Small Paper Houses

I started creating small paper houses in 2016, calling this series Tree Houses. The small paper houses has been an ongoing series of photographs where I place the paper houses in parts of the natural environment like woodpecker holes, on stumps and between leaves. To learn more about the series of small paper houses, keep reading! 

Much of my current practice involves working outdoors as my studio and using paper to add or transform an area of a landscape that is close to me and I have spent time with. I see both the process of making the work and documenting the work in a photograph as the artwork.

 

In the Tree Houses series, I create miniature brown paper houses and place them in the landscape as tiny villages on tree stumps and in nooks and crannies of the natural environment. The houses are varied in size. After placing them, I take a photograph and remove the house to place it in a new location next time.  This series signifies the idea that home can be made where you make it and the importance of valuing the natural environment as a home. The small paper houses create miniature worlds or communities within the photo that is taken. 

I like taking the paper houses with me on hikes and walks to be able to capture new photos to add in the series. I would like to create a book of the small paper houses in the future.

small paper houses


You can take a look at some of the small paper houses series in the images below. 

small paper houses
small paper houses

This series of Tree Houses has been featured in:

  • Art Promenade (Photograph of Treehouses), City of Waterloo Public Art Installation in 2022

  • State of Becoming, Button Factory Arts, Waterloo, ON in 2017

  • Tree House (select photograph) Tiny Spoon (Issue 10) in 2023






To connect with me, please click on any of the icons below! Leave a comment below letting me know which photo you love from the series. 







I Want to Be an Artist

I want to be an artist and I have wanted to be an artist ever since I was in Kindergarten. I came home with piles of crafts and colouring sheets that were plastered on my bedroom door as a kid. Wanting to be an artist doesn’t just have to be a dream!



If you want to go to art school - check out my art portfolio coaching -to help you make an art portfolio application that stands out and gets accepted!

I have always loved creating. I have always felt a spark while creating and known I wanted to be an artist. 

Jackie Partridge I want to be an artist

I know I am an artist. I went to school and did my undergrad in painting and drawing at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay - you can read about that here. 


I also did my Master of Fine Arts at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. I am educated and trained to be an artist. When I make art I feel like I am an artist. 




Right now, I am not doing art on a full time basis. It’s hard because I love teaching and I enjoy it and I’m a great teacher and love my students. Most days I don’t feel fulfilled. 




But when I’m making art, writing about art or posting my art on social media, I feel so much happier. I am in a transition where my husband and I are trying to buy a house, to decide where we want to live and find work that we enjoy and that is meaningful to us. 

jackie partridge - i want to be an artist

As a teacher and artist I know I can work anywhere. That’s one of the reasons I want to be an artist.


As we prepare for this transition of me working as a teacher to switching to teaching part time after I have a baby - here is how I am preparing:


  • I am drafting and planning content. In the summer I filmed and my husband edited 12 youtube painting tutorials that could be released on my YouTube painting channel one per month- so that I have consistent content coming out. 

  • I also do this with the blogs that I have created so that I write 4-5 months of blogs and schedule them out ahead of time.

  • I started creating items that were easy to sell online and that are digital items that don’t need to be shipped like art teaching resources on Teachers Pay Teachers or my prints that are printed and shipped by Society6

  • I have spent a lot of time reading business books and taking courses to prepare myself for running a business on a full time basis

  • Lastly, I have spent a lot of time thinking and journaling about what I want my life to look like. Which is why I know I want to be an artist full time and not just on the evenings and weekends! 


How can you help me with this hopeful transition? You can share my work to your friends - here is the link to my shop you can share.


Download my FREE guide for preparing an art portfolio for school

 On the top of the page there is a form for people to join my mailing list. I would love for you to encourage people to sign up for that. As a treat they will receive a 15% discount code and lots of helpful and inspiring tips! 

Christmas Art Sale

I am participating in a Christmas Art Sale on Sunday November 20th 2022 from 10 am.

Come Join us for the Christmas Art Sale at the St. Agatha Community Centre at 1791 Erbs Rd, St. Agatha, ON N0B 2L0 for a Christmas Market on Sunday, November 20th from 10am until 6pm. This event is put on by Sweet Lights Company. 


I am also having at art sale at the Shakespeare Community Centre on Sat. Nov. 5 from 10am-2pm.

This is one of the first art sales I have done in awhile (since I was in university). I decided to do a Christmas Art Sale because I know it will be busy and a popular event. The event was first created at the end of June, so it has had a long time of advertising and attracting people to this Christmas Art Sale. 

christmas art sale cyanotype artwork by Jackie Partridge

Why am I attending the Christmas Art Sale?

I want to make more money on my art this year so that I can pursue my passion of making and teaching art on a more full time basis. I know my art is beautiful and I would love to spread it around this holiday season!



Buying gifts for people you care about can be hard. I know I have lots of people on my list that are hard to shop for because they already have everything or they are particular about what they like. 




