Cath Sheard Art

Blog

  • Amazing news – invited to exhibit in Italy

    I have been invited to exhibit at Cassino, Italy in May of this year. The exhibition is for New Zealand artists with a connection to the Battle of Cassino and World War 2 to create artwork inspired by the theme Peace and Remembrance. The exhibition is titled LEGATO. Artist Kay De Lautour is organising the exhibition in conjunction with Cassino Commune (City Council). Kay had the final say on the selection of artists based on their artwork and portfolio, and has invited me to attend on this basis.

    This is an amazing chance to showcase my work to an international audience. More importantly, it is an opportunity for me to honour my father, Mansel Barker, who served in the Navy (and would never talk about it), my best friend’s father, Jack Robinson, who fought at El Alamein and was a POW and her Uncle Roy who is buried at Rimminy in Italy.

    Whatever happens, my paintings will be in Italy from mid May. I would love to attend the exhibition, visit historical sites and talk with veterans who are there for the annual commemorations.

    This is where I need your help. I have to fund-raise the cost of the trip so I’m selling ‘shares’ in my trip. For only $35 I am offering:

    • A share certificate
    • A hand made commemorative postcard mailed back from Cassino
    • A full colour newsletter after the trip, talking about the exhibition and my experience of going to Cassino.
    • And by, Dec 2010, an original 15x15cm painting inspired by Cassino, “my three men” and the exhibition.

    So, I have a question for you: would you consider buying a share in my trip and helping to make this incredible dream a reality? If you are interested please email me at cathsheard@xtra.co.nz or click on the PayPal button to donate straight away. If you do use PayPal, please include your name and address so I can start sending you your goodies.

  • Freezing works: lights on, no one’s in XV

    After a bit of a break to attend to other things, I have photographed another painting that I finished 10 days or so ago. As with the others, it is based on photos of Patea Freezing Works. This one is a bit different. I was unsure about it, so was letting it sit for a while. People who have seen it have been really positive so I think I’m calling it done. It is 16×16″ acrylic on gallery wrap canvas and is for sale on my Etsy.

    The demolition of the works is progressing quickly; most of the major structures above ground are no more. Except for the chimney, whose fate has yet to be decided…

  • My lovely new artwork arrived

    I only have a small collection of work by other artists. I would rather collect more works by fewer people than have a “scatter-gun” approach. I think I just like my collection to feel focussed. I have works by a New Zealander I won’t name because they seem to have stopped painting, American artist Martha Marshall and now Tina Mammoser.

    I have followed Tina’s blog for a long time; I admire her work ethic as a fellow artist and her very clear artistic vision. My first ever work by Tina is called “Brighton, late summer”. I am so happy right now – thanks Tina.

  • NZ Art Guild Challenge – ‘where the wild things are’

    The NZ Art Guild runs regular challenges and, although we had a break over Christmas, it’s to get back into it. This is what it says about the first challenge for 2010 on the Guild website:

    Welcome back to our fortnightly challenges, I’ve got some great challenges planned this year to get you thinking (and hopefully creating!!!). Here’s the first one for the year….
    Challenge: Create an artwork inspired by a given book/movie
    Using the book or movie “Where the Wild Things Are” as inspiration to create an artwork.  There are no other restrictions, all forms of media may be used.

    All forms of media? Okay then, sounds like a good chance to exercise some creative muscle. I hauled out some old scrapbooking supplies and got to work. The final piece is 20x30cm, mixed media – paper, paint, pens, fabric, ribbon, glue, brads. Nothing like a little bit of nonsense to lift my spirits!

    'where the wild things' are mixed media collage

  • Patea Freezing Works – On the grid

    Although I finished this one last weekend, I haven’t had time to blog about it. So here, we are, back to Saturday – I’m up nice and early and into it. The photo this is based on was taken some distance from the site by Phu Tran. One of the reasons I like this shot is the strong lines of the chimney and power poles through the centre of the scene. As I keep painting the freezing works over and over again I can feel what I am painting, the how I am painting it, is becoming more focused. The color palette remains the same, even how I apply the paint has stayed the same, but the lines and final marks are becoming much more of a focus for me.  Some of the earliest works now feel a little ‘soft’ to me and may yet get some tweaking.

    Patea Freezing Works : on the grid

    It is the middle of summer here; hot and muggy most days. I am not using my art room at the moment because it is far too hot out there; the walls are iron and there’s no ceiling, just the roof, so nothing to deflect the heat. I use our third bedroom as an office for the newspaper we publish. I have commandeered the desk for painting. I have a table-top easel, a roll of paper towels, old wash clothes, a small box of paints, a jar of brushes and a giant bucket of water. Oh, and my color theory notebook with all my color experiments in it and a pile of canvas – I’m about to move from 16×16″ to 20×20″.

    So, this one is 16×16″ acrylic on canvas, and is for sale on here on Etsy.