Cath Sheard Art

Author: Catherine Barker-Sheard

  • The magic of colour mixing

    The magic of colour mixing

    I’m trying out a new colour palette and, inspired by Sandi Hester on YouTube, added a couple of colours I don’t usually reach for.

    The colour palette is:

    – Cadmium-free yellow light

    – Yellow oxide

    – Cadmium-free red light

    – Quinacridone magenta

    – Brilliant blue

    – Ultramarine blue

    – Parchment

    – Burnt sienna

    – Raw umber

    – Emerald

    – White and black

    The new colours are emerald, brilliant blue and cad red which, for some reason, I’ve normally avoided.

    I’m using one of the Gordon Harris A4 mixed media sketchbooks to colour swatch in. I’ve mixed each colour with each colour, and then added black and white to those mixes to see what it creates.

    As I go, I clean my brush off randomly onto copier paper. I glue a section of that paper to the page so I can see what the colours look like together. The rest of the painted paper goes into my collage folders.

    When I look through those dozen pages and at the sections of painted papers, you can really see the different feel each colour brings. It’s a great way to see the variety of colours you can create.

  • Scattered

    I can’t believe it’s been two months since I last blogged. There has been a lot on, work’s been incredibly busy, and I managed to get Influenza A. I’m finding recovery difficult – the fatigue is surprisingly persistent. It was Tony’s 80th birthday at the end of August, the first birthday since he died and a milestone one. I knew I’d find it hard, so that took up a lot of emotional space.

    I’m quite scattered with my art. I’m between projects, and I’m struggling to decide what’s next.

    There are plenty of things that interest me, but I’m searching for more than a passing curiosity. It’s not that things don’t interest me; it’s that they don’t interest me in a sustained way.

    I know to just keep playing: experimenting with my materials, drawing and painting. At some point I’ll find the theme I want to explore.

    In the meantime, here’s some of the ideas and materials I have been playing with.

    Learning to capture the farm, and our animals
    Playing with mixed media in the evenings
    I love this color palette
    Experimenting on the gel plate
  • A bit of distraction

    A bit of distraction

    This week has been taken up with preparation for Alan’s mother Mary’s funeral. She passed away at 96 after a life well lived. In between all the preparation and time spent with family, I’ve been keeping my hands busy because it’s good for me to have downtime. As one of life’s true introverts, as much as I enjoy seeing family, I need time out.

    I’ve been experimenting with gouache. I got a few given to me last year, and bought a few at Christmas time. I love the vivid colors, they’re just beautiful. What I hadn’t appreciated is they re-wet, so it’s easy to end up with mud or pick up previous layers too. I’m not sure I’m going to enjoy them that much overall, despite the colors. I’ve been playing around with really loose mark making. I love Cy Twombly’s work for his expressive paint application and the fact he includes loose handwriting. I’ve been re-reading a book about his work, and I can see his influence in what I’ve been doing this week.

    Compared by reading about Cy Twombly’s work
    A failed gelli print I sprayed gloss acrylic onto & now like!
    Testing gouache
    Testing gouache

  • Love and loss

    Alan’s Mum and Dad moved from their farm to a house on the outskirts of Hāwera, then eventually to a rest home suite after Ian’s dementia made staying home unsafe. Oddly, it was the same suite I bought for Aunt J when I moved her into care due to dementia about 16 years ago.

    Alan’s Dad passed away 6 years ago, in late July. Yesterday I spent the afternoon with Mary as she’d suddenly deteriorated. She was sleeping comfortably thanks to good drug control. I sat with her, talking to her occasionally, and keeping my hands busy with an art journal. I intended going back today but early this morning Mary died peacefully.

    I’ve known them almost my whole life. Dad and Ian were friends – they hunted together and Dad went out to the farm as often as he could. He loved helping with outdoor work, especially things like haymaking. Mary used to say that I was about 2 when we started visiting them.

    I don’t have a lot of memories from my childhood, but I do remember sleeping in a big bed with a pink floral bedspread when I stayed at the farm as small child. I mentioned it to one of Alan’s family members once, and they paused and said, “You think that was MaryRose’s bed, but it wasn’t. It was Mum and Dad’s, and no one got to sleep in it!

    It’s a particularly lovely memory because Ian was one of the few men who I trusted wholeheartedly. Mary has waited a long time to join Ian. I’m pleased she’s finally reunited with him, Lyall, Robbie, and her other family members. Rest in peace, Mary.

    Footnote: it was hard sitting with her yesterday. It’s only 8 months since Tony died and it was all too familiar. But we only grieve because we love, and it’s a privilege to be with people in their final days if you have it in you. Not everyone can, and that’s ok…

  • Pōhutukawa – remembering

    In New Zealand we celebrate Matariki, and as part of that there are various ceremonies. Last night was centred on the star Pōhutukawa. The Pōhutukawa is also our Christmas tree and the tree of remembrance. People gather to honour and remember those who have died in the previous year.

    It’s eight months since Tony died. I think of him all the time, and talk about him with a few people. I had a lot of support in the years he was sick, and it was good to share that journey. I couldn’t have got through without the support, and know others facing the same situation appreciated my openness.

    But my grief? That’s mine. I share little bits of it, but mainly hold it close.

    Last night I messaged Tony’s daughter Yasmine to tell her I’d learnt about Pōhutukawa at work in a te reo Māori class. We talked about when she and Rory visited and I took a photo of the three generations together under the huge Pōhutukawa tree in our front yard. It’s good Yasmine and I can talk about Tony and keep the memories alive.