My paintings usually reflect the land, both seen and remembered. They’re abstract or semi-abstract works about vision, memory, and feelings. They reflect my inner landscape as much as the actual landscape.
Sometimes I produce work after work without being sure what they’re about. I just keep going, confident I’ll know in time. There have been times when others have recognised the subject before me.
A long time ago I was showing my sister’s ex-husband a series of works. He said, “so you’re painting the Pātea freezing works and cool stores”. I could see it once he’d named it. He’d worked there as a uni student and recognised the buildings.
In other cases it’s only by painting and painting and painting that I come to know. A couple of years ago I consistently painted the same general landform and a shape that was clearly a cross or sword. Eventually I knew … long story.
I started a large canvas a couple of weeks ago and add to it whenever I see/feel something it needs. Today I started a second, smaller canvas, and found myself using the same colour palette and marks. Why? What does it represent?
It’s the sea! I feel there’s a couple of drivers. I’m working on Bird Flu prep at work, so thinking about sea birds, the shoreline, and impact on sea mammals. We’ve had some big storms, and I’ve been thinking about climate change and the way the sea is changing. My brain’s way of processing it is to get it out onto paint or canvas.
Cath Sheard Art 