Teaching and Elephants

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.

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

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

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!

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

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.

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.