Cath Sheard Art

Blog

  • Life is made up of…

    Since I posted in January life has mainly consisted of work and art. I’ve been Acting Group Manager Community Services for the last few months; it’s been interesting, and I’ve learned a lot. It’s also been time consuming – the way I use my time changed a lot. It helped me finally make a decision that’s been on the horizon for some time.

    Tony and I took over publishing the Patea & Waverley Press in 1998. We had both worked in the printing industry in Auckland and it suited us. Over time it became more digital, so Tony’s training in Hand Typography wasn’t useful any longer. His health deteriorated and, for the last 4 years or so, the paper has rested solidly on my shoulders. Something I had always loved began to feel like a burden. The paper has a new publisher, and I am enjoying not organising my life around deadlines.

    I’ve done a lot of art journaling lately. Some of it is downloading my head onto paper, pouring out the thoughts, and some of it is just about moving my hands – playing with paint, paper and colour. Today I finished a small Dylusions journal which meant decorating the cover before it goes on the bookcase. It’s a mix of paint, ink, magazine collage, Dylusions dycuts and quotes.

  • It’s an arty sign

    About 4 years ago I did a few sessions of counselling to get my head around some stuff. We also worked on me sleeping better, without huge success. We identified three things I wanted to achieve in the counselling; she said 3 is about the max you can do at any one time. One of the words we settled on was content; not content as in “no growth needed” but content to let the process work and accept life as it happens. There were a lot of very good reasons why that was needed.

    And, full circle, the same thing applies now. There’s a lot of change happening in my life, and I can’t control much of it. It’s important I feel content with life regardless.

    I’m inspired by Claire Stead‘s art and have just got her new release from Funky Fossil through Natalie May Scrapbooking in Australia. I got some clear text stamps and her collage paper. I was working in my 6×6 Dina Wakley kraft journal, one of my favs, this morning and flicked through the collage paper book and there it was — “I am content”. The universe wants me to know it will be ok!

  • Storing all my paper

    I’ve just started the 2023 #100daysofcollage with Froyle Art. Last year I ended up doing 163 collages. This year? Who knows, but I’m excited to get started.

    I have a lot of paper, and storing it so it’s manageable & findable is a mission. I have a large drawer of full,page sized gelli prints. I have manila folders of images cut out of old books and magazines, sorted into religious icons, people, architecture and other.

    My paper scraps are sorted by colour into plastic envelopes and file boxes. As soon as I cut or tear into a full size gelli print, the remains go into the paper files. The colour sorting is ‘best guess’ based on the main colour of the print. It’s a loose system, but it works well enough for me.

    Manila folders of cut out images, maps, book pages etc
    Plastic folders with paper sorted by colour
    Plastic folders of cut out images
  • As 2022 ends …

    As 2022 ends …

    Once again, it’s been a couple of months since I blogged. It’s hard to know what to say much of the time, and there’s a lot I don’t share. Here are some highlights from the year:

    • Penny Kirk and I created a lot of art together and had a well supported exhibition at Left Bank Art Gallery in Greymouth. We’re working on our next exhibition already.
    • My nephew Rowan turned 50, which makes me feel old!
    • I got a bright pink bicycle and love it. Turns out I have terrible balance, but never mind.
    • I had a few visits to Alan on the West Coast. It’s a chance to relax, pat farm animals and make art.
    • I visited my sister Ailsa and family in Auckland, after a few false starts thanks to Covid. It was great to finally see their new home.
    • Speaking of Covid, we finally succumbed. I’m grateful for being vaxxed, which means I didn’t get particularly sick. I’m also grateful Sandra’s ridiculously overactive immune system looked after her.
    • I spent a few days in Hamner Springs & loved it. I want to go back when it’s not school holidays, because that was a bit of a mistake.
    • I love having two new knees. Life is just so much better when you can move without pain.

    On a much less positive note, Tony’s not doing well and will be moving to Trinity Resthome in Hawera in mid-January. Trinity has hospital, palliative and dementia care, so can provide anything he needs. It means I can visit him in my lunch breaks, so he may be less sleepy.

    Finally, here’s a few photos that sum up the year that’s been:

    Distributing RAT
    Jet boat ride with Alan
    Biking!
    Our exhibition
    Ex staff member’s baby
    Dinner out with Alan
    Hamner Springs
    Left Bank Art Gallery
    Tony, Dec ‘22
    Meeting Sophia
    Frida Kahlo with Rowan
    Rainbow Storytime

  • Time flies when you’re…

    Time flies when you’re having fun? Sometimes, and sometimes not. I think the best way to update is bullet points and some photos. Here goes:

    • The house looks great for new vinyl and carpet.
    • My renovated art room/office is a pleasure to be in and I haven’t spilled anything on the desk or carpet. Yet.
    • We got through Covid ok with no apparent ongoing impacts.
    • Tony’s health has deteriorated a lot. He sleeps most of the time now and is very weak.
    • His friend and ex colleague Doris came to visit him recently, which was great.
    • In September he had almost 2 weeks in HDU and Ward 3.
    • I had a much needed short break in Hamner Springs. Loved it, and want to go back.
    • I regularly walk 6000-7000 steps a day now , and managed just over 10,000 on holiday, and am so grateful.