Author Archives: Lynette Hensley

Shelter in Place

I’m writing this on 4/12/2020, Easter Sunday. We are in unprecedented times, in the midst of COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders. I hear that term “unprecedented” everyday, in these strange times. It’s true. We are in a health crisis, and if we were not behaving well over all as a society, it would also be a community crisis. But like has happened in hard times before, people have come together and support each other in any way they find appropriate. For me, it’s art, sewing, gardening, cooking, keeping in touch with loved ones. 

Being a citizen and part of a community has never been more important in our world. For so long I’ve been able to just concentrate on playing in the art room, entertaining myself, and making cool things that people also find cool. Being a citizen was low on the list of things to pay attention to.

But now it’s time for us to focus a bit differently, focus more outside our own edges,  more world wide. Our focus is on saving lives, and supporting people who need us. I will still approach that with humor and whimsy since it comes from me. 

I am not what might be referred to as a political activist. You are unlikely to find me marching in downtown Seattle, but my causes are in line with many democrats and tend toward those that value government supporting people over business, value human life over money, and level the opportunity field to include all. I think art can communicate these things. 

So this is my contribution for now.  

Life is still  so good.

Art and citizenship in the time of COVID-19

Long time since I added anything here. Most of my interactions are on Facebook and Instagram anymore.

As I sit here in my oasis of a backyard under Covid 19 shelter-in-place, I understand that I have it pretty easy in the midst of tough times. As an artist I am seldom at a loss for something to do to fill my time. As an introvert, it doesn’t bother me at all to stay home and not see folks for long periods of time. As a middle class person still employed during this time, I’m not too, too worried about money. As an empty nester I don’t have the task of homeschooling or tending any kiddos. Lucky me. It’s tempting to have some form of survivor’s guilt, but that’s not constructive, and we are not through this yet. We don’t know yet who will survive medically, financially, maritally, politically, socially.

So many unknowns. What I do know is that as a compassionate human, I will do all I can, get out my sewing machine to make masks, clear the way for others to have resources by not hoarding more than our share of tissues and chicken broth. Make music videos and read to my grandkids, text friends to check in. Make use of what I already have on hand. I will also accept help from loved ones, from loving neighbors (thanks, Tom!). What I won’t do? I won’t go out unless necessary — the reasons have been recounted by many others. I will not spread rumors or disinformation, we are swimming in it. Cooperation, compassion and hope are our greatest assets right now as humans, and our leaders that point toward a plan, truth and hope are the ones I am counting on these days.

My job as a human is to respond quickly to true leadership, the science community, our governors and mayors who are in touch with the scientific community and who are acting decisively and with compassion. My job is to encourage others to do the same with a spirit of citizenship and community. It’s also my job to reflect back encouragement to these leaders and my fellow citizens.

My job as an artist right now is to communicate hope, humor, compassion and joy, and find the whimsy in places unique to me. Art helps to remind me that we are all part of this world wide community. In my experience, it brings folks together. So that’s my current weekend focus. That and clearing out the attic.

A Heart Beat filled with Light

I received this sweet email from a friend who had taken home one of my actors.

Hi Lynette,
So this happened yesterday. We have a crystal heart hanging in a window that puts rainbows everywhere. Today one landed right on your character and the crystal was moving ever so slightly too. I wanted you to see it!
Thankful for your art in my home 😊
Hugs, 
B

 

Loss and Laughter

I’m drawn to sad songs. I call them Canteloupe dog songs. You know, melancholies or ‘Melon Collies.” I explain this on stage between songs and it usually gets a groan, but it’s still true. I love a sad song — and yet in my visual art I’m compelled to create whimsy and humor.

Why the dichotomy?

First I want to think about sadness and loss for a minute. I think since we’ve all suffered loss, there’s a feeling that people will understand and identify with ones expression of sadness. For one who is young, the losses may be minor but the feelings are stronger, possibly because that feeling is so new. The older one is, the greater the losses, but also the greater the understanding that life piles on the losses over time. So we sing to that–our voices rise in harmonic sadness, noble in the acceptance of what is now gone from us. I don’t welcome the losses. Yet we sing to the truth of what we’ve lost and how that feels.

