Cath Sheard Art

Category: Uncategorized

  • Left foot, right foot

    The only way forward is one foot in front of the other – left foot, right foot, hayfoot, strawfoot. That’s Tony and I at the moment, just putting one foot in front of the other.

    I’m healing okay but have to be careful; if I do too much or eat the wrong thing, it hurts under my ribs, which – in a medical sense – is a million miles away from the actual injury. No wonder I got so sick without us figuring out the problem!

    In the last week or so, with Hospice’s advice/support, we’ve made a change in how we view feeding Tony. Until now, my default has been to make him a “proper” meal unless he doesn’t want it – which he normally doesn’t – in which case he’d have something like yoghurt or baked custard and stewed apples. Now my default is custard etc unless he wants a proper meal, and he doesn’t. They also suggested “baby veges” so we’re trying him on mashed potato, pumpkin, carrot & parsnip. So far, so good and it doesn’t seem to give him unpleasant hiccups like other food had started to do.

    Nutritionally it’s not ideal of course, but he has two chocolate Fortisip a day which is sufficient calories etc to be going on with, given he doesn’t do much now. Most days he does a little on his latest project (he’s finished a model truck and is onto a paint by numbers Yoda) and dozes while listening to music. He’s often in bed by 8.30 or so because he’s tired out.

    He’s dizzy a lot of the time now, so Mum’s walker is back in use and Goldie is delighted. She sits on it and seems to feel quite at home – bless her ancient creaky wee soul!

    We’re grateful for his carers who come in twice a day, Hospice staff who ease the load, family and friends who check on him, and my work who are always supportive.

  • Germinating

    For a while more I’ve been considering a series of works about the journey Tony and I are on with his health. I’m documenting it in my art journals and am fairly open on social media, especially Twitter, but want to create art I can exhibit.

    I started something a few weeks back and got stuck. You can see the initial layers below on a quick night light photo. The beginning felt right but I didn’t know where to go next. I put it aside and spent some time making printed papers & collage tissues, and playing in my art journals.

    Today started off very rough; Tony couldn’t stand or walk without help and was tearful and upset. He came right and we went for a drive and morning tea out. He slept for quite a bit of the trip but it was good to get him out of the house.

    Tonight he was exhausted so went to bed early. I headed back to my art desk, pulled out the work I’d started weeks ago, and grabbed the tissue papers. I’ll have a look in the daylight but think I’ve got it. I’m feeling quietly excited!

  • Exploring colour

    One of the Dina Wakley art tutorial videos I watched recently suggested making a reference file of all your Dina Wakley paints, showing the analogous (neighboring) colours and the opposite or near opposite colours. It’s a fun exercise and a good way of finding new colour combinations to use in your artwork. I bought a new notebook and worked my way through each paint in my collection, adding the analogous colours from her colour wheel, then using pieces from the Collage Collective to glue on small accents from opposite on the colour wheel. I found some combinations I absolutely love! Here’s a sample of the pages I’ve made.

  • Art videos

    While I’ve been off work recuperating, I’ve watched hours and hours of art tutorial videos by Dyan Reaveley, Dina Wakley, Niamh Baly and Tim Holtz. Sometimes I learn new techniques, or new ways to use existing products, other times I’m reminded of things I used to do. It’s always good to find new ways to use existing products. And, yes, I’ve bought quite a lot of new stuff too 😉

    I’d had one of Dina Wakley’s small white journals before and loved it, so bought another one recently so I could practice what I was seeing in her art videos in an accessible format. I’ve been playing with creating abstract figures using her acrylic gloss spray, different ways of creating backgrounds including using her black gesso, and experimenting with colour combinations. I’ve found the wee abstract figures are great for playing with colour combinations and think this journal is going to be quite full of these quirky characters!

  • Busy hands

    When I feel well (enough) I like to keep my hands busy. While I’ve been recovering from major surgery I’ve spent a lot of time idly watching art videos, but have also sat quietly at my desk playing with paint, collage and glue. Here’s some of the pages I’ve done in my small Dylusions journal.