Cath Sheard Art

Tag: art

  • Why do collage?

    Sometimes I see people online asking what the point of collage is if you’re “not going to do anything with it”.

    For many creatives the joy is in creating, rather than the final result. Moving our hands, and quieting our brains, is good for us and even more important when the world feels difficult.

    I believe the hand of the artist always shows. Creating collages without too much thinking helps uncover developing interests, common threads, new directions and shapes that are calling to us.

    I made four small collages this afternoon – I think the journal is 6×6”. When I look at them it’s obvious to me one was overly influenced by some printed tissue paper that was lying around. The hand painted papers feel right by the composition doesn’t sit comfortably for me.

    The other three sit together, and show the hand of the artist. There are consistent shapes which regularly show up in my work, mixed with a shape that’s still emerging, and some colour schemes I’ve been exploring.

    Will I do anything with this information? In a formal sense, no. But it’ll sit in the back of my mind and over time some of it may become part of my new art language. We’ll see…

  • The payback for struggling

    Yesterday I blogged about six small pieces I was working on that were awkward and wrong. I described that base layer is an invitation to play. What I didn’t say is, and I have nothing to lose.

    Tonight I grabbed collage paper scraps, glue, acrylic paint and followed my instincts. Not thinking, only doing. Are these finished, or good yet? No. But they’re better, and I think I’m going to like the final results. Sometimes having nothing to lose is a bonus.

  • Prepping too soon

    On Saturday I posted on bsky that “I’ve just taped the edges of about a dozen pieces of paper. I love a nice, clean white edge on the finished works. The fact I’ve prepped so many is a good sign. My subconscious must think I’m ready to start a new series”.

    I had an idea of what I wanted to create, starting with fluro pink or orange paint scraped onto the paper so it was textural. I painted 8 small pieces of paper, mainly in the fluro pink, and let it dry. So far, so good.

    Then … nothing. Hmm, looked at the inspiration photos on the wall, and the couple of trial works I’d done. Ok, the direction’s pretty clear. Put some paint out and started working across four of the prepped surfaces.

    Nothing worked as expected. Not just in a “well, these need a lot of refining” way, or even a “well, some collage and mark making will help” way either. More of a “can I light a bonfire” way?” 😉

    It means I prepped the surfaces too soon. I need to spend more time in my art journals, more time playing with colours and shapes, and just let it simmer. The paper I prepped won’t go to waste, but it’ll probably be a few weeks at least before they appear on my art desk again.

  • Not quite full circle

    When I was at The Learning Connexion I did a lot of drawing, and I blogged about it recently. Not “here’s a realistic face” drawing, more mark marking and activating the page. I haven’t gone full circle, but I’m certainly doing a lot more drawing.

    Tonight I took two books off my bookcase; Contemporary drawing by Margaret Davidson, and Expressive drawing by Steven Aimone. It’s years since I read them.

    I’m not looking for technical information, and I’m comfortable using my supplies. I want to look at the different ways people draw and make marks, and think about what I like and why.

  • Consistency

    I’ve been thinking about consistency; consistency in going to the gym and in other personal habits. I’m working in a kraft journal and trying out some ideas. What I’m starting to notice is – despite some new colours / materials and the intention to work differently – there are marks and colour combinations which always come out.

    Black, white, blue, green, turquoise, with a touch of hot pink, orange or fluorescent yellow. The colours of the sea, which I have always loved. But also the colours of the Hokitika Gorge, which I love.

    Cruciform shapes, ovals that are higher on one side with one end cut off, loose squares or oblongs that connect to a line across or up the page. I know where some of it comes from – the cruciform shapes and squares or oblongs relate to memories of the Patea Cool Stores and Freezing Works. The ovals I have no idea about, but when I get scissors and paper in my hand for collage, there they are!