Joseph C. Henderson Is Art League’s Featured Artist in August (by Mary Vinnedge)

From Aug. 1-25, Award-winning painter Joseph C. Henderson – who often depicts iconic Galveston Island scenes – will be the Featured Artist at the Galveston Art League Gallery, 2117A Postoffice St. in Galveston.
    Starting in his childhood, Henderson liked to paint. But he says he didn’t get serious about his brushwork until moving to Galveston about five years ago. For three decades before that, Henderson, now 63, was a registered architect — which could explain why he likes to include famous city landmarks in his artwork. He also enjoys painting beaches and boats.
    As a middle-school student, Henderson often painted in his family’s Indianapolis basement. Family, friends, and a very strong art faculty in high school were highly supportive of his efforts. These days he says Jack Morris and Betsy Campbell, curators at Third Coast Gallery, encourage him; he sells in their gallery, 2413 Mechanic St. in Galveston, as well as at the Galveston Art League Gallery.
     Although Henderson worked with watercolors at first, he now paints acrylic on panel or canvas. Henderson says his painting process is typical: He begins with an underpainting layer of burnt sienna and then he sketches the subject while working from photographs. He develops the scene with additional darker tones, eventually adding color and adjusting colors as the painting develops.
Henderson doesn’t have a lot of rules to follow, instead believing that artists should keep their minds open. His advice: “Explore new styles, subject matter, and media. Embrace the unexpected when you work. An unintended effect might completely alter the piece you are working on, often with great results.” 
That philosophy works for him. Henderson has won several awards in Galveston Art League juried competitions, including McGivney Purchase and Best of Show awards during the past couple of years.  
     As featured artist during August, he will have a dozen or so paintings offered for sale in the Galveston Art League Gallery. The gallery is open from noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays; it also stays open until 9 p.m. – serving wine and snacks – during ArtWalk, which is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24.
The Galveston Art League was established in 1914 to promote appreciation of visual arts and art education in the Galveston County region. It’s a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that has never had a salaried staff member. To learn more about Art League memberships, which are open to non-artists as well as artists, or to find out about other ways to support the league’s mission, please visit www.GalvestonArtLeague.com or email [email protected].

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