Cath Sheard Art

Author: Catherine Barker-Sheard

  • Keeping on working…




    It’s been an eventful few weeks. ..

    Meg, our bulldog, has lymphatic cancer and the vet thought she might also have a large melanoma on her knee. Turns out to be something else thank goodness, so we have some more pills to trick her into swallowing 😉

    Mum’s been more unwell than usual and has needed a lot of nursing – so I haven’t been getting a lot of sleep the last few weeks.

    But what I understand about myself is that I need to keep making art, regardless, otherwise I get even more tired and grumpy.

    So, these 3 paintings are some of what I’ve been fiddling round with: the two square landscapes are in preparation for a pre-Christmas exhibition in Hawera, the mainly purple and blue abstract is more exploration for the “Italy from above” series.

  • New series – testing the waters…


    I’m starting a new abstracted landscape series based on aerial photographs of Italy. I’ve done 60 or so sketches and now I’m starting to play with colours and materials. Once I’m happy with this stage, I’ll take the project onto canvas. In the meantime, here’s what I’ve been working on.

  • Spent a whole day doing ‘stuff’!!!!

    Well, I got all my “real” work out of the way yesterday and spent today in the my art room.

    Last weekend I went to SENZ in Hamilton and bought a kit to make a woven beaded bag – and have had the kits staring at me ever since. Once I found the time, it was easy to do and I love it 🙂

    I also did a class with Nerida the “decoupage queen” – and made a fake Russian Icon – I love it even more than the bag. In fact, I loved it so much I got a friend to go back and buy dozens of Madonna images to make more icons. Anyone want one for a Christmas present? LOL

    I’ve also been playing with my paints – thinking about the Northern Lights, and also abstracting the Patea townscape. All good fun…


  • Paint everywhere!! It’s a good thing…




    I’ve got back into painting in the last couple of weeks. My Aunt has (sort of) settled into her resthome, Mum is getting better, work has slowed a little – so out came the brushes…

    I joined an abstract/contemporary artists community at http://www.wetcanvas.com. Seeing their work, and sharing some of my own, has clarified some things for me. I’ve been feeling more and more drawn to abstract art, both in terms of what I paint and what I view.

    But with the change in interest came all sorts of questions. Was I making “real” art? Did it need “talent” or was I just “fluffing round”? Did any of that matter as long as I was enjoying myself?

    I’ve realised what matters is that I pursue my passion – and my current passion is abstraction. So I’m painting for all I’m worth and trying not to worry about what anyone else thinks.

    The two middle paintings were inspired by the idea of Mt Egmont erupting. There’s been quite a bit in the media lately about the idea that Mt Egmont – only an hour from here – could well erupt in the next 50 years or so. Then my brother-in-law sent me a journal article about how geologists are realising global warming can cause mountains to collapse. They used Mt Egmont as an example that has collapsed at least twice in the past.

    Thanks for looking 🙂

  • CC06

    We cropped, we shopped, we scrapped!!!! It was GREAT.

    Okay, what am I on about? Last weekend was Crafting Connection 2006 in Wellington, run by Kiwiscraps – the best scrapbooking retailers downunder.

    I did 9 classes in all, and scrapped till I thought my eyeballs were gonna fall out LOL. Natalie, another librarian, went with me to Wellington and we had a blast. She shopped, I cropped, we ate great food, slept well, and bought heaps of new scrapping supplies. Excellent… We’re saving up for next year.

    I bought home some unfinished projects cos some of the classes were really fast paced – and have since finished most things. Which is seriously cool, cos sometimes unfinished projects kind of, well, stay unfinished…