I'll speak French to you slowly instead of just switching to English" way. It was fantastique.

The first was a health-care professional, who took my payment for something, asked me to sit 'til I was called, and even sort of joked with me, all en Francais. The other was a young woman who cut some canvas for me today at the Art-Supply Store. She dipped into English now and again, but always went back to French. Had a laugh or two with me. Then, the cashier at that store spoke with me in French, and had a smile and applauded when I made complete sentences. So, it was fun. I was able to both communicate and joke around.

That's the thing, to re-find one's identity, to re-craft how one communicates with people in the public sphere... it is a challenge, and can be frustrating. It's also tough (for me) when I can't pop out a joke that loosens tensions and whatnot. However... it will come. The helpful people out there, they truly make a difference.

Brand-New Scarves

2009-07-23T13:43:00.003-04:00

I have made, and put up "online for sale" two new scarves... you can find them on my website http://natashahenderson.com/, my Etsy store http://HendersonArt.etsy.com/, my Deviant Art page http://HendersonArt.deviantart.com/, my Facebook page that I think is "Natasha Henderson", my Myspace page, oh so many places. Anyhow, here they are...

One is called "Grape Mixer" and one is called "Toffee Twist". Maybe I'm hungry? Haha.

Sale on Some Of My Scarves... 'til August!

2009-07-21T19:11:00.003-04:00

Hey folks, this is just a quick note to let you know that I have chosen a few of my "felt wool scarves" that I make to be sale-priced until August. Then, if any of these little inexpensive pieces of neck-warming love are left behind, they go back to their regular price.

One of the reasons that I'm doing this is because I will soon be approaching shops to sell my scarves in, and I am thinking it would be easiest if I just kept everything at the same price.

So, the less-costly pieces... I've made them even more less costly! To be specific, regularly they are $35 USD, and are now on for $25 USD, plus applicable shipping.

SO! Hope this finds you all well and good and happy and thinking ahead to autumn...

http://HendersonArt.etsy.com/

Life, Cleaning, and Travels

2009-07-12T13:59:00.002-04:00

Howdy there.

I have been a busy person of late (well, of always)... I recently returned from a visit to some friends who have recently moved into a new city. I witnessed their incredible ability to unpack, find space for "stuff" and make the new place a home in a quick and efficient manner.

Seeing them at work, seeing them move things around and constantly cleaning as they did this, has inspired me. Yesterday I cleaned off my studio-floor (my studio-floor is basically my whole home's floor...) and swept. I adjusted the location of my easel and moved things around to be more compact. So far the results are very gratifying. I know that I need to get some "storage units" of some sort (I have one I like bookmarked on the Ikea website) and also really find an "away" for things. It's difficult to put things "away" when there isn't one.

I will soon scrub down my entire bathroom. I've only dealt with the details to this point (eg cleaning the toilet). I've decided to really do it, to clean every surface. I had held off before because I was worried that the grout or whatever all that in-between stuff is called would peel off or get wrecked. But if it does so, then I'll fix it. So simple!

I also have a haphazard collection of assorted crap stored in my two little storage areas. I'll purge all the garbage and actually store things in there with intention.

I think that's the big thing I've learned (yes I feel like Stan from South Park) I have learned to do things with intention, to make life easier. Get rid of objects and things that have no use and little meaning in my life, and move the remnants that matter into their rightful places.

This is all related, I am sure, to my upcoming travels in Europe next year. I really really want to do that.

Painting, Sewing, Walking.

2009-06-23T15:37:00.002-04:00

Over the past few days, I have rediscovered the joys of meandering (albeit quickly) throughout some of the fantastic neighbourhoods of Montreal.

I don't have a "job", I can work when I want to (though I should work MORE) and I find great joy in just going... going... seeing and observing what is around me. That's work, right? I am a visual artist. Also it is kind of my job to keep my body as healthy as I can. That's why I am jogging more often, now that I let my gym membership expire for the summer.

Yesterday and the day before, I broke out a huge pile of fabric that I had salvaged from the "trash" at my former work-place. These are new fabric swatches, and my my my don't they make for cool patchwork! I am sewing them together and will make skirts and perhaps things like bags out of them. If it works WELL then I'll try selling some of these creations. I'll keep you informed.

