Cath Sheard Art

Tag: small canvas

  • Painting the colours of summer

    Next Friday the Patea Patchwork and Quilt exhibition, as part of the Taranaki Garden Trust’s Fringe Festival, opens in the old Hunter Shaw building here in Patea. They have invited me to be the sole painter exhibiting. I am offering lots of smaller works for sale, plus some older works in order to make space in my studio for new paintings. Sort of a spring clean!

    Here’s a quick bit of history for you. The Hunter Shaw building was built as the town’s library in 1930 using money bequeathed to the town by Hunter Shaw – hence the name. The building, designed by prominent New Zealand architects Gummer and Ford, is in the Regency Revival style of 1915-1940. It is a fine example of their work and some people, architect students included, come to Patea just to see the building. The library moved out in 2002, having finally outgrown the building. I was the librarian at the time, still am, and it was a difficult decision to be part of but I know we made the right choice in the end. The local Council has kept the building, and done a great deal of earthquake-proofing and restoration. It looks fantastic and is a magic venue for public events such as this exhibition.

    So, back to the artworks. The new works I have done are all abstract, using the colours of our summer gardens as a starting point. In some cases there is a hint of upright foliage and sky, in others just the colours as a mental nod to gardening. Most of the new paintings are wee 4x4s – so that I have something very moderately priced for the travelling public to get enthused about (I hope!). All are done in artist quality acrylics and are heady to hang and enjoy. I’m really looking forward to the exhibition, because it is such a different audience for me to reach, but I am also a bit nervous about locals seeing my work – silly huh?

  • Being prepared with lots of paintings!

    The Taranaki Rhododendron Festival, and the Fringe Festival, are both coming up at the end of the month. The local Patchwork and Quilting group are holding a week long exhibition in the Hunter Shaw building in Patea in support of these garden extravaganzas. They have invited me to be the sole artist exhibiting amongst the textiles. Fantastic!

    In early December I am due to start exhibiting again at the Albany Garden Centre in Auckland, just in time for their Christmas trade. And in early November I am contributing to a charity auction at the Gift of Art Gallery in Christchurch. You can visit their blog here. The NZ Art Guild is busy planning towards a major charity event to be held at the Bruce Mason Centre (Auckland) in February 2009, which I will be exhibiting at also. This is to raise funds for the Leukemia & Blood Foundation – a link to more detail is on the right hand side on the Guild’s website here.

    On top of all that, I have booked an art showcase page on Etsy for November 2nd, which means my Etsy offerings will potentially be seen by up to 10,000 in one 24 hour period.

    Why am I telling you all this? Because it explains why I am painting up a storm, painting like there is no tomorrow, like paint supplies are about to run out worldwide – and loving it LOL. My wall of 4×4 canvas is becoming less like a wall, and more like a wee room divider, day by day. It’s a good thing.

    Economic recession? Doom and gloom? Financial ruin? Whatever! There are opportunities out there for those prepared to just keep on working, so that’s what l’m doing – and I would encourage others to do the same. We all create our own economic future every day; what have you done toward your future this weekend?

  • Putting back – Starship fundraiser

    The NZ Art Guild are supporting the Starship Foundation’s Christmas Cracker House Tour on November 14th, where there will be a market stall selling a variety of goods. Funds raised this year will go towards head cooling caps for Starship’s Intensive Care Unit.

    As a member of the Guild I was keen to get involved. My cousin died if leukemia when we were both 14 years old. I wish Starship had existed then for Dean and his family. So, I have made six 4×4 Christmas canvas – each one is unique, but all are similar (production line art for speed). I hope the money they raise helps this valuable cause.

  • GPP Street Team Crusade No 23

    Well, the month is almost over, and today I got the chance to enter Michelle’s latest challenge. You can read the details here. The challenge was about cleaning up – “clearing your plate” – but doing it your own way. And I did.

    Today I moved mountains of “stuff” that had accumulated in my art room. Emptied boxes, consolidated things, cleaned up piles of left over bits and bobs. I wouldn’t call the room super tidy or super organised; but compared with the non-existent “before” photos, it’s a miracle 🙂

    Can you see the wall of 4×4 and 4×8 canvas piled up at the back of my desk – I love having them all sitting there just waiting for me to have a few spare minutes!

  • More circles

    Just continuing on with mark making and abstraction. On a 4×4″ canvas – loving this size.