Cath Sheard Art

Tag: healing

  • Art heals

    I have often said art heals. It’s good for me to create – it soothes my soul. Working regularly in my art journal lets me say in words, images and gestures all the things I can’t put into spoken words. I believe the act of creating is good for all of us, whether we’re creating art, making music, baking, gardening … there’s an outlet for anyone who will listen to their inner voice.

    What I don’t often talk about is that art can also heal the viewer. Whether that’s the power of seeing art in a museum, having a piece of art that commemorates or celebrates something personal, or realising through a piece of art that you’re not alone.

    Recently I sold three small works to a woman on the East Coast of New Zealand. They live in an area that was devastated in Cyclone Gabrielle. She commissioned me to make a bigger work referencing the hills they see daily, and the apple orchards in the area.

    I’m not big on commissions so, instead, I created three works that fitted her general request. If one suited her needs, great! If not, I’d just sell them. That way, I don’t feel restricted to making work in a way that doesn’t fit with how I create. It’s a tactic I’ve used successfully before.

    I showed her three pieces, and she asked me to make a small adjustment to one. Once I’d done that, she bought the work and I shipped it off. I got a message a couple of weeks ago that it was off to the framer. Tonight I got the Bluesky message shown below. Reading it made my eyes well up, and my heart feel full. My art helped her heal and that’s a magic thing to be part of.

  • Practice makes progress

    People say practice makes perfect, but wonderful Australian artist Niamh Baly always says practice makes progress. And she’s right!

    I joined the gym about 6 weeks. My hope was to improve my balance and strength – having two total knee replacements and various medical dramas over the years has impacted on both.

    When I started I could manage 10 minutes on the CrossFit at Level 1 and use 3kg weights for leg and arm exercises. Today I did 17 minutes on the CrossFit at Level 2, 10 minutes on the Exercycle, 4 sets of 10 on the Leg Press and 3 sets of 10 leg exercises with 6 kg weights. I couldn’t find the 5kg ones and the 6kg were just too heavy for my arm exercises.

    By most people’s standards that’s not a lot, but it is good progress for me. I’ve got some goals in mind – one of them being just better general capacity. I’m so grateful for the difference my surgeries have made to my life.

  • Busy hands

    When I feel well (enough) I like to keep my hands busy. While I’ve been recovering from major surgery I’ve spent a lot of time idly watching art videos, but have also sat quietly at my desk playing with paint, collage and glue. Here’s some of the pages I’ve done in my small Dylusions journal.

  • Beam me up

    As is often the case, I’ve turned to a song to say all the things I can’t find the words for. I love writing letters & blogging, and I’m a fairly slow deep thinker. Yet, when it comes to emotions, I’m suddenly voiceless.

    It’s the same for many addicts. Saying what’s in the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds is too hard, too scary, and makes us too vulnerable. On the flipside, that vulnerability is very healing. Through counselling, a lot of effort, and patient friends, I’ve healed a lot in the last year or so; healing that will help me maintain a healthy weight as I get further and further post weight loss surgery.

    This page uses the lyrics from P!nk’s song ‘Beam me up’ and refers to my angel babies, and also to missing Mum and Dad.

    beam 20190825

  • P!nk – Courage

    I’m still recording the music I love in my art journals. I enjoy the process, but also it tells people a lot about me. Music is a huge part of my life; I listen at home, in the car, at work, while I cook…
    This is P!nk’s Courage. It speaks to me because maintaining my weight loss means having the courage to face all the reasons I overeat. The courage to dig deep emotionally, face my fears, feel emotions instead of smothering them with food.
    This page is in my large Dylusions journal. Inks: Peony blush, Bubblegum Pink. Postbox red & White Linen. Paints: Peony blush & Funky fuschia. Stencils: Teardrops, Star struc &  Diamond in the rough. Stamps: Dy’s alphabet. Other: Archival ink, Distress ink, white gel pen.
    courage 20190602.jpg