Cath Sheard Art

Category: Uncategorized

  • Envelope fun to distract me

    A few posts back I advertised a mail art swap – I’m really looking forward to seeing people’s envelopes turn up by the middle of July. Last Wednesday night I had a car accident; a drunk driver pulled out to pass a car, straight into my path. I almost managed to get out of the way, so things could have been a lot worse. Anyway, I’ve had a few days off work because I ache all over, and have limited movement in my shoulders. Trouble is, I hate having nothing to do … hmm?

    I know – decorate envelopes. Something I could sit quietly and play with at my own pace, and not needing much shoulder movement. Excellent! Hauled out some art supplies  – ink dyes, sprays, acrylic paint, gel medium, Copic pens, collage papers, stencils, foam stamps –  and sat myself down in the sun Here’s a few of the 20 or so I’ve made so far. Letter writing will ensue 😉

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    This is the only photo of have of my car post-accident; glad I can’t see it really.

  • Practicing some new techniques

    I’ve been inspired by Dina Wakley’s art lately and have been working through her tutorials in Somerset Workshop magazine. I enjoy the way she uses layers in her work, her handmade stencils, and the cheery colours. I’ve made these three 6×6″ canvases to brighten up my work space. Now I need to start incorporating her techniques into my own art practice so it becomes part of what I do, not a copy of her style. I really like that finding her blog, then an article or two in Somerset magazines, has given me some more tools and techniques to use.

  • Wrist-deep in paper scraps

    Today the sun came out – kind of – so I zoomed through some housework, put the bread maker on, and hauled out my scrapbooking supplies. I always do a little scrapbooking but I haven’t spent a whole day scattering paper and glue to the four winds for ages. It was such fun! For one terrible moment I thought I was about to run out of Henzo photo splits but then I had a brain wave and, sure enough, there are 3 more packets of 500 in my supply bag! Mind you, I could always ring Mary and David at Craft House (KiwiScraps) and order more in; they’re such lovely people to deal with.

    I have a huge stockpile of old family photos but am beginning to run out of new photos, so it’s obviously time I sent an order to SnapFish. As much as I love all the old photos, I wouldn’t want to do nothing but heritage pages because I enjoy the modern colours too much. Anyway, here are just a few of the layouts I did today. These are terrible photos of them, but my scanner isn’t big enough to take 12×12″ – I promise all the photos are actually square etc.

  • Arting out my feelings

    I got a bunch of new art mags from the USA last week, and an article by Dina Wakley really got my attention. Her use of layering and colours spoke to my heart, which has been a bit bruised lately. Having finished my new office/art room, I knew what I really needed was to get my hands dirty. So this afternoon I hauled out some supplies, including my new Michelle Ward stencils, and some heavy watercolor paper. This is the first of three pages I started this afternoon, all documenting the changes in our lives that are coming as a result of Mum going into the rest home. Pouring it out in art is good for my soul.

  • New home office / art room

    I am determined that some good things are going to come out of Mum going into the home. One easy win is moving my home office / art room into her old bedroom – it’s a much lighter, warmer space, and larger too. (I do still have my outside art studio, but it has “issues”)

    Tony and I have spent most of the weekend sorting, moving, hanging artwork etc. We’re both tired, but the final result is excellent. I have a light bright clean and tidy space, with a lazyboy chair in the corner so Tony can sit and read while I do whatever. One of the things I love is that some of my favorite artworks are now on the wall where I spend most of my home time. There’s a piece from Legato by Sophia Elise (it has Dad’s name on it, and my ‘2nd Dad’ Jack as well), 3 stripe paintings by Tanya Dann, a large fluro blue butterfly Tony bought me in Christchurch, the piece I did about our trip to Rome and 5 ACEOs by Martha Marshall.

    I really like the inspiration of having favored pieces around me, and also having a clean well organised space. I can’t wait to get creating in it. I feel so fortunate.