I’m working on Wanderlust week 4, with Kasia Avery. The project is designed to be slow, which is not how I normally work, but I’m determined to try. So far, so good … although I did have trouble with the stitching ripping the hand made paper because the gel medium on the paper wasn’t completely dry. So I used gel medium to add more paper to the back, and tried to keep going – and of course it ripped again. Did I learn to wait? Sort of 😂
Here’s what I have done so far:
Week 3 was a watercolour lesson with Nicole Warrington. We painted a postcard and incorporated some of the watercolour trial pieces into a collages layout. I’ve got Kuretake Gambai watercolours, which are a little more opaque than standard watercolours. I have two sets of 24 and enjoy using them but I’m an absolute beginner. This was a fun class, and I’m pleased with the final pages.
This has been a mixed weekend – I took Tony for a haircut and brunch, Sandra & I’ve been out playing Munzees, I packaged up a painting to mail, and tidied my art room. I’ve also done weeks 1 to 3 of Wanderlust25. I prefer to work week by week, so it was good to have consolidated time at my art desk.
Week 2 was lead by Carolyn Dube, who I’ve followed for years. I enjoy her relaxed “oh well” style. Part of the lesson was choosing a word for the year and Carolyn provided an inspiration list. And there is was — REST. The universe is crystal clear I need to rest without feeling bad about it. The style of the page is based on the process Carolyn demonstrated. The colours are a deliberate move away from my usual palette.
I’ve often started my year by participating in a paid class or worldwide project. It’s a great way to kickstart the art year. I’ve done the Documented Life Project & Creative Jump Start a number of times, along with ‘100 days of …’ and a few one-off classes. I haven’t done anything for about 4 years as Tony’s health, and some other changes, meant I just didn’t have the bandwidth.
Part way through last year I decided to commit to something for 2025 and tossed up between Wanderlust25 and Fodder School. I went with Wanderlust25, in the hope it might move me away from being brand/product driven in my art journals. It started a couple of weeks ago and yesterday I finally set up my journal and completed week 1 with Iris Fritschi-Cussens.
As with all paid classes I’ll share what I made, but not specifics around techniques and thinking. I’m delighted with this first spread – it already feels like I’ve gone back to 10 years ago when I was more process driven. You can see it below, along with details close-ups.
The writing is a reminder to myself that it’s ok to rest when I need to. My health is a bit dodgy yet I very much resist resting. Talking to my sister yesterday I realised it’s because Mum used to make me rest when she was tired and I wasn’t, so I see it as punishment!
My journals are a safe place to play but also somewhere for ideas to prove themselves or die… Sometimes an idea isn’t sustainable for practical reasons, perhaps because of the materials or energy required.
Other times I start to play with an idea and, 2 or 3 iterations along, I’m getting bored with it. If an idea is going to become a series, even a small one, it’s needs to hold my attention for a sustained period of time.
There’s been a couple of things recently I’ve tried and dropped for the above reasons. So I’ve gone back a bit to go forward – relooking at ideas that have captivated me in the past, and putting a fresh twist on them.
I’m playing with ridge lines, mountains and the landscape generally. Because it’s a familiar subject I’m able to play around with my materials more. These early trial works incorporate gelli prints, acrylic paint, acrylic ink, water soluble pencils, Kuretake watercolours and Ranger Distress Foundry Wax.
Cath Sheard Art 