2024 Emerging Contemporaries Exhibition Catalogue

Kate Shaw
ARTIST STATEMENT
This body of work revolves around the
integration of watercolour and fine detail
overdrawing. Each piece is a calculated
exploration of balance and technique. The choice
of watercolour serves as a foundation, allowing
for nuanced gradations and soft transitions. This
fluidity sets the stage for the subsequent
application of ink or screen print, where
precision and detailing come into play.
For these works, the decision to incorporate fine
detail is driven by a desire to elevate the visual
impact of the work. It serves as a deliberate
departure from the inherent translucency of
watercolour, introducing structure and definition
to the composition. The overlay of details serves
not only to enhance associations and deepen
narrative resonance, but also to softly convey
elements of lived experience.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Kate is an emerging visual artist using painting,
drawing and printmaking as her main vehicles
of communication. Kate was born and raised in
Canberra and moved to Melbourne in 2010 to
continue a career in the public sector. She
relocated back to Canberra a few years ago to be
closer to family.
Kate has always enjoyed the arts and design and
was drawn to restart her creative practice after
her children started primary school. She
commenced studying a Diploma in Visual Arts
at CIT, and has recently graduated.
The motivation behind this approach lies in the
pursuit of visual storytelling. By combining the
subtleties of watercolour with the crispness of
ink, I aim to portray a harmonious coexistence of
opposing elements. Each stroke is purposeful,
contributing to the overall narrative of the piece.
The hand is evident in the precision of the
details, emphasising the deliberate decisions
made throughout the creative process.