Cath Sheard Art

Blog

  • Remembering Dad

    It’s 22 years today since Dad died unexpectedly, a month before his 66th birthday. He retired at 60 and spent his days helping farm mates, pig and deer hunting, and going fishing. He and Mum made 3 trips to Asia once he retired. He was a busy, and seemingly fit, man.

    He went fishing at Waverley Beach one Sunday morning and had a massive heart attack. The young man next to him did CPR but had to leave him to get help and, by the time he got back, Dad’s heart had stopped again. As bad as we all felt for the young man who had tried so hard, I’m pleased Dad did not survive. He’d have hated being a patient, being told what to do, being incapacitated. As Mum used to say “Mansel got it right, he just died ten years too early”.

    So today, and every day, I remember him with love. He was a hard working, patient man who gave huge bear hugs. I miss him.

    Dad teaching Catherine to ride motorbike
    Dad teaching me to ride his motorbike.
    image0-001
    Mum and Dad’s wedding.
    scan0098
    Able Seaman D M Barker
    Dad at Lions CLub
    Dad receiving a Lions Club award.
    scan0083
    Taken after a swimming competition.
    Dad and Jenny
    Dad and granddaughter Jenny.
    Catherine & Dad
    Dad and I on holiday somewhere.
    scan0066
    Mum always used to say I was whispering secrets to him. Corduray overalls, knitted cardigan and bare feet! This is one of my favorite photos and probably the most like how I remember him.
    Catherine & Dad feeding ducks, Wanganui
    Feeding ducks with me at Virginia Lake in Wanganui.
    Catherine, Mum & Dad and Marion Scott, Palmerston North 1967
    Me, Mum & Dad, and Marion Scott, Palmerston North 1967
    scan0047
    Ailsa and Jim’s wedding. Mum, Ailsa, Jim, Dad, me in the front.

     

  • 2012 as a blogger

    600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 6,300 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 11 years to get that many views. In 2012, there were 57 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 559 posts. There were 129 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 190 MB. That’s about 2 pictures per week. The busiest day of the year was June 10th with 177 views. The most popular post that day was New home office / art room.

    These are the posts that got the most views in 2012.

    Visitors came from 98 countries in all! Most visitors came from The United States, New Zealand and the United Kingdom were not far behind.

    This slideshow requires JavaScript.

     

  • Image transfers for Legato work

    Do you like my new tattoo of Dad? It looks a bit wrinkly because of the gladwrap over it to protect it as it heals.

    No? Okay, you’re right. I’m too chicken to get a tattoo, and Tony has enough for both of us!

    Yesterday I mentioned that I have a plan in mind for new Legato works. The plan involves image transfers. Yesterday I did some laser copies of photos from WWII of Dad in uniform then gave them two thin coats of Golden’s Clear Tar Gel and left them to dry well overnight. Today I soaked one really well then rubbed most of the paper off the back. I let it dry to see how much paper pulp was left then soaked it again, and draped it over my arm so I could use my other hand to gently rub more paper pulp off. I find having it on my arm means fewer creases in it, and I can feel how much pressure I am applying – rub too hard and the image gets damaged. I’m pleased with it so far – it’ll be interesting to see if it is totally clear once it’s dry.

    003

  • Poppies, and stencils

    When Mum passed away recently a friend gave us some flowers which included poppies and seed heads – awesome! I have been fascinated with poppies since we visited Italy in 2010 and use them a lot in my artwork. Having the real thing on display in the kitchen inspired my to take a bunch of photos, do some drawings, and finally cut some stencils. Huge thanks to Michelle Ward for lessons learnt while doing the Crusades – without your lessons I doubt I would have managed it. I have now got stencils for two flowers, and two different heads plus the masks for all but the big poppy. I couldn’t work out the bridges to keep it in one piece but may have another shot at it yet.

    I have had a quick play with them on newsprint and am happy, so tomorrow I’ll start playing in earnest. Earlier in the year I was given some lovely old, never used and in mint condition, prints of  John Abbott’s The insects of Georgia produced by the Alexander Turnbull Library. I am going to be participating in Legato 2013 and have a vague plan in mind involving the prints, transfers of photos of Dad from the war, and the poppy stencils. We’ll see…

    (the images are wrinkly because I am too impatient to wait for the ink to dry before scanning)

    image0-002 image0-001 image0

  • Looking back at 2012

    I know this is a bit early, but I have a lot going on in my head, so this seems the perfect time. At the end of each year I think back on the year that’s been; the achievements and events that have shaped my life. Knowing what we have done, what has happened, and where we’ve been, helps map the road forward. Here’s a quick recap of things that stand out from 2012. In many ways this has been a sad and difficult year but as a scrapbooker I know that we can’t just document the good times; without the hard stuff, the really good days would not shine so brightly.

    • Had to accept Mum going into the local rest-home, after 14 years of caring for her at home, when she had a stroke in May.
    • Was awarded Overall Winner of the 2012 Signature Exchange.
    • Dropped out of Post Grad Diploma in Museum Studies at Massey for 2012 – my work and family needed my time more than my studies did.
    • Re-elected as Co-Chair is PubSig, a national organisation that supports librarians, to serve another 2 years.
    • Enjoyed another year of love and friendship with Sandra; 40-mumble years and counting!
    • Presented a lightning session on professional registration at the Palmerston North LIANZA conference 2012.
    • Participated in the 14th Annual International Collage Exchange.
    • Tony had double cataract surgery, then a few months later a femoral crossover bypass to get around a 20cm clot in his left femoral artery.
    • Enjoyed being on the communications committee for the 2012 LIANZA annual conference.
    • Mum passed away just four days after my birthday and 9 days before Christmas. My heart aches.

    My guiding word for 2012 was LEARN; looking back, I did few of the things I wanted to learn to do. I think that’s mainly a reflection of the kind of year it has been, which means that my word for next year will have something to do with being kind to myself. When you look back, what have been the big things for you this year?