In one of my new favorite songs, John Gorka writes, “It’s tough before the aftermath, waiting for the sky to rain.” To me this is so true — it’s when you realize that there will be an aftermath that shock sets in, and you may be waiting for rain – for the tears to come along and then the rain that washes the pain and sorrow away. While waiting for the rain, your chin curls down into your chest, drawing into itself like a pill bug, protecting the soft inner core with your spine – the only hard shell you have on your body besides fingernails. You live with the loss, and then time and acceptance come in and feel like sheep’s wool on a cold Northwest winter day. This is when life starts to open up again – it goes back and forth. Open a little, then close up. Smile then sadness, comfort and forgetting.

ThoughtfulAnd now let’s think about the whimsy and humor in the art I make. Well, I suppose that’s the yin/yang of life. I think the humor comes directly out of the sadness.

These actors. I know exactly where they come from, and I’m excited to see where they are going. More often funny than sad, they usually have names with some humor or word play. For example, there were the twins: Illuminaughty and Illuminice. I don’t have fully formed stories for each, but that’s OK, they are meant to carry meaning to the One who takes them home. Each person who claims an actor can cast them in a play of their own making. The meaning comes as the play unfolds.

Both art and music may be a way of working through some issue, and BOTH are good for that. Or it may simply be to make a smile in my day. A painting or a song are often a reminder of someone dear – someone who used to laugh with us, or someone who still laughs with us.

I have a friend who finds deep meaning in the most common of things. She finds spiritual solace or guidance in the simplest things. She also makes her cat speak as if she’s a human and she says the most ridiculous things. I don’t do this with my cats, but I think I do with my actors. And what could be more fun?

Arts North Studio Tour

actor blocksLarry and I had a wonderful studio tour April 30 & May 1, with the Arts North Studio Tour folks.

Larry showed his guitars, and I had my paintings, collages and assemblage sculptures.

Lots of visitors, and it’s wonderful to be a part of this fine group of artists, eleven studios in all.

IMAG3208One of the joys of having a guitar maker as a guest artist (and husband and bandmate) is that there were some wonderful musicians that came to see the guitars, and graced us with some music on the fly. One couple on Sunday came during an otherwise quiet time, which gave us a chance to trade some songs with each other. We’ll keep in touch for sure!

We’ll do it again in September. Guess we’d better get busy with making stuff.

Lynette Hensley

Two Studio Tours in September

1st Ever
Arts North! Studio Tour

Lynette Hensley, the Flying Redhead

Saturday/Sunday September 12 & 13 Please stop by studio 10 and come see the new work I’ve put together for your entertainment, and to take home with you if it strikes your fancy. (What is a “fancy” anyhoo?)

I will be at my own Flying Redhead home studio along with Robin Westbrook, faboolous jewelry maker.
ReversePolkaSpot-500x500

Hours are 10 AM to 5 PM both days. Studio 10 is located at 3009 NE 135th St, Seattle 98125.

The tour map is available on the website along with info about all the other fine artists and studios on the tour! 11 studios, 37 artists!

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Then the following week — (what was I thinking?!! It’s ok, it’ll be two weekends in a row – FUN!!)

10th Annual

Edmonds Art Studio Tour

Saturday/Sunday September 19 & 20. Please stop by studio 14 and say hi! I will be at  fabulous print artist Mona Smiley Fairbanks’ home studio along with Robin Westbrook once again. It’s more fun when you get to spend the weekend with peeps you like!

I’m bringing new work, many smaller sized pieces, and matted studies all for viewing and purchase, as well as some new 3D figures I’ve been having a great time making. It’s all fun, and I’d love to see you!

Parking should be easy enough in both locations, and there will be signs pointing the way. Please download a map of the Edmonds tour here and be sure to check out the other artists on the tour website — there are some fascinating folks!

Hours are 10 AM to 5 PM both days. Studio 14 is located at 8622 202nd St SW, Edmonds 98026.

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Art Walk Edmonds Preview at ART Spot
There will be a little preview of the tour at ART Spot on Thursday September 17 from 5-8PM for the Art Walk Edmonds – AWE. I’ll be there with one of my sculptures along with many of the other artists on the tour. It’s the only time we see each others work!

Oh Oh Oh!
One of the fun things we did last year and this year was artist interviews — here’s a link to mine wherein I answer “What does it mean to be human?” along with other intriguing questions.

Lynette Hensley

6 Paintings, comin’ right up!

I started a 6 painting series, 6 compositions borrowed and cropped from old photos, all will be 16″x20″. They will be collages and paintings, and more colorful than what you see here, but it’s a good start, getting the drawings done and some values in place.