I have some Raw Umber paint on my palette right now, I painted some of it on about 12 little paintings earlier. Now I'm thinking to hit some of the larger works… the Poetry-Paintings. I am working on Ghazals and Shakespearian Sonnets. I have broken down the rules for these poetic formats, and am re-translating them into a visual language. Perhaps this linguistic approach to painting is inspired by my surroundings... I live in a mainly French part of the city, and I am trying to learn that new language. Perhaps it is this learning process that has made me seek something "about language" in my new work. I don't know. I have been leaning more abstractly over the past few years anyhow, and these paintings are certainly that.

Well I’ll just keep on walking, running, stretching my body and my mind to make things, observe, and be happy.

Barcelona... Cottage... Should Clean My Apartment.

2009-06-21T13:13:00.005-04:00

Hi. I am thinking, seriously, about applying for Artist-In-Residence programmes. I really really really want the one that is through the Quebec Arts Council... to Barcelona, Spain!!! I'll apply for it next year. I'm looking at other options, too.

I am thinking about travelling in Europe in the next year or so, even if it's just as a tourist. I might hit Zurich with some pals who know someone there; I would go to France and the UK and hopefully Italy. Maybe Germany. I don't know, it all doesn't have to be "at once"... I could go back again in a few years!

Another thing that I am thinking about is this fantastic little cottage for sale up in my favourite part of town. It is worth about $100,000 more than the current place I own. I wonder if it would be worth looking into... perhaps for now I'll just continue plugging away in the current spot 'til I know what's happening a little more down the road. I wouldn't need to worry about neighbours with adjacent walls creating horrific noises during renovations. I would like that a GREAT deal. Plus I'd have a little yard!!! Anyone want to donate/lend free of interest $100,000? No? Ok. No worries.

Well anyhow, if I am considering leaving for three months to Barcelona next year, or travelling for a while, or even selling my place (or renting it out), I perhaps should focus a little on cleaning it more regularly, and fixing things up rather than wearing them down. Just a thought.

PS The above photo is of the veggies that were turned into a salad by moi last night.

What? Natasha Henderson Writes A Blog?

2009-06-14T10:01:00.004-04:00

Hey-de-ho! I am writing a blog, still. Yes, here it is.

I had meant to write a big art-review about some exhibitions that I saw, I had meant to get out to another big exhibition and write a review about what would have been there.... but these things didn't happen. C'est la vie.

Anyhow, what I HAVE been doing is keeping busy with lots and lots of painting, cartooning, making assorted "crafty" things that add to my knowledge of how to put stuff together, hitting the gym almost daily, some embroidery-digitizing, going out in "social situations", walking and jogging and picnics in the park, watching free films from the library, etc etc.

My gym membership has now expired, so I will be doing more jogging than previously. I am also thinking of taking one introductory kick-boxing class. A friend of mine has kick-boxed for years, and I'd like to give it a shot. The gym is officially a little boring. Weights. Cardio machines. Nothing else. So... time to try a crazy sport.

Today I am going to head up into the park to try painting/drawing on-site. I normally don't do that, but it is a lovely day and I really want to paint and also hit the park. This shall bring together the best of both worlds. Hmmm. Perhaps I'll actually wander beyond the park, try it out in different places. Up the mountain? In the Old Port? Oh dear.

OK. I have dusted off my blogging-skills, and hopefully next time I write it will be clever and witty and fantastic. Thanks for reading!

Whoa Dude

2009-05-25T17:22:00.003-04:00

Whoa can be written "whoa" as I just typed in, or "woah". I think my first instinct is correct. I am not going to spell-check it. Ok, ok fine I am... right. My first instinct was right. Whoa! Isn't me. Whoa, I haven't written a blog entry for... a long long time. I have been very busy indeed... all the more reason to write things out, I suppose.

I am planning on going to two Gallery Openings (Vernisages) this week, and also think I'll pop into the Montreal Biennale. I had gone there two years ago (strangely enough) and made a huge report in my blog about it... http://blogs.myspace.com/henderson_painting Check out June 23, 2007. That's the main big ol' report. There are some cutely-written blogs around that time, too... I wasn't working and had only been in Montreal for ten days and thus was floating on a happy, natural high.

I have been continuing making the felt-wool scarves, often with beads. I like them. I am going to try peddling them around town, as well as online. I sell them on my Etsy page, in case you are curious. http://HendersonArt.etsy.com/

I have several new canvasses stretched, and I must polish off the "Ghazal" ones I've been working on for some time. I love them... there is nothing quite so fun as writing poetry with a paint-brush.

