Week 3 was a watercolour lesson with Nicole Warrington. We painted a postcard and incorporated some of the watercolour trial pieces into a collages layout. I’ve got Kuretake Gambai watercolours, which are a little more opaque than standard watercolours. I have two sets of 24 and enjoy using them but I’m an absolute beginner. This was a fun class, and I’m pleased with the final pages.
This has been a mixed weekend – I took Tony for a haircut and brunch, Sandra & I’ve been out playing Munzees, I packaged up a painting to mail, and tidied my art room. I’ve also done weeks 1 to 3 of Wanderlust25. I prefer to work week by week, so it was good to have consolidated time at my art desk.
Week 2 was lead by Carolyn Dube, who I’ve followed for years. I enjoy her relaxed “oh well” style. Part of the lesson was choosing a word for the year and Carolyn provided an inspiration list. And there is was — REST. The universe is crystal clear I need to rest without feeling bad about it. The style of the page is based on the process Carolyn demonstrated. The colours are a deliberate move away from my usual palette.
I’ve often started my year by participating in a paid class or worldwide project. It’s a great way to kickstart the art year. I’ve done the Documented Life Project & Creative Jump Start a number of times, along with ‘100 days of …’ and a few one-off classes. I haven’t done anything for about 4 years as Tony’s health, and some other changes, meant I just didn’t have the bandwidth.
Part way through last year I decided to commit to something for 2025 and tossed up between Wanderlust25 and Fodder School. I went with Wanderlust25, in the hope it might move me away from being brand/product driven in my art journals. It started a couple of weeks ago and yesterday I finally set up my journal and completed week 1 with Iris Fritschi-Cussens.
As with all paid classes I’ll share what I made, but not specifics around techniques and thinking. I’m delighted with this first spread – it already feels like I’ve gone back to 10 years ago when I was more process driven. You can see it below, along with details close-ups.
The writing is a reminder to myself that it’s ok to rest when I need to. My health is a bit dodgy yet I very much resist resting. Talking to my sister yesterday I realised it’s because Mum used to make me rest when she was tired and I wasn’t, so I see it as punishment!
Pen and I have been creating collaborative artwork for years now. We’ve had two exhibitions, shown collab work in multiple gallery exhibitions, sold pieces, taught classes together. We’ve built a huge amount of trust in each other as artists, and in the ability for our relationship to cope with real honesty and our authentic selves.
Want to write giant black words over something the other did? Do it. Cut a piece into four and make them into a book? Why not! Pour neon pink ink all over something and let it drip. Go for it. We stopped asking permission years ago 😂
There comes a point, after the pieces have been mailed back and forth between the North to South Islands numerous times, where we start asking if it’s finished. Does it need one more mark, a line, a gold dot? There’s a time when we just know. That time always comes when the pieces are high contrast, richly textured, multi layered.
Are the collab works like the work we make individually? Yes, and no. There are elements that are absolutely our own. Penny is the queen of “feckn shiny things” and I can’t resist a good drip and some splatter. Penny’s all about rich blues, I love neon pink and orange. The hand of the artists show, but the works are uniquely ours, not mine and hers. It’s a very magical thing and I feel privileged to be creating with someone whose skills complement mine so well.
The images below are tiny sections out of large works I’ve been adding to tonight. I spent maybe 90 minutes working and used collage, transparent embossing powder, acrylic paint & ink, a green star-filled sparkly paste and a highly textured opaque embossing powder.
I’m still on a florals kick – exploring materials, styles, mark making, scale… Just playing with ideas to see what sticks.
Cath Sheard Art 