I've been experimenting more with scratchboard lately and just finished a more challenging composition. I used a linocut tool again, which meant hours of carving and a sore neck and hands by the end of it. For my next piece — a moth composition — I finally ordered the proper scratchboard tools from Dick Blick. (Much easier. I’ll share more about that in a separate post.)
Scratchboard piece by Kendra Shedenhelm
Working in Scratchboard for an Art Exhibit Submission
I love the rich black and white of scratchboard, so I wanted to try it again for an upcoming art exhibition submission.
I’m still winging it (no pun intended), but I enjoy the process and the look of the medium.
I haven’t been accepted yet, but if I am, I’ll post more details about the show. Stay tuned!
From a Morning Drawing to a Festive Pattern on Spoonflower
I love the early morning, and I try to draw at least one thing upon waking. Here’s a sketch of menorahs from this week:
Morning drawing by Kendra Shedenhelm
I scanned it in, vectorized the linework in Illustrator, and built a repeating pattern from the pieces. Then I uploaded it to Spoonflower, where it’s now available in both large and small scale.
Here’s how it looks on their cocktail napkins:
The design is available as fabric, wallpaper, and home decor. And if you happen to be reading this on Cyber Monday, Spoonflower is running big sales right now.
Click here for my Hanukkah design or here for many more patterns by me! (:
Scratchboard by Kendra Shedenhelm turned into a little animation using Veo3
Animating my scratchboard piece
My first test with AI video using my scratchboard piece that I made for my friend's child's birthday about two years ago today.
I think it turned out pretty cool.
Happy Birthday, kiddo.
Woman With Barrette, etching with chine colle by Kendra Shedenhelm
Woman With Barrette at the Local Color 2025 Show
My etching Woman With Barrette (with chiné collé) is part of Local Color 2025, the annual members’ fine art show and sale hosted by the Croton Council on the Arts. She’s available for $120, beautifully framed, and hanging now at Symphony Knoll in Croton-on-Hudson.
This is one of my favorite local shows—it brings together artists from around the area in a relaxed, welcoming setting. There’s always a great mix of work, from painting and printmaking to sculpture and photography.
Show details:
📍 Symphony Knoll, 15 Mt. Airy Road S, Croton-on-Hudson
🗓️ November 8–9 and 15–16, 12–6 PM
🎉 Opening reception: Sunday, November 9, 3–6 PM
Chickadee I, monoprint on archival paper
Chickadees at Ghost Gallery: Small Original Monoprints in the 19th Annual Holiday Mini Art Exhibit
My Chickadees pieces for the 19th Annual Holiday Mini Art Exhibit at Ghost Gallery sold within minutes of the preview going live—and I’m stoked.
This is my fourth year showing with Ghost, and I always love working with them. They curate such a strong mix—so much cool, original work from artists all over the country.
Both Chickadee I and Chickadee II are monoprints on archival paper, each created using a 3×5 Gelli plate. Each print is a one-of-a-kind original, framed to 5×7 and ready to hang.
You don’t have to be in Seattle to check it out—the full show is online and keeps updating throughout the week. The exhibit runs from November 14 through early January, with receptions on Nov. 14 and Dec. 12, both from 5–9 pm.
I’m Scared Too at Bethany Arts Community
My piece, “Stitch” (shown above), is included in I’m Scared Too, a juried exhibition at Bethany Arts Community in Ossining, NY. The show runs from October 4 through November 1, 2025, with an opening reception on Friday, October 10, from 6–8 PM.
Bethany Arts Community
40 Somerstown Road
Ossining, NY 10562
The exhibition asks a simple question—what does it truly mean to be scared? It brings together 2D and 3D works, sculpture, film, and soundscapes that explore what we try to hide in the dark: the strange, the bleak, the freaky, and the weird.
My work in this show turns that question inward. The stitched mouth and skeletal collar suggest the ways fear can manifest as control—how we contain what threatens to spill out. It’s part of my ongoing exploration of transformation, fragility, and the uneasy beauty of what lies just beneath the surface.
For more information or visiting hours, see Bethany Arts Community – I’m Scared Too
IRL (In Real Life), A Recent Show at the Town Hall
I’m so pleased to see my art featured in a local paper!
They chose my “Queen, Urchin” piece, and it’s one of my favorites.
You can read more about the show at patch.com
Woman With Blue Boots at the ANW 54th Artist Exhibit
I’m excited to share that my drawing, Woman With Blue Boots, will be part of the ANW 54th Artist Exhibit (Artists of Northern Westchester). The show opens this Sunday, March 30, 2025, from 2–4 PM in Croton-on-Hudson.
