Cate Rose
‘Art to me is about feelings and, when it succeeds it is because it expresses something felt as well as seen'
Cate Rose
I work expressively on paper. I’m interested in the beauty and fragility of life, exploring the contrary emotions of joy and loss using a process of layering darkness and colour. Starting with a monchrome underpainting of ink I build on it with vivid watercolour and sometimes watercolour crayon. I like the looseness and drama of water-based mediums - it’s a bit like life - with skill you can control it but only so far. There will be darkness. It takes courage to trust and let go. Sometimes it bleeds out in unexpected ways which challenges us - but often the imperfections are what makes it beautiful.
Recently I’ve added digital mediums to my art tools which has opened up new creative opportunities like creating public artworks using my physical artworks.
I am currently exhibiting at the Staircase Gallery, Fremantle, WA. I have exhibited in Italy, Spain , New York, Western Australia, Victoria and had a public art commission installed at one of the City of Melville parks. I am the author and illustrator of the warmly received ‘Fremantle: City of Colour’ a book of expressive colour paintings featuring the historic port city town of Fremantle, in Western Australia. Last year I won the Baohong Award for Excellence at the Le Venezie International Watercolour Festival in Italy.
Cate Rose walking the dog around the Applecross foreshore of the Swan River
Cate Rose attending the Le Venezie Exhibition in Italy, standing by her painting ‘Colour and Drama in Venice’ (bottom ) which won the Baohong Excellence Award
A peek inside Cate Rose’s colourful Fremantle studio
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Wesley Church - from ‘Fremantle: City of Colour - a celebration of the port city’
by Cate Rose
Approach
Cate enjoys exploring different mediums as a mode of expression and has studied Fine Art, painting, fashion, photography and graphic design. She is in the habit of taking a sketchbook in her bag with her so she can observe life wherever she goes.
Her favourite way of working starts with pen and ink on paper. Cate layers dark and light, mimicking a complex swirl of feelings with her sensitive monochrome mark-making. In some works she adds layers of vivid colours with crayon, watercolour or collage, taking many hours to gently build and express the unspoken.
Cate also works in acrylics, watercolours and with new technologies, creating digital works which can be printed on beautiful papers.
Shops on Market Street, (special commission) Fremantle, Western Australia - pen & ink on watercolour paper
Bridal Illustration. Bride’s restyle of Mother’s 30 year old wedding dress - digital illustration
Craig crouching - mixed media on paper
Mother Earth
I am conscious of the burning planet and like to recycle and reuse materials. I think art is an adventure and I will reuse things I don’t feel work or turn them into something else. Everything has potential and my collage work affords lots of exciting opportunities to rethink and repurpose materials. I keep little bits and pieces of things because I often find places where they are perfect!
This artwork of Craig has been created on a heavyweight art paper which has been painted over. I didn’t like what I had done so painted over it with lovely colours and worked on it again. I was very happy with the result and I think it adds to the exciting texture of the final work.
I also make conscious choices about materials. The beautiful German etching paper used for my fine art reproductions is produced from sustainable sources, contains no plastic and is certified Vegan-friendly (contains no animal products).
My art card series are printed on eco-friendly sustainably source Birchwood, backed with envirocare blank paper. The accompanying envelopes are 100% post-consumer recycled brown paper.
Where possible I make packaging for orders by hand from previously used card and papers – even it takes a bit longer than simply buying postbags.
By no means do I claim to be perfect in my practices but I am consciously making an effort.