Art is a great gift to give. You can also give a gift card for my art, if you are unsure what people may want.


There will be a variety of vendors and artisans at this sale. Entry is free so I hope to see you there! 

Here’s What I Will be Selling at the Christmas Art Market



Stay up to date with what events I am attending like this Christmas Art Sale by joining my mailing list. You can sign up by entering your name and email below. I will also send you 15% off my art discount as a thank you gift for joining my mailing list. 

Why You Should Have a Collection in Art


Why should you have a collection in art? Why not  by art for cheap at Walmart or on Amazon? Why is collecting art so special? I will let you know, from the perspective of an artist. This perspective may be a little biased just as a warning! 



Collection in Art - Why does it Matter?

Artists are Paid Properly and Earn a Living Wage 

Supporting artists you care about and love is important. Art is more than just a hobby or a skill to an artist -it is their world, their joy and their fulfillment. Oftentimes, artists are overlooked, they are copied, told to give their art away for free and not valued in society. It’s important to pay an artist what they are worth. 



There is a lot that goes into the cost of an artwork. Materials, time to make the piece, education and training, shipping, marketing, planning and more. On top of that, artists are small business owners. They have fees like studio rentals, website fees, payment processing fees, tax and more! All of this goes into the price of a work of art. You have probably heard stories of a lot of famous artists living in poverty and not really making money until far after they have died. It’s important to pay artists who are living and recognize them for their creative and inventive contributions to society. Having a collection in art is a great way to support different artists you appreciate! 

collection in art daisy cyanotype

You Can Feel Good About Your Purchase that You Shopped Small or Local 

You can find local artists by searching hashtags of your area, asking if there are local artists in Facebook groups or checking out your local art market. You can find artists on Pinterest, Etsy, Society6 or Instagram. If you like an artist be sure to follow them and stay connected so you know about new art collection releases or any art markets they are participating in. It’s great to shop small and shop local to add to your collection in art! 



I am doing an art market Sunday November 20, 2022 in St. Agatha 

Be sure to enter your email below to stay connected about art events like the Christmas market or new art collections! 

Remember to join my email list to save 15% on artwork!


You are Buying Beauty, Love, Calmness and Joy 

When you collect art you are not just buying the piece of art, you are buying an emotional connection to the artwork. You are buying something beautiful that all your friends and family will comment on. You are buying something you love; that you can wake up to while you drink your morning coffee looking at it. You are buying something that gives you a feeling of calm or relaxation that hangs in your bathroom while you take a nice long soak in the tub. Lastly, you are buying joy, something that brings joy and reminds you of something special each time you look at it. Feeling these feelings day after day by being surrounded by beauty is a priceless feeling and worth having a collection in art.



Collection in art blue and white cedar cyanotype

You are Buying an Investment 

Art naturally goes up in value over time. Not always, I get that but it tends not to go down in value. Imagine buying a piece of art and having it be worth 10x or 100x more 10, 20, 50 years from now. That would be pretty cool! Original artwork is valuable and that is why it is priced significantly more than a print of a tulip painting at Walmart. 


If you think about it -it makes sense. An original painting of a tulip can only be sold once because there is one painting like it. Even if an artist tries to recreate it, it won’t end up being exactly the same. 


Where as if the tulip painting is sold as a print it can be printed over and over again to an unlimited supply. Therefore it can be sold cheaper since instead of selling one copy you can sell thousands or millions of copies. 


Original artwork is also about quality. By paying more you are investing in the quality of the art, how long it will last without the colours fading for example. 


Prints are cheap because they are printed cheaply. The colours are ink and not paint so they will fade over time and it will be a lot faster! 





To Personalize Your Home 

The difference between a house and a home is that a house is a building and a home is a place that is personalized for you and your family. There is no need to hang a generic print of a watermelon. Especially if you don’t like it. In your home, you can personalize the way you want so that your home is meaningful to you. You can hang framed family photos, photos from your vacation, art that connects to a feeling, a moment or memory, art that you love to look at and spend time with. 


Art makes a home feel loved and lived in. It makes your guests feel comfortable and at home. Art can add a personal touch because you picked it out and you decided where to place it in your home. 

collection in art handmade paper art

To Create a Legacy to Pass Down 

By investing in a collection in art you can pass the art down to generations because you are buying quality. Since art is an investment it can be cherished for future generations. 


I’m sure you can remember the art hanging in your grandmother’s dining room or living room. After your grandmother passes, think about how special it would be to own that piece of art you love or to be able to keep passing that art down to your kids or your kids’ kids. 


Buying quality original art or well made artist prints allows you to pass down a legacy of cherished possessions.



For the Thrill of Finding that Perfect Piece 

I love going to the thrift store or a garage sale and finding the perfect piece of furniture. Something that ties a room together and makes a room feel complete. The same joy and thrill can be found while hunting for art. 


