The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON--When local artist Steve Henderson was an art student at Central Washington University in the 1980s, the emphasis was placed on fine art.

"The attitude was that working in commercial art would destroy an artist," Henderson said.

Over the years, Henderson and his wife and manager, Carolyn Henderson, have found a way to meld the two.

Carolyn said changes in technology are allowing Henderson's original fine art to be easily accessible to anyone through print on demand.

Henderson's career as a fine artist began in Neah Bay when he was five or six years old. He was especially drawn to ships, which he drew in the margins of his school work, causing teachers to comment to his parents, "He doodles too much."

Henderson said he was an active artist as a teenager, and after receiving an art degree from CWU in 1984, he and Carolyn spent some time in Colombia, South America before settling down in Ellensburg, Wash.

In Ellensburg, Henderson applied his desktop publishing skills while working in the public relations department at Quest International.

The Hendersons moved to College Place, in 1992, where Henderson went to work for Coffey Communications.

"I did a lot of concept illustrations," he said.

In 1998, the Hendersons established their home and family at Deer Pond Lane, in Dayton, where Henderson has his studio.

"I hashed out a deal where I could paint and she would manage the business, and it has worked out well," he said, nodding to his wife.

"It has been fun, though there have been challenges during the downturn," Henderson said, referring to the 2008 economic downturn.

"The whole world of art turned on its head, and has not turned back," Carolyn explained. "People don't have confidence, yet."

She said fully one-third of private galleries closed their doors during that time and it seemed like a good time to plunge into the digital print business.

Images of Henderson's original work can now be copied onto metal or canvas and a variety of other objects including coffee mugs, yoga mats, throw pillows, shower curtains and greeting cards.

"We've always wanted art to be available for all people, of all demographics. We need beautiful things around us," she said. "This is art for grownups."

Henderson's original pieces are frequently on display at the Wenaha Gallery in Dayton, and prints can now be purchased on-line at Walmart, Sears, Amazon, Wayfair, Joss &Main, Pottery Barn, Jet.com, and icanvas.com, to name a few, she said.

Henderson's original art, wall art prints, home décor, and other collections are also available on line at stevehendersonfinearts.com, she said.