UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 4, Page 13
September 26, 1991
Campus artist contributes to United Way effort

     Grace Hendrickson, records technician in Accounts Payable,
could
probably live comfortably from the sale of her paintings, but it's
doubtful she'll ever earn a penny.
     With a heart that may be too big for her own good, Hendrickson
makes it a point to give her paintings away for free.
     In fact, there's hardly a co-worker in her department who
doesn't have one of Hendrickson's paintings hanging above his or
her desk-and one or more at home.
     University employees who contribute to the United Way this
year also have a chance to own a Hendrickson original, as she
recently donated one of her works as an incentive prize in the
annual campus campaign.
     "If I can make someone happy with something I've created with
my own hands, that makes me happy in turn," she said, explaining
why she doesn't put a price on her paintings.
     "I'm always so pleased when someone likes my work. I never
think twice about giving it away.
     "Hendrickson has been painting for seven years. She works in
a variety of media-watercolor, acrylics and oils- and paints all
sorts of subjects.
     In the Accounts Payable office, for example, one colleague has
a painting of a lighthouse above her desk, and others include a
basket of blueberries, a seascape, a vibrant floral arrangement and
a window scene with two playful kittens.
     Hendrickson started painting after watching a weekly PBS
television show on how to paint.
     "I watched this show and thought, 'I can do that,'" she said,
"and so I took a stab at it."
     Her mentors are Bob Ross, Gary Jenkins, Lowell Spears and Bill
Alexander, the artists who offer the television shows. She has
studied with two of them in person and one of her paintings was
featured in Brushstrokes the newsletter for fans of the television
show.
     Locally, she has taken classes with Newark artists J. Archie
Collins, Janet Miller and Barbara Esper.
     Her work was exhibited a few years ago in the Newark Municipal
Building, and she currently has two paintings hanging in the
Faculty Dining Room.
     She donates work each year to the May Fair at her
grandchildren's school and to a benefit sponsored by her daughter's
department at the Du Pont Co.
     Hendrickson and her husband, Jim, who is employed as a painter
for the University, have lived in Ogletown for 34 years.
     They have two daughters and two grandchildren-Erin and
Clarkie-who go to the same elementary school Grace attended.
     Erin, she said, is her biggest fan, always asking Grandma to
paint her something new. Clarkie recently requested a painting of
a turtle- probably in the Ninja-mode-the artist said.
     Hendrickson takes her inspiration from nature, from greeting
cards, from calendars and from pictures in magazines.
     Her personal favorite, and one painting that she won't be
giving away, is of an owl, painted on glass. It hangs over the sofa
in her home.
     She said she hopes someday to join with other salaried staff
at the University and have a show somewhere on campus.
     Till then, she is delighted to have been asked to donate a
painting to the United Way.
                                        - Beth Thomas

The University United Way Campaign will be conducted from Oct.
14-25. For more information, call Joyce Dennis at 451-2171.