OK. That is it for now... I promise (or at least hope to) write more soon. I apologise to any of the folks who used to read this on a regular basis. I like it, I should make the time. Ok. Ta ta now.

Filler?

2009-04-30T23:08:00.007-04:00

I am in the midst of writing a blog.

No, no I am not referring to this particular entry your eyes are roving over right now. Nope.

I am referring to a blog entry that I have NOTES for... one for which I would like to put something "decent" together. One in which I babble on and on and hopefully it is terribly interesting. And not interestingly terrible.

In the meantime, I'll stick a couple-er-three "scarf" piccies in this! These are all available for purchase (as of this writing, anyhow) and yes, I know wool scarves are a little out of season... however one day that won't be the case. And I'll have inventory! So here you are:

OK, these scarves are all available on my Etsy page: http://HendersonArt.etsy.com/

2009-04-08T15:38:00.003-04:00

OK. Here is the scarf I made and have for sale on "Etsy". HendersonArt (I also have prints and some paintings there, too...)

But anyhow... THE SCARF...I am quite proud, and am looking greatly forward to making more...

I Used To Do This Alllll The Time...

2009-04-07T17:55:00.006-04:00

I used to post cartoons on a daily basis, the last time I was "unemployed". For THIS bout of Unemployment, however, I am actually really busy with all types of work. Perhaps I took the time today to document a cartoon (oh, and MAKE one, too) because I am going to be in an exhibition in May... and I said I would have 20 cartoons of "Cluck 'N' Lurt In Montreal" for that. I am also working on three big paintings for that exhibition... and maybe the cartoons won't be shown. But I'll still make them!

Felt Scarves...

2009-04-03T09:20:00.004-04:00

The other weekend, a pal taught me (and another pal) how to make felt fabric out of loose wool.

I know there's a term for it, like "roving" or something. Anyhow, loose wool has been washed, dyed, combed, and not spun into yarn yet.

I really enjoyed making this fabric. I have made three more "things" after that initial eve. The first of these is a thick greeny/orangey/blackish short piece of fabric. I had intended for it to be a scarf, but it shrank like crazy. I can use it as a "neck-warmer" or use it as simply fabric to make a little purse or something.

The second piece was a success... a long (perhaps a little too long) white/green/teal gauze-like scarf, with foam numbers encased in it. I think it looks pretty cool.

The third piece was also a success, I do believe. It is a somewhat thicker yet shorter (and still long!) scarf with beads embedded in it. The colours are black, raspberry, and pink. I like it. It's mine.

These are mine, indeed, but my hopes are to find time in my already busy days to make one scarf every day or so. Hopefully I'll increase my speed at it... so far they have taken about three to four hours each, and the process alternates from pain-staking, careful laying of individual fibres... to all-out physical exertion. I would like to sell these objects. That is why I need to:

a)make them different from other stuff out there on the market

and,

b)make more of them more often.

I, of course, am still an artist and cartoonist and illustrator and embroidery-digitizer... but this is a fun and visually rewarding new branch to my work. Photos soon...

Silly Old Job With Cheese

2009-03-23T08:56:00.002-04:00

My old workplace didn't deposit the last bit of my pay into my account on Friday, when I expected it.

We're talking not a huge amount, but enough to really help with this initial push into the lake of self-employment (hey why not take up "serious" writing... haha... I love those cheesey metaphors. Mmm cheese.)

Anyhow, I am going to call them today. If they claim they owe me nothing or find some stupid loop-holey excuse (holey cheese... Swiss...) to NOT pay up, I will perhaps unleash a little blue language (Blue... Cheese... ooohhh...) until they cheddar with horror at what might further occur. I meant, shudder.

Or, I'll just make sure that I will quietly do about $560 (about what they owe me) worth of damage to their reputation, and encourage all my friends and associates to not shop there, ever.

No, won't blog specifically about it because I really don't want to get sued, no no no. I'd be the suing one.

Brie it on! Brie. It. On.

Oh, P.S.: I will post in the comments the results of this silliness, and a list of the cheeses I enjoy at lunch-time.

One Week

2009-03-18T18:27:00.003-04:00

It is the one-week anniversary of my being Gainfully Unemployed.

I went for a walk in the park today, balancing on top of snowy bits and splashing through some mud and water in the meltings-ville that is Montreal right now.

I had a nap earlier.

I sketched on some cartoons.

I documented a painting (will not post it here because it is going to be published somewhere... I'll post it after that).

I read some more of "Twilight". Yes, I know.