After showing a lot of my collage work—often heavier in tone and material—I wanted to submit something different this time. Woman With Blue Boots is a colorful illustration that came to life alongside my Tiny Art Portraits, though at 8.5" x 11", she’s not exactly tiny.
She’s drawn with ink and marker on smooth paper—materials that are less stable over time, though I coated the piece with a UV spray for some protection. The loose, spontaneous feel of this drawing is part of what makes it special.
She’s also for sale: $125 framed, or $100 unframed. If you're in the area, come by the show!
(If you can’t make the show but are interested in purchasing this drawing, please email me for Venmo/Paypal info and I will ship it to you.)
New Etchings from Printmaking Class
I just wrapped up another printmaking class at the Garrison Art Center with Ezra Heller. This session, I focused on etching with soft ground, drypoint, aquatint, and chine collé.
These are two of my favorite pieces from the class.
I used pages from a local phone book as the collage element, layering text over the images to create an interesting contrast between the structured lines of print and the organic quality of the drawn portrait. Both are printed on archival Fabriano paper. The paper size is 7x10 inches, and the image size is 4x6 inches. I love how the delicate etching lines interact with the printed text, creating a sense of history and layering.
Both prints are available for sale at $65 each + S&H. Please email me or click here for more info.
Artwork: Rabbit and Rose, 2024, Collage transfer on birch plywood.
Show Prep & The Process Behind My Collage Portraits
With my upcoming show approaching, I’ve been focused on framing, organizing, and making final decisions on what will be included. It’s always a mix of logistics and reflection—figuring out what fits together and seeing how the work holds up as a whole.
For both BEFORE AFTER BETWEEN and TRANSFORMATIONS, I’ve built each collage portrait from antique and vintage imagery sourced from Flickr’s extensive royalty-free archives. Old book illustrations, forgotten photographs, scraps of text—things that once had meaning to someone but have since been untethered from their original context.
None of these images were ever meant to be together, but now they form faces, expressions, and identities that feel whole. It’s a lot like memory—disjointed details coming together into a story, even when they don’t quite belong.
By searching, choosing, and assembling these pieces, I create new connections between them. Each fragment carries its own history, but together, they become something else. In a way, the work is about giving them a second life—letting these forgotten images take on new meaning now.
More soon as the show gets closer.
End of Year Catchup (4 of 4) — New “Floral Ink” Calendar for 2025 now available
New Floral Ink wall calendar for 2025 is now available!
I’m super proud to have another Floral Ink calendar produced by Graphique de France for 2025. Like previous years, I created a brushed ink drawing for each month. Graphique does a wonderful job of making the images extra pretty with the cream background and the gold accents.
You can purchase one on Calendars.com here. You can also find it on Amazon here. If you purchase one, and you like it, it would mean the world to me if you wrote a positive review on either of these sites.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Cover for the Floral Ink 2025 calendar, image courtesy of Graphique de France and Calendars.com
Back cover for the Floral Ink 2025 calendar, image courtesy of Graphique de France and Calendars.com
Prevew mockup of the Floral Ink 2025 calendar, image courtesy of Graphique de France and Calendars.com
End of Year Catchup (1 of 4) — Printmaking Class at New York School of the Arts
I haven’t been posting much on Instagram lately (I love taking social media breaks), but I’m still making plenty of art and having a great time doing it.
To kick off this catch-up, I wanted to share about the printmaking class I took this summer at the New York School of the Arts on the Upper East Side with Master Printer Taka Maruno. It was my first time at this space, and like so many places in the city, it has its own unique layout, style, and vibe. I really enjoyed it!
The printmaking room is on the smaller side but has excellent natural light and comfortably fits 6–8 artists. No acids or toxic chemicals are used, so everyone focuses on monotypes or drypoints, working with water-based inks.
On the first day, Taka gave me a sheet of plastic to carve into, and I stuck with drypoint for the rest of the session.
Below is a section of one of the drypoints I created. I titled her “Woman in Blue Dress”.
"Assembled: Tiny Portraits" New Show at Tiny Gallery
Just shipped out a new collection of analog collage portraits for the upcoming show at Tiny Gallery, Montclair, NJ. This exhibit will be even more special as it was invited to be a part of the Garden State Art Weekend!
