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

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?

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

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?

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/

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...

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...

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...