KATHY E WATSON NEW ZEALAND ARTIST
Kathy worked as a nurse in the UK and NZ for many years before fulfilling a lifelong ambition to go to art school later in life. Her family emigrated to New Zealand from England in 1980. She has sketched and painted all her life, and after her children became independent, studied for a Diploma in Fine Art at the Whitecliffe School of Art in Auckland.
The family sailed a traditional kauri sloop on the Hauraki Gulf, which gave her the opportunity to paint the beautiful island anchorages in all weathers, and the many features of life at sea.
The family sailed a traditional kauri sloop on the Hauraki Gulf, which gave her the opportunity to paint the beautiful island anchorages in all weathers, and the many features of life at sea.
'Full on - America's Cup Racing' - LINK to Marine Folio
For two decades her work mainly Marine and Narrative painting (see below), was exhibited in Auckland galleries, including Art by the Sea and Art of this World galleries in Devonport, and the Studio of Contemporary Art, Newmarket. Highlights of those years were working as a resident artist at Lake House Arts Centre in Takapuna, and organising the Stars and Stripes gallery in Auckland's Viaduct Basin during the 2000 Americas Cup Regatta.
'Grafted to this Land' - LINK to Narrative Folio
This Narrative Series, where the works itell a story in mixed media, depict both New Zealand life and issues of the environment.
'Atelier, Provence' - LINK to French Series
Having visited France several times, once arriving in Paris on Bastille Day, and spending many happy hours discovering the delights of such places as Provence and Paris, it was just a joy to paint this French series and 'relive the moments.'
Having visited France several times, once arriving in Paris on Bastille Day, and spending many happy hours discovering the delights of such places as Provence and Paris, it was just a joy to paint this French series and 'relive the moments.'
Farm Land and Kaihakatea Trees near Maungatautari, Waikato, NZ - LINK to Waikato Landscapes
Kathy moved to a rural area, South of Auckland twelve years ago with her husband, and began a Waikato series of paintings depicting rural landscape and gardens, finding it a great way of becoming acclimatised.
'The wide open skies, the green pastures, trees - both native and exotic, mountains, rivers and lakes, together with isolated signs of habitation such as fence posts, farm houses with colourful gardens - and water tanks set high on a hill.
AND A HUGE SENSE OF SPACE AND FRESH AIR THAT MAKES IT ESSENTIALLY NEW ZEALAND.'
LINK to NZ Garden Series
A keen gardener, Kathy enjoys the exercise and has a love of growing things in their half acre section. After a day of painting in the studio, she searches for a flower or plant to use as subject for a small, quick palette knife painting to use up the paint left on her palette!
'A Bird in the Hand' Mixed Media on Canvas, 700mm diam
A complete departure from the recent landscape paintings this new series is still in process, creating exciting, unique compositions combined with tactile mixed media. This approach was explored previously in the Narrative series.
Her work is held in private and corporate collections in N.Z. and Overseas, including Carter Holt Harvey, New York; Graeme Hart; Telecom NZ; Dennis Conner, Stars and Stripes Americas Cup 2000 Syndicate and the Prada Americas Cup 2000 Syndicate.
Awards:
Finalist Telecom Art Awards 1992
Finalist North Shore City Art Awards 1994 to 2000
NZ Sugar Company Awards at Pumphouse, North Shore, Auckland - Seascape Award - 1995 and 1998, and Merit Award 2003.
Oil Painting Award, Mairangi Arts Centre Members Exhibition 2004
Influences:
The New Zealanders Toss Woolaston and James Nairn, the English artists J.M.W. Turner and John Constable, the Americans, Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer, and the Australian Heidelberg Group have been a source of inspiration in landscape and marine work.
Wallisy Kandinsky's work has always held a fascination for her with his wonderful use of colour and innovation.
Awards:
Finalist Telecom Art Awards 1992
Finalist North Shore City Art Awards 1994 to 2000
NZ Sugar Company Awards at Pumphouse, North Shore, Auckland - Seascape Award - 1995 and 1998, and Merit Award 2003.
Oil Painting Award, Mairangi Arts Centre Members Exhibition 2004
Influences:
The New Zealanders Toss Woolaston and James Nairn, the English artists J.M.W. Turner and John Constable, the Americans, Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer, and the Australian Heidelberg Group have been a source of inspiration in landscape and marine work.
Wallisy Kandinsky's work has always held a fascination for her with his wonderful use of colour and innovation.