I saw my trainer at the gym, and she gave me a rigourous routine for the next six weeks.

At the moment I am trying out making Vietnamese-style soup, like you get in those awesome restaurants. I hope it lives up to those restaurant standards. But WOW it's a lot of soup! Yum.

Later on today (after consuming soup, I think) I will paint and work some more on cartoons.

This is a good life.

It's Heeere...

2009-03-11T22:05:00.002-04:00

My beloved new pet is home.

Tabley? Tableau? Tabby? Tipsy?

I have to think of a name for my new pet Drafting-Table. Fido? Fluffy?

The good thing about this pet is that I don't have to feed it anything other than paper and creativity. I will, however, need to work out a system to clean up after it. I don't think it will ever be trained... I can only imagine the piles of powdered pigments and graphite bits that will accumulate underneath it. Perhaps I'll need to be more diligent with my sweeping habits.

It took me over an hour to set this thing up... complete with the requisite injuries to my ego, shins, and fingers. Not bad injuries: a bruised shin from whacking a beam into it, sore and "used" and possibly pre-arthritic fingers from tightening and untightening all types of screws and bolts, and as for the ego...

I had THOUGHT I had the table-top installed the correct way, but then went to put some other little arms onto it and my God they wouldn't fit. So I unscrewed everything, and carefully balanced the table-top on my back and re-screwed it all together the opposite way.

(As an aside, I managed to get a foot-cramp while I was sweating and twisted underneath the table-top, balancing it on my back.)

Um, it was even MORE wrong than the first time. So I hung my head for a minute, then lifted it again, and inspected every little tiny drawing that was included in the instructions. Looked like I had it right the first time. Hee... hee. Hee. Right. OK. I turned it around yet again, and finally figured out that what had appeared to be a rigid arm actually had a very very tight hinge on it... so then it was only a matter of time and determination to finish this all off.

I ended up with one too few screws, two weird washers that don't seem to belong anywhere, and a wrench that I never used. I don't know why a drafting-table-kit should have such terrible instructional drawings. Irony! It still exists! That's somewhat comforting.

Well, I look forward to months and hopefully years (unless it does indeed fall apart so I need to find a better one) of drawing and creating cartoons and illustration on this li'l puppy. Names... what to name it... something will occur...

I Should Be Digitizing Right Now

2009-03-07T20:10:00.003-05:00

I am almost disturbingly excited about having purchased a drafting table today.

This is, like, a big thing for me. I have been cleaning clutter, furniture, and boxes of "things" out of my life, and trying to thoughtfully replace these things with either nothing, or something that will be helpful with my dreams.

My dreams? Here's a brief list:
-painting a lot of the time
-drawing cartoons a lot of the time
-illustrating things for other people who will ADORE the work I do for them
-writing art-reviews for publication
-making crafty-things, little decorative and creative objects that I can sell online (Etsy! Yay!)
-getting stuff exhibited and published and etc on a regular basis

AND:
a) -doing all of the above and making enough money through all of it to support a modest existence for myself.
or
b) -doing all of the above but making enough to also support a child and spouse. I don't have either of those but would like to.
or
c) -doing all of the above and making enough to support a child and spouse and a huge mansion or castle and also buy an island and have a really cool artist-commune on it.
or
d) -doing all of the above and making enough to support myself while my spouse and child earn a similar amount due to some yet undefined reasons, and we live like kings, and support all sorts of artist-communes, save the world, provide for millions of people, and oh yes we'd live for at least 200 years.

The drafting-table is an excellent step towards these dreams.

Drafting Table and Planning

2009-03-01T21:52:00.002-05:00

In the rejuvenation of my interest in cartooning "professionally" and the idea of illustrating things for people for the concept of payment...

I am seeking a drafting-table. I have a line on a very expensive one that will probably be the ultimate choice... but am going to scope out used ones too.

I have a place in my studio/home/big room that I live in for it. Right by the biiiig front windows. I can imagine spending hours there, with drawings, cartoons, small drawings and little paintings for clients. I think it will work.I have space, too, for my big sloppy, messy canvasses and other art-works. The place that I currently use for this computer, and drawing, and eating, and sewing, and other creative stuff... will be designated for the purpose of sewing and crafty-stuff and maybe eating too. I guess I'll get a little seat and a table for the eating, though, so it doesn't pollute the other things I do. I am so happy to think of supporting my life and contributing creative things to the world... full-time.