Save the date for this very special art show featuring over 100 works by Tiny Gallery artists. Saturday, April 20, 12-6pm. 8 Stanford Place, Montclair, NJ
Group Show at Arbor Gallery, "New Growth"
Extremely proud to announce my fresh-off-the-press intaglio print has been accepted to a group show at Arbor Gallery in Carmel, NY.
This piece is part of a brand new body of intaglio etchings that I’ve been experimenting with, focusing on memory, memories, and the grasping to keep hold of one’s story.
The show runs from January 16, 2024–February 18, 2024, with an Artist's Reception on January 21 from 12pm to 3pm. Please reach out to me or Kelly at Arbor Gallery for more information. I’d love to see you there!
"People And The Planet" Show at Touchstone Gallery, Washington D.C.
“Sprout”, from my recent Transformations collage series, is featured in the People and The Planet exhibition at Touchstone Gallery in Washington D.C.!
The show opens this week with a reception on Saturday, August 5 from 4-7 pm.
www.touchstonegallery.com/people-and-the-planet
www.touchstonegallery.com/gallery-events/people-planet-reception (Eventbrite, Facebook, email RSVP options)
*Please note that my collage is part of the virtual exhibition at Touchstone Gallery. The physical piece is for sale at Ghost Gallery in downtown Seattle. Feel free to reach out with any questions!
“The Storyteller” collage portrait now showing at Core Art Space in Denver, Colorado
I'm thrilled to announce that The Storyteller (aka Wrap) from my Transformations collage series was selected for the group show in Denver, titled "Once Upon A Time."
It's an honor to be part of this exhibition, juried by the incredible artist, @valeriesavarie. The show is up through July 30, 2023 @coreartspace.
If you're in the Denver area, please grab a friend and check it out.
This piece is also FOR SALE. Printed on fine art glass by the incredible team at POV in Los Angeles, this collage portrait is reminiscent of the ambrotype, with layers of antique papers and fleur de lis, to tell the story of The Storyteller. The glass is 11”x14” and is inset in a ornate frame.
To purchase, you can contact me or get in touch with the folks at Core Art Gallery. Priced to sell at $400 and ready to ship or pick up after July 30th.
Croton-on-Hudson's 125th Anniversary Art Show
Last Saturday, on May 20th, my town celebrated its 125th Anniversary Art Show, and the turnout was incredible!
The event showcased an array of stunning artwork by local artists, attracting a large crowd of art enthusiasts. It was truly heartening to witness such overwhelming support at an art opening.
I proudly contributed two pieces from my latest Transformations series, specifically my "printer's proofs," to this remarkable exhibition. In the following paragraphs, you'll find the statement I prepared for this weekend's local show...
In the collage portrait series, “Transformations,” my goal was to evoke a sense of hidden secrets beneath the surface. While deeply personal in nature, I hope these portraits inspire introspection, speculation, and a connection to the enigmatic past.
During the creative process for this exhibition, I experimented with two distinct techniques to explore the essence of antique portraiture. The first piece, titled “Octopus,” was crafted on fine art glass, reminiscent of the classic glass plate photography found in antiquity. (Subsequently, the entire series of sixteen portraits was produced using this method and is on display in Seattle, WA.)
In the case of “Collar,” I employed a traditional etching process combined with photogravure. The piece was inked with sepia inks and printed by master printer, Kathy Caraccio, on an intaglio press. (Keep an eye out for an exciting spin-off series this summer that will exclusively feature this exquisite technique!)
“Collar” from the Transformations series. Photogravure etching, Copyright Kendra Shedenhelm 2023.
“Octopus from the Transformations series. Collage on glass, Copyright Kendra Shedenhelm 2023.
New Tiny Art Show Opens Today!
Today is an exciting day for me as my artwork is being featured at the Tiny Gallery in Montclair, NJ!
There’s a great story about this new gallery in northjersey.com with pictures of the structure and its brilliant founder, Francesca Castagnoli.
If you’re in the Montclair area, be sure to stop by the Tiny Gallery Montclair and check out my work. You can also visit the website at https://www.tinygallerymontclair.com/artists/kendra-shedenhelm.
Please let me know if you get a chance to see it in person!
More Free Coloring Pages now available for download
I’ll be adding a few downloadable coloring pages to my Freebies section this week.
This one is a holiday-themed drawing, with a hot drink, mittens, cookies, and the like. Below is a preview, but be sure to grab the high-resolution version by clicking here.
As always, I love it when people share how they’ve used my art. Please feel to reach out and tag me on Instagram @kendrashedenhelm