Cath Sheard Art

Tag: art journaling

  • Recording the hard stuff

    I was talking with someone on a FB group page and they commented that you can’t journal the hard stuff because others might read it. It means you can’t share the page, so others don’t get to be inspired by your art.

    I disagree; I’ve always journaled the good, bad and ugly in my scrapbooks and art journals. As an ex scrapbooking teacher, I’ve always shared my art in person and online.

    Sometimes I write it all out so it’s legible and figure, if I share the hard or ugly stuff, I might help others get through and be able to tell their stories. We can all help create safe places for others to share their experiences, especially around addiction, mental health and abuse / domestic violence. I’ve never felt my life has to look perfect in order to share online.

    But, even for me, there are things I don’t want the world reading about. Sometimes it is just too raw, other times it’s because it would compromise another person in some way. Often it’s about my food addiction, addictive personality, Tony’s health or my relationship with others who support me (or have similar issues) that I’m wanting to talk about.

    When I want to record things but don’t want it to be legible, I use “scribble writing” so I get it all out of my head, but no one can read it. I usually start in the middle of the pages then work up and down, so the lines aren’t consecutive, and make sure the writing is loopy and overlaps. If’ you’re a scrapbooker or art journaler I’d encouarge you to record it all, it’s very healing.

    For the record, this page is about some of the head struggles I’ve had this week, more than 2 years post weight loss surgery, what I’m doing about it, and the support I get from people.

    go deep wls 20190119

     

  • One Little Word for 2019

    Every year I join #olw – One Little Word with Ali Edwards. This year my word was ENOUGH. You can read about it here. As always happens, the word turned out to have more connections and meanings for me than I could have imagined. I ended up in counselling, getting to the heart of some issues, working towards a point where my heart – not just my head – knows I am enough. I’m a work in progress.

    I’ve put quite a lot of time into choosing my One Little Word for 2019 and tested four out by writing down what they would mean to me. Aware and connection were pretty good but, in the end, DEEP was a clear winner. As we get into 2019 I know, from previous years, more connections will become clear, but for now DEEP resonates for me because:

    • I want to understand myself at a deep level
    • I am prepared to dig deep emotionally
    • I seek friendships that connect at a deep level
    • I aim for a deep understanding of key issues at work
    • I aim for a deep understanding of national issues that are aligned with my interests
    • I am prepared to dig deep to get fitter, even when it hurts
    • I am willing to dig deep to reach my goals

    Normally I make an index card piece of art and put it in my office at work This year I’ve gone for a square format and made two, one for at work, and one for my home office, to keep me even more focussed on my word and what it means to me.

  • Catching up – Hokitika & art

    Last weekend I was in Hokitika visiting my friend Penny, seeing Hokitika Gorge and making art. If you want to know more about it, check out my FB page.

    I’ve been catching up on my usual art stuff, getting a little more prepared for Christmas, and ‘clearing’ the decks ready for a day of print making inspired by the trip. I want to make some print to sell, not just throw in the drawer like I normally do!

    Here’s some of my recent catch-up journalling. A pen I was using bled, I tried to fix it, it got worse – then I got wet paint on the scanner glass and didn’t notice! Oh well…in the end it’s only paper, paint & glue…

    dyary 2611201802122018week 47week 48dyary 01122018.jpghearts dont break

  • Writing out the feelings

    I had my third counselling session today and this page came out of that session, so I’m not going to explain the significance of the words…writing out all the feelings is so worthwhile.articulate.jpg

     

  • Pouring out the words

    I decided yesterday I’d do a journal about my angel babies, and pour out all the feelings onto paper. I knew once I started I would be a bit teary and obsessive – and warned Tony. Turns out I am obsessive but not teary. But my god am I dredging up old memories and hurts, and dealing with them.

    Here’s an example of something I had tucked away but never let go of … Relatively early in our infertility journey my then-husband started showing the first signs of depression. My Mother-in-law, who I had a mixed relationship with, said “If you’d just have a baby, he’d feel better”. Well, f*ck me, why hadn’t I thought of that?

    I’m being consistent about how the pages look because that makes me happy, and ensuring the bulk of the writing is unreadable because it’s so personal – but also contains other people’s personal information. Infertility isn’t a journey you take on your own, and impacts on all aspects of your life. I’ll be writing about love, sex, affairs, needles, medicine, deaths, depression, family, friends, betrayals … this is a ‘warts and all’ journey. I’m not sure it will end up being in chronological order because I suspect old memories will come back as I write. Thanks for being part of this healing journey with me.