Introducing Kate from The Katie Collective. Where every item is handmade!! From her home in Diamond Creek, Victoria, Kate hand paints stunning artworks, inspired by nature and architecture.
Find out why Kate started creating and why she is so passionate about the value of handmade.
Tell us about your creations and your handmade process.
My process begins with a rough sketch to help me visualize the design. From there, I sketch the drawing onto cold-pressed watercolour paper. Then, it comes to life with layers of watercolour and gouache. On average, it takes me about 15 hours from sketching to the finished piece for an A4-sized artwork.
Once the artwork is complete, it is professionally scanned and printed locally. My art prints are produced on textured cardstock that mimics the watercolour paper perfectly, and my cards are printed on textured, 100% recycled cardstock.
Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a handmade artist.
I have always been a creative person. Art and Design were my favourite subjects in school, and I was thrilled to have one of my VCE final art pieces featured in a gallery overseas. Over the years, no matter what 9-5 job I had, I always found time to create, experimenting with different mediums along the way.
Living with a chronic illness, I find the process of creating very therapeutic; putting on music, zoning out, and spending hours focusing on the little details, especially during flare-ups as it helps me cope. In 2020, I started creating more regularly and began attending local craft markets. The positive feedback I received was amazing, though I now only do one or two markets a year because of the physical challenges my illness brings.
MadeIt is a wonderful Australian handcrafted platform that's given me the chance to share my work with a wider audience. It's such a heartwarming and humbling feeling knowing my pieces have been chosen by people all over the world.
What is your inspiration or where do you find inspiration?
My inspiration comes from a blend of the world around me and my personal experiences. It could be something as simple as a pattern I notice on a leaf while walking my dog. It might be sparked from a dream, a book I'm reading, or something I've seen or experienced while traveling.
I'm inspired by the art and design that surrounds me, whether it's in architecture, pattern, or the little details of everyday life. I also have a real love for contemporary Mandala design. My Storefront series is inspired by charming vintage architecture, while my Insect series draws inspiration from the fascinating details of these remarkable creatures.
Right now, I feel like I have more ideas than I have time to explore, but I'm excited to bring them to life!
Where did you learn your craft?
I've never had formal art training and have always learned best by jumping in and experimenting on my own. That said, YouTube tutorials from other artists have been super helpful in expanding my skills and refining techniques.
Currently, I mainly work with watercolour, but I've experimented with all sorts of mediums over the years, such as mixed media, acrylics, lino cutting, pastels and wood-burning. Creating is always evolving for me, and I tend to go through phases where I focus on one medium before finding new inspiration to explore something different.
Why is handmade artistry so important to you?
Handmade artistry has a unique connection between the creator and the creation. It carries personal expression, skill, and emotion that machines or mass production can't replicate. Every piece has its own story, reflecting the time, effort, and care that went into making it.
There's something truly special about knowing an item was crafted by hand, especially In a world increasingly dominated by AI and overseas mass production (often exploiting original artists). Supporting handmade artistry helps keep individuality, craftsmanship, and human creativity alive!
Kate is a much loved member of the Madeit Collective, posting regularly in our Facebook Group ~ The Handmade Marketplace of Australia ~ and sharing her new creations as they are released. If you haven't connected with The Katie Collective, make sure you join our FB Group and say hi !
