Catherine Schwab

I make art & stuff. Currently in the stay-at-home-mom phase of my career. All content © 2011-2026. Follow my sideblog @justliketitanium

[cschwab]

Catherine Schwab Raspberry Jam and Strawberry Jam 2025 acrylic on canvas 36” × 36”

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: June 2026

Today's theme was big things.

The first thing I did was try on my respirator. Unfortunately, I could not get a seal, no matter how much I tightened it. It must be too big for me, which sucks because small respirators are not nearly as easy to find as the medium I need to size down from.

Next I had to make a firm decision about the size my Bombshell paintings will be. I'd been thinking 48"×48"; that's what I had been planning for Raspberry Jam and Strawberry Jam, but I wound up using a 36"×36" canvas based on what was in stock at Opus at the time. It turned out to be a great size for that painting, but I definitely want to go bigger for Bombshells. 48"×48" is big, especially since I'm working out of a cramped, shared home office and only have so much wall space for finished pieces. I'd also been considering 42"×42", but I'd have to get those built custom (or build them myself), and the closest I can get off the shelf is 40"×40".

I taped up big squares of painters tape on my living room wall in all three sizes, spent some time with each, and that confirmed for me that a canvas smaller than 48"×48" simply will not have the physical and visual impact I want these paintings to have. I'm seeking an almost overwhelming sensation with them. I want to be able to get lost in the canvas up close, and for that the canvas indeed needs to be big.

The rest of the day I cleared some spaces for those big canvases in the office closet. An annoying chore on its own, it meant handling what's left of my dad's things, something I have been avoiding for almost the entire decade since he passed away, because it brings up a lot of big feelings, as we tell children these days.

So for those keeping score: big frustration over too big PPE, big tape squares seeking big sensations, and big grief and bitterness while clearing a couple of big spaces. And much of this yet unresolved! Ah well, one foot in front of the other, life goes on and so must I.

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: May 2026

Today I'm going to start by ordering myself some PPE for working with MSA varnish. After that there are like three different things I could work on (paintings in progress, Hair Calendar mock-up, or studies for Bombshells), I haven't decided yet. I'll see what I feel like when the time comes!

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PPE checklist:

Respirator, NIOSH approved for organic solvents: ordered from Home Depot ✅

Nitrile gloves: ordered from Home Depot ✅

Goggles or face shield: found a pair of old safety goggles I had, either from high school chemistry or art school shop, but they did NOT fit over my current glasses (and they're pretty scratched up). I considered a face shield, but I was worried it wouldn't fit properly over or be comfortable with the respirator, so I found a pair of big googles with soft sides that will hopefully fit over these glasses and ordered [them] from Home Depot ✅

Protective clothing: dug some old yoga pants without pockets (therefore otherwise useless to me) out of my closet, and dug an old button-up shirt of my husband's out of the scrap fabric box ✅✅

The shirt was perfect except that one of the elbows was blown out, so I patched it with these cute bats from an old fabric mask:

My kids love it.

I never used to iron fabric patches before sewing them on, and I'm so glad I started because it makes the entire process dramatically easier. If you're like past me and you're thinking, "It's just a simple patch, it'll go on fine, I don't want to waste my time," please give it a chance, it really is worth the effort.

That took up most of my day, and I spent the rest working on the design for Bombshell III, using coloured pencil on graph paper!

This one one of those days that was genuinely productive and felt good even though I don't have much to show for it 👍🏻

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: May 2026

Today I'm going to start by ordering myself some PPE for working with MSA varnish. After that there are like three different things I could work on (paintings in progress, Hair Calendar mock-up, or studies for Bombshells), I haven't decided yet. I'll see what I feel like when the time comes!

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: April 2026

Today I have to watch some videos about using varnish. I had been avoiding varnish, largely because I don't like the finish it gives paintings, but the series I'm working on needs to be varnished to protect the fluorescent paints I'll be using from fading due to UV exposure, and to create a uniform texture (the fluorescent paints dry very matte compared to satin-glossy texture of normal acrylics). And unfortunately the preliminary research I had done made me more knowledgeable already than the Opus employee who helped me when I went varnish shopping, which I don't judge them for—I'm a decade removed from art school and still don't know this stuff myself.

I have the varnish. I have completed studies to test it on. I know I need some hazmat information to do it safely. So today I am going to learn something new.

[cschwab]

It's the end of the day now and I have more than three pages of notes!

