Kate Owen
CREATIVE PRACTICE
I live in Northern NSW and work from my purpose built studio that sits a few minutes walk from the front of our house surrounded by beautiful views of undulating farming country. It is a perfect creative oasis where I paint daily. I am inspired by any number of things but my work definitely leans toward the organic shapes found in nature. Plants provide a perfect balance of colour combined with line in unpredictable and surprising ways. I absorb everything and use the impressions of my memories to inspire the work. I prefer to work on canvas and use acrylics in order to work quickly and intuitively capturing spontaneous gestural marks. Working in this way the outcome is never apparent from the start, the piece takes on a life of its own as I go with each mark informing the next and dictating a certain path. I am continually excited by colour combinations and fascinated by line using graphite, pencil and oil stick and scratching back through layers of paint to add dimension. Collage is a favourite, which I find incredibly therapeutic and this more controlled part of the work satisfies my need to arrange forms for a visually pleasing aesthetic.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Each time I walk over to the studio I try to leave expectations behind so that when I start I am open to possibilities. The outcome is not so much the aim as is the journey to a resolution, a series of marks shapes and colours that form an experience that resonates with me. Each work serves to teach me that I have more to learn which keeps me coming back. My work finds resolution most often in abstract florals, colourful forms and lines that assemble to suggest unruly bouquets. I recognise these as interpretations of elements I see around me, most often at home especially on my walks. Prickly pear growing up along the roadside, weeds and brambles entwined in the fence line, a little pop of colour from a wildflower, these things make up my vocabulary of paint. I use a variety of media in colour, layers and textures to express my internal landscape, which is made up of all the emotions associated with my everyday life. My visual culture is vivid and joyful with the intent to enchant the viewer and inspire optimism.
BIO
2021
Art Lovers Australia Annual Prize - Hidden Springs - Shortlisted
2020
Inverell Art Gallery Art Prize - Open Section 1st Prize
Art Lovers Australia Annual Prize - Secret Garden II - Shortlisted
2019
Aspects Art Show Goondiwindi - Contemporary Art Prize
Aspects Art Show Goondiwindi - Allens Pharmacy Acquistition Prize
2018
The Inverell Art Gallery Art Prize - Open Section 2nd Prize
Aspects Art Show Goondiwindi - Goondiwindi Engineering Acquistition Prize
The Inverell Art Gallery Contemporary Art Exhibition - Fresh Acquistion Prize
2017
Aspects Art Show Goondiwindi - Drawing and Graphics 1st Prize
Aspects Art Show Goondiwindi - 2 Highly commended
2016
Aspects Art Show Goondiwindi - Highly commended
QUALIFICATIONS
2010 - present
Aspects Art Show Curator
1987
Diploma Fashion Design KVB College of Visual Communication
CONTACT
hello@kateowenartwork.com.au