When you are on social media and all of a sudden a work of art captures your eye; that is the thrill of finding the perfect piece of art! 


Art is not only about finding the perfect piece or the right piece but it’s about deciding where that artwork should live in your home. For more ideas you can read my post about where to hang art and art that pairs well together.


To purchase my art please check out my shop by clicking on the button below! 

I understand choosing the right piece of art can be a difficult and long process. Please contact me if you need help or would like ideas of where to hang my art in your home. 

Thank you for supporting me as an artist! 


Related Articles:

Art that Pairs Well Together 

Places to Hang Your Art 

How to Choose the Right Frame 

Shop my art



Valentine’s day gift ideas for her


Valentine’s day is coming up. Here are some Valentine’s day gift ideas for her to help get you started! Valentine’s day gift ideas for her will help you choose the right gift to impress your special valentine. I have listed a bunch of ideas to help you choose the best Valentine’s day gift ideas for her. Check out the Valentine’s day gift ideas for her below! 

Valentine’s day gift ideas for her - make a handmade gift 

Nothing says, “I love you” like a handmade gift to show how much you care. You could make chocolates, chocolate covered strawberries, cookies, cupcakes, bath salts, bath bombs, candles, soap, a wood carving, knit a blanket …the list goes on and on. Think about a special talent you have and try to make a personalized gift around that. If you like painting you could try making a painting -feel free to check out my YouTube painting channel for beginners to paint a special landscape painting as a nice gift. You could even watch one of my tutorials as a fun date activity. Crack open a bottle of wine and paint along! 



Floral Cyanotype Printed Card

Valentine’s day gift ideas for her- the card 

You can make your own card or choose to write a personalized message on one of my cards. My cards are made with a cyanotype art print you can write on the back of the print and then it can be framed to be displayed in your home for years to come as a special memento. The following links are affiliate links meaning I get a small portion each sale. Thank you!

The Woodsy Pine Card

The Palm Leaf Beachy Card

The Floral Print Card

Daisy Cyanotype Card



Floral art 

Flowers are a traditional gift but think of how you can make them last forever. My blue cyanotype designs have a calming and minimalist look and feel to them.  Join my mailing list to save 15% on artwork -just fill out the box on the top of this link. You can purchase a cyanotype print of some flowers or greenery. Click the button below to take you to the cyanotype shop.


Floral and botanical designs

If your valentine likes flowers you can take a look at some of my popular cyanotype designs. Choose to have an artwork printed on a mug, T-shirt, sweatshirt or more! Click the button below to take you to the cyanotype print shop. 

Handmade paper art 

For someone with a minimalist design style you can select a piece of handmade paper art. Handmade paper has a beautiful and rich texture to it.  Head to the shop to see artwork by clicking on the button below! 


Art Commissions

Be sure to contact an artist a few months in advance (minimum) but have a look at this link if you would like an original artwork created by me to match your colour palette and suit your home decor. Click here to go to my commissions page. 



There are lots of Valentine’s day gift ideas for her that I have shared. Take the time to think and plan the perfect gift for your loved one. It’s never to early to plan for the next Valentine’s day! 



Related Articles

Cyanotype shop

Cyanotype print shop

Handmade paper shop

Art Commissions 

 Join my mailing list to save 15% on artwork -just fill out the box below! 




Clouds Installation

Clouds is an installation of 150 found  doilies by Jackie Partridge that have been embedded with poured abaca pulp. This installation was created in 2016 while I was studying my Master of Fine Arts at Concordia University in Montreal.

I experimented with this installation by testing out different lighting and playing with different perspectives and camera angles when documenting this installation. This installation took over 4 hours to complete. 

Next time I would present this work I would create pillows on the floor to invite viewers to lay down and look up at the clouds. 

I created this work with found doilies and I poured on abace pulp. I placed the doilies in the paper press to squeeze out the extra water. Then I let them dry flat for 24 hours. I hung the doilies with different lengths of thread attached to rods on the ceiling. I would love to continue to create thousands of these and hang them in a larger venue. 

Doilies are a symbol of history and domesticity. I see them as floating ghosts of all the grandmothers I grew up with when I was younger. When I was born I had 8 grandmothers including great-grandmothers and great-great grandmothers. Each doily is special and unique. Some are colourful and others are plain. Some are intricate and detailed and some are simple and plain.


The floating doilies were hung with thread cut at various lengths to look like floating clouds in the sky.



These are made with vintage doilies collected from thrift stores, garage sales and my grandmothers.



There are still pieces available from this installation in my art shop - you can check them out here! 


These vintage crochet doilies look beautiful framed in a white or wooden frame! 

Daffodil
Daffodil
CA$90.00
Add To Cart

Check out my shop to purchase any doilies!

To see my current artwork- click here!

Be sure to follow me on social media by clicking any of the icons