I’m excited to be working on this series, solidifying some methods of working out compositions and textures, and integrating people into an abstracted environment. Starting with cropped photos that move the focus a bit off center, or just outside the golden mean balance point. So then the problem to solve is how to balance the off-balance-ness. I think I can do it by moving other things around, like the colors in the background.

6 painting series 3 6 painting series 2 6 painting series

Stories Add Depth

I’ve often thought there was a story behind many of my paintings and collages, but I seldom wrote them down.

I recently read about and purchased a book, Significant Objects, 100 extraordinary stories about ordinary things. The idea behind the book was that narrative adds value. And while they were using monetary value as their metric for determining the “value,” I have always liked the idea of adding narrative to visual art. It’s not that I think the art won’t stand on it’s own without the narrative, but that cross pollination of art forms, writing and visual art, allows for a fuller experience.

So when applying for the Kenmore Art Show coming up in June, there was a space for 200 character description, rather than describing the technical process or materials used, I got started thinking about the the story. 200 characters is a challenging limitation, but also freeing. Here are 4 pieces that got short (nearly microscopic) stories.

LHensley-Friend of the Family - Web

The cat has come to visit our warm fire-lit living room. As a highly domestic cat, she fits right into our highly domestic setting, even as far as curling her tail into our couch’s Greek wave motif.

Hensley_Lynette_GreekChorus

The play’s the thing, and these five were cast as the chorus in a Greek play. I hope it’s a comedy. Remember, there are no small parts, only small actors.

Poppies

Poppies have an attitude. They rise up and stand tall, and then sport their wilty petals — proud and sorta wimpy all at the same time. Sometimes a flower just demands to become a painting.

LHensley_House_of_Fools

Ah the grand parade of people who peer and parade, who scoff and snicker, who look and linger, who query and quickstep along the promenade, and then there are the people who watch.

LHensley_Girl-Couch

The cast: Girl, Daddy, Bird, Couch, Legs, Chair, Door. I was a 3.5 year old girl, dancing and swirling with the artist Joan Miro, who stayed just behind the curtain off stage right. The first in a series. What fun!

Edouard Manet’s flowers…why does this painting work?

Breakin’ the composition rules, and still winning. This painting by Edouard Manet has two strong circle shapes side by side, almost centered, which is generally not advised for a great composition. Then add a strong line going off the edge of the canvas — whoosh — eyes are in danger of leaving the picture. Yet a subtle pair of stem snippers at the left pulls eyes both off to the left AND back in, and the even more subtle table top/horizon line brings eyes back to the center and the subtleties of shading in the flowers.

Economy of color, stroke, subject, shadow. It’s big contrasts, and some subtle tricks that make it work.

Yep. He wins.

A New Easel for the Studio – A Review

As I sat with a group of artists last night discussing how to market ourselves, the subject came up about costs of doing what we do vs. earnings. For most of us, costs and earnings were about equal. While that’s sad, I bring this up to make the point that while we like to have beautiful tools and equipment, many in our industry can’t afford the most expensive kind. However, the big easel I wanted to replace is a hand made model, sturdy, heavy, and remodeled by my wonderful husband to fit my space. But it  didn’t feel sturdy enough. Between the wobbles and the lack of adjust-ability, I wanted something more.

My quest for an easel was to find a reasonably priced, sturdy model that would hold fairly big canvasses, fit in my small space and be useful for smaller pieces as well as big ones. I also was looking for a very adjustable model that could lay down. What I found was US Art Supply® MALIBU Extra Large 80″ to 139″ Tall Adjustable H-Frame Deluxe Adjustable Wood Studio Easel with Tilt & Casters from TCP Global Corp through Amazon, which seems to fit the small space I have and meets all my criteria for the current need.

It rolls on casters. I can see that they may need to be replaced someday, but for now, it rolls smoothly, and I’m happy about how easy it is to move about the space.

Adjustments for height at the top bracket, at the rack, and at the back braces give it full adjustability, and, as shown in my picture, will also lay flat. I will use that feature for final varnishing, and it’s also useful for watercolorists or other artists that want to work flat. I like it better than trying to set a large canvas on a table surface, especially with bigger canvasses.

Easel-review-2 Easel-review-3 Easel-review-4

It was not hard to put together, though it took a whole evening. Look at the drawings carefully — I did — and still put some parts together backwards, though that was easily remedied. I like a challenge, but not too much of a challenge in assembling things like this. No words, just pictures on the instructions.

All in all a good buy at $150.