Local painter by passion shares his story

A retired local resident, who defines herself as a painter by passion and enthusiasm, settled in oil painting for a living.

Kathie Henderson grew up in the city of Devon from the age of three. After graduating from high school she moved to Edmonton and there Henderson taught for 30 years.

Later in 1999 she returned to Devon – happily settled down with her children and has stayed there ever since.

Henderson discovered her passion for painting when her mother took her to Leduc for oil painting classes in grade 11. The first results might have suggested Henderson to pursue other hobbies. “The professor said, ‘Maybe you aren’t meant to be an artist,’” Henderson recalls.

When Henderson went to college, she took art classes and enjoyed the experience. “So a little more or less, I’ve been doing it since, except for a decade when I had babies,” she said.

“I call art a virus, and if you catch it it’s really hard to get rid of it. I used to be a painter, but it is constantly changing and you are always changing, ”said Henderson.

“For me, painting was just a fun thing that I learned in college, and I spent the next decade experimenting with watercolor and loving it. In 2000 I was asked to work on a mural for Devon Community Hall for the town’s 50th anniversary [along with other artists]. And we even got paid for these paintings.

Henderson’s mural can be found at the main entrance to the hallway of the community center. Henderson and a partner painted nine separate canvases at the house. While Henderson painted five canvases, his partner painted four.

“I did some street scenes in Devon. I [also painted a] large wall hanging [piece] for one of the 50th anniversary celebrations and they hung it on the city council, ”said Henderson.

Henderson tried different painting techniques and mediums, but settled on oil paints.

What interests him most in oil paintings, and painting in general, are all the values of light, dark and colors. This is the perspective she applies to her life as an individual. “It’s more or less a spiritual thing,” said Henderson.

She added that the oil paint dries slowly although it is very easy to mix.

“If you load the brush with oil paint and drag it around, it will last two feet.” Whereas if you try it with acrylic or watercolor it will stop after three inches. Oil painting can last indefinitely… it is a very old fashioned method. Like I say, it’s very toxic, but a lot of people still love it, and I’m one of them, ”said Henderson.

Oil paints are toxic because they can contain cadmium, a mineral that is toxic to the environment. Henderson explained that some oil paints are made with natural pigments from the Earth, but they cannot be called clean or neutral.

“You have to be careful not to breathe it, and [oil paints require] solvents to dilute or clean it, ”she added.

If not handled with care, working with oil paints can cause health problems. Limiting your exposure by working in a ventilated space with a mask and gloves is ideal.

Henderson’s hope is to create an art club in Devon where artists come together to paint, teach and learn. However, some of the issues that prevent this from happening include the lack of an empty open space where a club could meet, the lack of sufficient funding to run the club, and more.

Lately, Henderson has been working on portraits and some landscapes. “There are ways to experience it now, but for me, it’s mostly fun. ”

If you are interested in learning to paint or learning more about Henderson as an artist, visit facebook.com/kathiehendersonartstudio.