Cath Sheard Art

Tag: mixed media

  • My journals are a safe place

    My journals are a safe place to play, experiment, and say whatever’s on my mind and in my heart. I share most of the pages I create, but there are a few that stay unseen in my journals. Alan’s away at the moment, so yesterday Sandra, Bruno and I went to New Plymouth playing Munzees after I’d taken Tony out for morning tea – he doesn’t want to go out for lunch at the moment for some reason. We had a fun day, and both earned a badge we didn’t expect to – it was fun!

    I’m heading to Hokitika on Thursday for about 10 days, so today I’ve semi-packed my bag. Next Sunday Pen and I will be working on some collab pieces at Left Bank Art Gallery, which I’m excited about. I’ve have spent most of the day at my art desk. I’ve got some lovely new Dina Wakley MEdia printed transparencies and stencils, so had to test them out 😉

  • Progress, and planning

    I’m making slow progress with filling my journal before I commit to paper. I think the journal is a bit small, so the mark making is too fussy to make my happy. I’m determined to keep at it though. My scanner won’t pick up anything vageuly fluro, so I’m finding I can’t scan a lot of the pages to share.

    Pen Kirk and I are planning a day of “working big” at Left Bank Art Gallery is Greymouth – I’m heading down that way in a couple of weeks. We’re going to work on stretched canvas, paper, cardboard and work in rounds, so we spend a set amount of time on something then move on, working into each other’s work. We’re limiting our colours to black, white, buff, turquoise, deep blue, Indian yellow, fluro pink and silver but can use any medium, so we’ll have paint, acylic ink, pastels and collage. It’ll be fun to work together – there’s real magic in letting go and just trusting each other.

  • Staying with the process

    I committed to filling at least one art journal with ideas before starting on ‘good’ paper or wooden panels.

    Today I made a huge pile of gelli prints using leaves and grasses then accidentally spilt about 1/3 of a bottle of green ink on the pile of prints. They’re mainly ok though, and some of the layers are magic.

    I’m still working on my small Venezia journal and have taped borders on every second page in the A4 size one.

    I seem to be flipping between abstract and semi realistic. I know why … and it’s holding me back. I need to stick more firmly to my own artistic voice.

  • Process; back to basics

    I completed my Dip Art & Creativity (Hon) back in 2007 or 2008 – it’s a long time ago. One of the things I learned during that journey was I am fascinated with the edges of my work, my works involves memory, and I am process driven. The memories and process are more important to me than the final look of the work.

    Pen Kirk and I have done a couple of joint exhibitons which have been very process driven, and I’ve found that a wobderful mix of easy and challenging. The work I am doing on my own has been less successful; I’ve been thinking about why, and doing some research. I’ve watched some of my favourite artists on YouTube, and a new one Marabeth Quin. And there it is – I’ve moved too far from memory and process which are my key drivers, thinking too soon (and too much) about what the final work will look like.

    I thought I was ready to start a new body of work. I am in the sense I know what it’ll be about, but my “aha” moment is that I shouldn’t break out the lovely new wooden panels I’ve got just yet. I’m committing to filling at least one journal, maybe two, with playful experiments, without referring to photos of the areas, so I work from memory and with no expectation about the finished pieces.

  • Is this it? A new series.

    I posted recently about the quiet space between projects, where I play in my art journals, try out ideas, and just muddle about. I’d been listening to a YT post by Helen Wells who refers to the ebb and flow of creativity.

    Sometimes I think I’m ready for a new series so I make a start and it’s just not right. I wrote about a false start back in March. I’ve been looking at photos from the last couple of times Alan and I have been away in the hills, and painting some ideas in my small journals.

    Last night I was watching Australian artist Laura Horn on YT; I’ve admired her work for a long time. There was something about her work that made what had been on the periphery of my knowing come into focus. I’ve started making gelli prints with a specific purpose in mind, and have bought 6 wood panels to work on. They’re only 12×12” so I can have two or three on my desk at once. I’m excited to see what happens…