Cath Sheard Art

Author: Catherine Barker-Sheard

  • For the love of HIM

    Some songs & bands are my ‘go to’ when I’m in my office working, or at home creating. HIM is one of those; I love Ville Valo’s gravely voice and the band’s dark lyrics speak to me. Sadly, they went their separate ways a couple of years ago.

    I enjoy recording the music I love in my art journals and, for anyone that cares enough to read it, the lyrics tell you a lot about me and what goes in on my head.

    As an aside, Ville has joined with Finnish band The Agents and they released a single late last year. I just tracked it down and I’m horrified; it’s in Finnish so I can’t understand the words but it sounds like Abba! I was hoping for more dark music that would speak to me, but no…

    Dylusions — small journal. Paint: Mushy peas, Laidback lilac, Rose quartz. Stencils: Squares, Star struck, Spring flowers. Stamps: Dy’s alphabet. Other – Stamps: Tim Holtz Tall Text, Distress ink, white gel pen, Pitt Big Brush Marker, Distress collage medium.

    vampire heart.jpg

  • Add to your toolbox

    Every week I do a couple of challenges. This week’s was to use watercolours and dashes, in combination with a Mother Theresa quote. As I usually do, I showed Tony the finished page and asked what he thought. “Hmm, it’s not really you.” 

    Yes! The challenge was a success because it got me using a medium I don’t normally – watercolor – and some mark making that felt unfamiliar. I have a set of marks that are “mine” and dashes are not part of my normal repertoire.

    I like see the hand of the artist in my work, and have my own style even when influenced by amazing artists such as Tim Holtz and Dyan Reaveley. But that doesn’t mean I can’t learn new skills, try new things, and add to my toolbox.  I’m grateful to artists like Theresa Miers who give their time and talent to inspire and encourage other artists.

     This week I used Pebeo watercolours, Dylusions black paint, Nuvo Mousse in copper, Tim Holtz dashes stencil, Dylusions heart mask and Distress ink to edge the quote.

     

    25.jpg

  • Signs

    Sometimes my journal pages are obviously about a particular thing, other times I’m not sure where the words have come from – maybe a song, a conversation I overheard, part of a dream. I am not sure where this came from; possibly a conversation I had tonight with my best friend of forever (ok, 50 mumble years) in which my late Dad was mentioned.

    Large Dylusions journal. Sprays: Squeezed orange, Crushed grape, Tangerine dream, Bubblegum pink. Paint: White linen, Funky fuchsia. Stencils: Diamonds in the rough (lg & small), Shutters. Stamps: Dy’s alphabet. Other. Stamps: Tim Holtz – Tall text, Visible Image – Dare to be different, Tim Holtz – Entomology. Pitt Big Brush pen, Archival ink, Distress collage medium, white gel pen.

    looking for signs 20190811

  • Ok enough in my own skin

    I’ve been chatting with a friend about the spare skin that comes with significant weight loss. Deciding or surgery, or not, is a big deal and impacts on your physical and mental health.

    In my case, surgery isn’t an option because of the risk of ending up on life support again due to my dodgy airway. I doubt I would do it anyway. I’m ok enough in my own skin most of the time.

    I also support those who feel the need to get it fixed so they can move on; I think there’s balance needed though. When you’ve abused your body so much you need weight loss surgery, your body is never going to be perfect and that needs to be ok for your mental wellbeing. (I may be wrong on that of course – maybe perfection is possible?)

    Small Dylusions journal. Paints: Chopped pesto, Lemon zest, Periwinkle blue. Stencils: Teardrops, Diamonds in the rough, Shutters. Stamps: Dyan’s alphabet. Other: Tim Holtz tall text stamps, Distress Ink, Archival ink, white gel pen, Pitt Big Brush pen, Distress collage medium. 

    spare skin 20190708.jpg

  • Being challenged

    I enjoy participating in a couple art challenge groups; they ensure I make art regularly (who am I kidding? I would anyway). This week’s quote is from Lao Tzu, so I ended up doing a second page with one of the quotes from the Tao te Ching that I have on the wall above my desk.

    The page with the circles was done with watercolour pencils on a gesso background, acrylic paint through stencils, and detailed with a Posca pen. The challenge included using pencils, and making marks with spots and dots. Challenge accepted 😉

    The other page is Distress Paints, then metallic DecoArt paints through stencils, and finally blue Golden acrylic  through a StencilGirl stencil (thanks Lynne W!).

    24 a24 b