Michelle (Basic) Hendry - Fine Art

Changes, Subscription & the Studio

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Michelle in the studio

Michelle Basic Hendry in the studio © 2009 Kelly Holinshead

With the recent changes in my website, I figured I should write a post to make sure I am still catching all my subscribers. If you subscribe to Artscapes – I would be thrilled if you would leave me a comment or e-mail me to let me know that you received the blog notification either by e-mail or Feed Reader – whichever method you use!

I am finally back in the studio and I have been working on my largest interior painting to date. With all of the distractions, the drawing took me a little longer than planned and then when I put in on the canvas, I realized the 24×30 inch canvas was too short for the composition. So I am just today transferring the drawing to a longer canvas – 24×36 inches.

It is daunting to say the least. I have never approached an interior at this size before… And what’s more, it will be a sort of painting within a painting. I love Wyeth’s paintings of the inside looking out. My painting will use that approach allowing the landscape outside the empty doorway to be more than a decorative background. The painting is from the second floor of the Livingstone/Stephens House so perspectives are a bit crazy too.

I am hoping to share a work in progress at some point soon. I am expecting that it will be near the end of the month before it is finished. Now that I have broadcast that – it had better be!

I will have some exciting announcements soon – I hope. So the blog will be busy in the coming weeks to keep up with the news from the Studio.

Thank you all for bearing with me during the changes!

(The image in this post was taken by photographer Kelly Holinshead during a photo shoot for the October 2009 Muskoka Magazine article. Kelly is a phenomenal fine art, commercial and wedding photographer. In a region full of some of the finest photographic artists in Ontario, Kelly stands out as dynamic, fearless and unique. Visit her website here or her Gallery in Huntsville, Ontario.)

3rd Blogiversary

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Fraserburg
Fraserburg Ruin © 2010 Michelle Basic Hendry

Today is the 3rd anniversary for the Artscapes Blog. It is hard to believe that I have been doing this under my own motivation for 3 years! I have included this photo of an old ruin from Fraserburg, Ontario, because recently I found out I have deep connections with the Scottish town from which it was named.

I never thought I could write so much, nor did I expect how much of an influence the blog would have on my work and my creative direction. Journaling is supposed to be the best way to flesh out ideas or thoughts simmering beneath the surface and the blog has certainly served that purpose for me. When this blog began in 2007, I had not even discovered yet where I was going artistically. It was an experiment – an experiment that helped lead to a series and now to a book. I am hoping to have more news on that soon. In fact, there area few exciting things to come….

There are hints in recent posts of where I plan to go next, how my fourth year blogging and the beginning of my third year as, pretty much, a full time artist will unfold. (I still do some graphics work from time to time so it is now the part-time job!) I am still paying my dues, however. I know I can expect another few years of what, at times, feels like banging my head against a wall, even though I think I have been off to a great start. The blog, for the time being at least, is certainly a part of my plan. I have accomplished a lot here.

Since the the first post, I have had my first solo show, been involved in a few successful group shows, won awards and hung my art, albeit briefly, in the McMichael Gallery, where my love of art was born. I have been elected to two national and international arts organizations and I have felt the warmth of the traditional media more than my fair share, for which I am eternally grateful!

Blogging, as much as it it a personal experience, is also a community. I have made many virtual friends, wonderfully creative people that have been with me since practically the beginning and newer friends whose support and encouragement have been so important to me. Sharing and learning from each other has made blogging invaluable. I want to list them here because their blogs are wonderful and worth following; my oldest blog friends,  Lana Gramlich (amazing artist and photographer), Ingrid Schmelter (the creative KaslKaos), Jennifer Rose (Fuzzy Dragons – coloured pencil work like none I have seen), Kinsey (I hope I am like her when I grow up), Linda Blondheim (my long distance mentor) and Jean Levert Hood (who paints the best chickens ever!) – and more recent friends such as Robin Easton, (whose excellent inspirational book I am currently reading), Arti (a fantastic blogger on culture and entertainment), Debbie Lamey Macdonald (my east coast sister and wonderful oil painter), Patrick Morand (French photographer extraordinaire), Henry (SoulMerlin), and Eddie (thoughtful imagemaker on the West Coast), Chrissy (wonderful UK artist), Ed (our Muskoka HDR man) and our once local blogger Jenn Jilks.

I know there are many of you out there who read the blog silently and your quiet presence is also greatly appreciated.

So there it is. To the next 3 years!

2nd Anniversary Giveaway!