I know people might be looking to see how it goes, might be apprehensive about this jump I'm doing. I am being optimistic, and, as a co-worker at my day-job (that I am quitting) put it, "You are a very hard worker, I know you'll do fine".

I will do fine.

Quitter!

2009-02-25T19:37:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, at my job, I gave my two-week notice.

As an artist who paints, cartoons, creates "things" and also has a freelance-digitizing service already, it is a big step. It is a huge commitment to the works that I create. My time will soon be more fully spent on doing things that I love.

I plan to focus this upcoming "free-time" to delving more into the marketing, creation, promotion, and etc etc of these things... and I will be (finally!) teaching myself the tricks and whatnot of the design/computer animation programmes that I own but still haven't used yet. I am calling myself an illustrator now.

Oh, and I'll enrol in some more French classes. And look into "voice-work" and theatrical things too.

I am reeling a little... it was difficult to tell the Boss my news yesterday. Many of you who have done this before must know what I mean. I was so scared, but I HAD to do it. It is never good to tell someone bad news. Not the "worst" news you can get... no... but still difficult to do.

You plan how it might go, you plan what to say, and it all flies out the window when you get there. But all in all I think it went fairly well. They might keep me on for a little part-time work, which will help with those bills.

Oh, the bills. I have been cutting back wherever I can... though today I went and bought a little bottle of celebratory scotch. So... that is my official excuse if this doesn't make sense or there are spelling mistakes.

That last bit was tongue-in-cheek.

Works In Progress...

2009-02-10T20:28:00.007-05:00

This has been one of those days when I realise... "Oh! I have lots of paintings all over the place, and nothing's finished yet... I wonder if people think that I've stopped or something."

First up, I'll never ever stop. Secondly, why not post some little details and etc of various works in progress? Here they are:

Detail of "This Is Night". Oil and mixed media on canvas. Work in Progress...

Detail of "This Is Night". Oil and mixed media on canvas. Work in progress!!

Detail of "Walking In A New City". Oil and mixed media on canvas. Work in Progress... of course.

Yet another detail of "Walking In A New City". Etc.

So there you have it. Some of it, anyhow. Hopefully soon I'll have these all done and will be able to show them to you and anyone else who'd like to see them. Thanks for looking...

Back In The Day (Techno-Whining Alert)

2009-02-08T14:18:00.002-05:00

I just sent my second-ever "Help, I need some help, please" email to my Internet Provider.

I have purchased, and failed to properly install, some sort of wire-less router thingie for my laptop. All I want to do is use my laptop on my... um... I guess it's technically my dining-room table. Really it's my workspace, desk, and sewing-table that I and other people sometimes eat a meal on. Anyhow this is the second wireless-router-thingie I've purchased. Thank heavens this time I saved my receipt.

So, I emailed my IP, and I hope they'll get back to me in the next day or two with some answer for my poor little compu-paranoid soul. I use the term "compu-paranoid" with authority because I wrote a paper about it in college, about 12 years ago. Yes, I invented the term. And yes, I'm sure others have invented it too.

Oh, back when Commodore 64's were THE big thing, I was such a wiz-kid. I RULED the computer-lab in my grade six year. I helped everyone with all types of things. I programmed in BASIC. It was such fun. Whatever happened? I think part of my problem is that I dropped out of the burning, roaring and raving computer-scene in my early 'teens. I didn't have my own computer til one of my brothers gave me his old clunker a few years back. I didn't know how to turn on or off a contemporary personal-computer til my first job post-college.

Hmm. I had rebelled during high-school; I didn't want to take "Computer Science" because at that time all it really did was take the place of "Typing". I was avoiding sexual stereotypes in my schooling. I didn't take any Home-Economics courses, and even dabbled with the idea of taking Woodshop (though my fear of assorted grave injuries stopped me from taking that plunge).

Things are so much easier when all you do is make things like paintings and cartoons and knit or sewn things that are crafty and fun and creative. I just almost wish I had not rebelled against the status quo and taken the typing/computer courses. Almost.

New Place For An Existing Blog

2009-02-05T20:06:00.000-05:00

Hello. This is a new blog, but it is an old blog, too.

I have an existing blog, at my "Myspace" page. You can check out older things here: http://blog.myspace.com/henderson_painting

But... I will be posting new stuff here as well! So... I'm a triple threat! (I post the same blog in a third place... why not have some fun and waste some time and try to figure out where it is???)

OK, no one has time to waste. And on that note, 'til next time.