Studio Notes

Recent Posts

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Arts North Studio Tour

Larry 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. One of […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]