Here are some of the things I read:

Info about the varnish I'll be using, Golden* MSA Varnish with UVLS

Solvent compatibility info for that varnish

An "Introduction to Varnish" from Golden

I got some nice little bits of helpful information from this "Tips and Tricks" article

Safety Data Sheets for the varnish and solvent

I wasn't planning to bother with an isolation coat but over the course of today's research I think I have changed my mind

And videos I watched:

A couple of isolation coat application demos from Golden: for small paintings and larger ones

A varnish thinning demo

"MSA Varnish - Brush Application to a Smooth Acrylic Surface", which is what I'll be doing

I watched a few other YouTube videos about varnishing acrylic paintings but was largely unimpressed and in some cases concerned by the lack of PPE and ventilation being used with products that need them

Next steps:

Acquire PPE (respirator for organic solvents and nitrile gloves; I think I can use my goggles from chemistry labs, if I can find them; and I'll have to designate some protective clothing just for varnishing)

Figure out the logistics of actually varnishing in my garage in my limited time

*In case you're wondering, I use Golden because my art school favourite brand, Stevenson, is long gone out of business and Golden is worker-owned.

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: April 2026

Today I have to watch some videos about using varnish. I had been avoiding varnish, largely because I don't like the finish it gives paintings, but the series I'm working on needs to be varnished to protect the fluorescent paints I'll be using from fading due to UV exposure, and to create a uniform texture (the fluorescent paints dry very matte compared to satin-glossy texture of normal acrylics). And unfortunately the preliminary research I had done made me more knowledgeable already than the Opus employee who helped me when I went varnish shopping, which I don't judge them for—I'm a decade removed from art school and still don't know this stuff myself.

I have the varnish. I have completed studies to test it on. I know I need some hazmat information to do it safely. So today I am going to learn something new.

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: March 2026

Well, that felt like a waste of time...

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Mom's Art Day: February 2026

I couldn't get to Opus again before today, so the first thing I did was go pick up some new gesso, another canvas for a "leftovers" painting since I decided the last one I got was too tall, and some watercolour paper for my kids.

I've now put an extra coat of gesso on two pre-primed canvases for "leftovers" paintings: one 24" × 30", which will be hexagons; the other 24" × 36", which will be roses. I will probably do one more coat of gesso on each and then not sand them to see how that works out. The point of these paintings is to use up materials, and do more playful experimentation. The roses and unsanded gesso are both departures for me.

All right, I think I've crammed enough food in to fuel me for the afternoon, so back to it!

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I finished gessoing those two canvases. My instinct is to do at least another layer to get a very bright white surface to paint on but I'm trying to keep it loose for these paintings so I'm going to leave them the way they are.

Once that was done I tried a few different black and blue combinations to make a background colour for one of my Bombshell paintings, and landed on a suitable mixture that just needs a bit more work to finalize the proportions.

And finally I made some 120° and 60° angle templates out of corrugated cardboard to use making the hexagon painting. I want to be free and spontaneous with this painting, when my natural inclination is to painstakingly plot things out, but I still want my polygons to have geometric integrity. Hopefully the templates will help me strike that balance when I start painting next month!

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: February 2026

I couldn't get to Opus again before today, so the first thing I did was go pick up some new gesso, another canvas for a "leftovers" painting since I decided the last one I got was too tall, and some watercolour paper for my kids.

I've now put an extra coat of gesso on two pre-primed canvases for "leftovers" paintings: one 24" × 30", which will be hexagons; the other 24" × 36", which will be roses. I will probably do one more coat of gesso on each and then not sand them to see how that works out. The point of these paintings is to use up materials, and do more playful experimentation. The roses and unsanded gesso are both departures for me.

All right, I think I've crammed enough food in to fuel me for the afternoon, so back to it!

[cschwab]

I want to talk about the Tumbler Ridge shooting.

My heart aches for the victims, the survivors, their families, and their entire community. I grew up in an isolated mining town, and if something similar happened there, the impact would have been unspeakably devastating. There aren’t words to describe my sorrow.

The shooter was a trans woman. We have had no official word on her motive.

Within this context, I want to make it very, very clear that my solidarity with trans people is absolute. I have not personally seen or heard anyone leveraging this horrific tragedy against trans people, but I have seen enough people reacting to it that I know it is already happening, and I have no patience or tolerance for it.

To my trans friends, colleagues, and especially students who happen to see this: Your gender identity is a beautiful part of you, and you make our community better and stronger. This is not your fault, this was never your fault, this will never be your fault, no matter what hateful rhetoric is spread in an effort to divide and oppress us. I love you, and I support you.