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Prize
Giveaway Prize: 5 – 4.5×6″ art cards with envelopes © 2009 Michelle Basic Hendry

November 9th marks the two year anniversary of the Artscapes Blog! I want to take the opportunity to thank all of you who have hung in there these past two years and send a warm welcome to new readers!

This year I decided to celebrate a little by holding a draw for a set of 5 art cards.

All you have to do to enter is:

  • comment on this Post and/or
  • sign up for my Newsletter (below)

If you comment and sign up, you will get entered twice. If you are already signed up to the Newsletter, your comment on the blog will also get you two entries. Because I want this to be permission based, I will not automatically enter those of you already signed up to the newsletter without a blog comment unless you ask me to. Please comment only once! When you sign up to the Newsletter, you can be certain that I will never share your e-mail address or private information with anyone. Your privacy will be maintained.

The contest will remain open for 9 days and closes midnight November 14, 2009 (EST). The winner will be drawn on Monday, November 16th, 2009.  I will contact the winner by e-mail (the address given) and announce it on the Blog. The winner will need to provide me with their ‘snail mail’ address in order to receive the cards*.

It will be well worth signing up for the November/December Newsletter because the full story and new details on the ‘Yellow Door’ House will be revealed; there will be a new painting seen on the Newsletter before anywhere else; and I will be announcing plans for 2010.

To sign up for the newsletter, fill in your e-mail address below and confirm:

Good Luck everyone! And thank you for entering…. 🙂

* (I have to have a disclaimer here!) The contest is open to anyone in the World that can receive paper products from Canada, except where prohibited by law. My family cannot be a part of the draw – sorry guys! Customs charges for an American or European winner are very unlikely, but, any customs charges will be the responsibility of the winner. The winner must respond by e-mail to the announcement within 15 days or they are disqualified and a new winner will be drawn.

Brush Tips, an Award & A Skunk

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It is February and we are experiencing a rather unusual thaw. There is fog everywhere – and unfortunately, more than one kind.  As I was writing this post, a horrid smell began to seep through my walls. I realized that my cat was still outside. I have never experienced a smell like this. I suspected, but thought – in February? In town?? No way!!! We have 4 feet of snow!

Sure enough, my cat was sprayed by a skunk straight in the face. My cat must be retarded. My cat is in his cat prison until morning (it was 1 am when it struck and it is 3 am now) and he has been given a makeshift bath until we can get something proper in the morning and get him to the vet. (Vinegar, baking soda and dish detergent) I grabbed him to protect my house. You do not want to be sitting too close to me now either. I have been spraying myself with the stink removing enzyme and now, I, at least, can stand myself. If anybody has tips on how to save us from our plight, they would be welcome! I am currently fighting the urge to commit felicide. (Is that a word???) If he wasn’t so damned cute….

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Art Blog Award

Now that all of the work for the launch is done, the website, the new paintings, the new blog – I can catch up on some of the kindness sent my way. Linda Blondheim, a wonderful artist – and cyber friend, passed this award on to me on Friday. Thank you Linda!! 🙂

I’m supposed to tell you 7 things I love.

1. I love landscape – big skies, trees and the feeling that comes when alone in the expanse of it

2. I love my husband, my friends and my family – but no so much the cat at the moment…

3. I love to paint

4. I love to read & write

5. I love to travel in the RV.

6. I love music and movies

7. I love to have the good health to enjoy it all.

I pass this on to:

  • Lana Gramlich
  • Ingrid (KaslKaos)
  • Sadia
  • Jennifer Rose
  • Heather (Azure Island Design)
  • Kim (Laketrees)
  • Kinsey Barnard

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Tip For Getting Dried Acrylic Paint out of Your Brushes

Last Friday I was scrambling to finish “Hopewell” in order to make my deadline. I had done some glazing over the sky and was very careful that the colour was nicely distributed. I put the brush down and forgot about it- until about 4 or 5 hours later. The brush was as hard as a rock. Fortunately, I remembered a tip I was given by a lovely lady who has a wonderful collection of brushes that she kept in excellent shape. Cleaning the brush proved to be extemely simple.

  1. Soak the brush in rubbing alcohol for 5 minutes.
  2. Rub the bristles gently and massage the paint out of the bristles as the paint softens
  3. Once the brush is paint free, rinse and clean with a brush detergent or any gentle detergent

It’s that simple! Now I wish there was a magic detergent for the skunk smell permeating through my house…..

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All text and images © 2001-2018 Michelle Hendry. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission is strictly prohibited.