Meet the 2020 Art Superstar!
It is our GREATEST pleasure to introduce you to our 2020 JUMBLED Art Superstar winner - Kate Quinn! We were completely blown away by this year's entrants - the calibre of talent was OFF THE CHARTS!
Kate's work is totally mesmerising and her stunning florals made her the clear winner. Her technique and use of colour are extraordinary and we cannot WAIT to work with her this year!
We sat down with Kate, to get to know the mind behind these amazing artworks! Enjoy xxx
I have loved art my whole life! I did well in art at high school, but never tackled painting in earnest until 6 or 7 years ago. I have always done a lot of crafty stuff though and always have some sort of project on the go. Before painting I have always had intensive creative phases, like silversmithing (man that is hard on your fingers), sewing (I used to come home from boarding school and sew outfits frantically all holidays), ceramic painting, glass painting (remember that awful fad in the 90's?), photography (I'm still a very keen amateur photographer), polymer clay jewellery making, paper and fabric bunting making (I still love bunting), and for a while I used to meet on Friday nights with two friends and do a different crafty project every week. We even had a blog about it! These days painting is my focus, and I love it.
Where do you draw inspiration?
Well, I am drawn to anything colourful! I can admire neutrals in other peoples homes, but I am just not drawn to them in the same way I feel attracted to colour. I love flowers and vases and ceramics and fabrics, and feel like I will never tire of painting flowers in a beautiful vase sitting on a gorgeous tablecloth. I tried painting boats once or twice but it just didn't do it for me! I find beautiful still life scenes everywhere I go and will often take photos of flowers at peoples houses or at a shop, and paint them from the photo later.
What does a standard day look like for you?
Depends on the day! I work as a social worker 3 days a week so those work days are very different to my artist 'work' days, which don't really feel like work at all. On a painting day, I always start the day with exercise, normally swimming squad with my awesome crew of swimming mates, but since corona shut down the pools, it's been walking the streets with my dog Jessie (Jessie loves corona). Then I have a quick coffee at my local cafe, and head home to get the kids ready for school. After the frantic bustle to get them out the door, a few more chores, I will settle into the studio to paint. I listen to the radio or podcasts as I work and the hours go by very, very quickly. Afternoons after 3pm are spent rushing from one activity to the next with the kids, but if I'm in the middle of a painting I might paint for a couple more hours after dinner because once I am mid-painting I get a bit possessed by it until it is finished. Working out when to stop is hard too, by the way!
When are you at your happiest?
Lots of times, but probably when I am swimming with my squad, doing fun things with the kids, or when I am in the middle of a painting that is coming together nicely. I'm also pretty happy at my 'real job' too.
The Jumbled Quickie
- The first thing you do when you have spare time: Check insta (that's bad I know, it's addictive!)
- Guilty pleasure: Cadbury Marvellous Creations - why are those little bits of popping candy so good?
- Dream Collaboration: Well this collaboration with Jumbled is literally a dream, but I guess aside from that, anything with my painting idols Sam Michelle, Laura Jones, Lucila Zentner, Richard Claremont, Michelle Fogarty...there's too many to name. I also am really into Japanese ceramics after a trip to Japan last year, so any kind of Japanese collaboration would be up my alley!
- Hidden Talent: Geez, that's a tough one! Back in 1987 I was really good at twirling a mace (that's the big shiny pole American cheerleadering band leaders twirl and throw in the air) but I think that was where my talents peaked. It's been downhill ever since.
- One thing from your bucket list: I would love to go on an open water swimming trip to the Greek islands. I'm really scared of ocean swimming but a group of us keep trying it to see if we can overcome our fears. Hasn't worked yet 🤔
- Favourite Spotify Playlist: If I'm painting, I listen to something cruisey, like 'Coffee + Chill'
- Go-to meal to cook when you have friends over?: If it's a no pressure dinner, just a big shared pot of chili con carne or something easy. If it's a show-off dinner, then its game on, and I will conjure up something elaborate. A couple of years ago I made a perfect Beef Wellington with a group of friends and we have been trying to out-cook each other ever since.
- Craziest thing you've ever done? Go overseas for a year on my own aged 21 with hardly any money and no job or accomodation organised, pre mobile phones and internet. Looking back, that was crazy/brave/dangerous/fun, but back then, lots of young people did travel on their own and managed to get by without being constantly connected to home.
- Last book you read: 'See What You Made Me Do' by Jess Hill. I have always mainly worked in the domestic violence sector and this is an amazing book that examines DV history and culture. I also heard Jess speak at a writers festival last year, she is amazing!
- Current Netflix addiction: Unorthodox (this is incredible) or AfterLife.