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: January 2026

Yes, I'm having my January art day in February. It was originally scheduled for yesterday, which was January, but my husband and I decided to move it to Sunday because the kid activity logistics on Sunday are easier for one parent to manage alone.

I'm proud of myself for going art supply shopping even though I didn't want to ask for advice about varnish or bring canvases home on the bus in the rain!

For the rest of the day I'll be gessoing a canvas for a painting to use up pre-mixed paints (I'm thinking of layering hexagons for that one), and swatching new paint colours for one of my Bombshell paintings.

[cschwab]

I'm finally ready to gesso! But...

Not only is my yogurt tub of diluted gesso moldy, my big tub of undiluted Stevenson (RIP) gesso I've had since art school is also moldy! And I was at Opus today! I could have gotten more if I had known! Now I have to wait until my next art day to get more! (Or perhaps I can stop in on the way home from my younger daughter's next gymnastics class....) Injury! Insult! Tragedy! 😭😡💔😤

OK enough melodramatics, it's time to swatch some paint.

[cschwab]

I swatched a bunch of blue and black paints, and figured out what combinations of those I want to test to make a dark blue for Bombshell III.

That's it until next month later this month!

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: January 2026

Yes, I'm having my January art day in February. It was originally scheduled for yesterday, which was January, but my husband and I decided to move it to Sunday because the kid activity logistics on Sunday are easier for one parent to manage alone.

I'm proud of myself for going art supply shopping even though I didn't want to ask for advice about varnish or bring canvases home on the bus in the rain!

For the rest of the day I'll be gessoing a canvas for a painting to use up pre-mixed paints (I'm thinking of layering hexagons for that one), and swatching new paint colours for one of my Bombshell paintings.

[cschwab]

I'm finally ready to gesso! But...

Not only is my yogurt tub of diluted gesso moldy, my big tub of undiluted Stevenson (RIP) gesso I've had since art school is also moldy! And I was at Opus today! I could have gotten more if I had known! Now I have to wait until my next art day to get more! (Or perhaps I can stop in on the way home from my younger daughter's next gymnastics class....) Injury! Insult! Tragedy! 😭😡💔😤

OK enough melodramatics, it's time to swatch some paint.

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: January 2026

Yes, I'm having my January art day in February. It was originally scheduled for yesterday, which was January, but my husband and I decided to move it to Sunday because the kid activity logistics on Sunday are easier for one parent to manage alone.

I'm proud of myself for going art supply shopping even though I didn't want to ask for advice about varnish or bring canvases home on the bus in the rain!

For the rest of the day I'll be gessoing a canvas for a painting to use up pre-mixed paints (I'm thinking of layering hexagons for that one), and swatching new paint colours for one of my Bombshell paintings.

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: December 2025

I have covid. I was supposed to go shopping for paint, canvases, and maybe even varnish for the series of paintings I'm working on, but since I'm still testing positive as of last night, I am keeping my germs home. I'm really bummed because I am extremely excited about these new paintings and want to work on them so, so badly, but instead I'll work on Hair Calendar and maybe start designing a new needlepoint hygiene product, because lately I've been feeling inspired to continue that series, which I started in my last year of art school.

[cschwab]

When I sat down to work on Hair Calendar, I realized there was actually a big chunk of stitching to do on the mock-up before moving on, so that's what I did all day. It was actually so chill! I really enjoyed myself!

(Also holy run-on sentences, morning Catherine!)

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: December 2025

I have covid. I was supposed to go shopping for paint, canvases, and maybe even varnish for the series of paintings I'm working on, but since I'm still testing positive as of last night, I am keeping my germs home. I'm really bummed because I am extremely excited about these new paintings and want to work on them so, so badly, but instead I'll work on Hair Calendar and maybe start designing a new needlepoint hygiene product, because lately I've been feeling inspired to continue that series, which I started in my last year of art school.

[cschwab]

Mom's Art Day: September 2025

This morning I stretched canvases for studies for a new series of paintings, and I remembered to bandage up my pinkie before it got torn up by the staple gun. I am very proud of myself. 🤙🏻

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Mom's Art Day: August 2025

Things have been pretty stressful lately, so I wanted to spend a chill day just working on my Hair Calendar mock-up. I had to battle through a real lack of motivation and sleepiness from migraine meds, but I made some good progress and I'm getting close to being able to start the actual piece!