VACMA: Katherine Diaper

Research and creating new body of work ‘Strandline’

I used the money to buy new materials, big rolls and sheets of different weights of watercolour papers, acrylic inks, liquid watercolours, layering mediums, a big mop brush and different flow mediums. Then I enjoyed experimenting in different ways both in the studio and by the coast to explore the new materials and explore the key question that I wanted to create a visual response to. I completed a body of work for an exhibition I organised at the Northlight Gallery in Stromness. Strandline was a group exhibition with friends and artists Janet Banzaca (ceramics - Margate) and Ingrid Budge (photography - Orkney).

I have developed knowledge and understanding of using different waterbased media on a variety of papers and wooden boards. I also developed a variety of ways of working outside on the shore with these new media, including a meditative practice to create the series of works ‘one stone, one wave, one breath’.  The award allowed me to purchase an abundance of materials which created a freedom in the work, I didn’t need to be ‘precious’ about using the materials. Also I could work on a big scale with large rolls of watercolour paper and acrylic inks outside.

The process of making the application led me to writing a ‘work plan’ which supported me in experimenting and making work leading to the exhibition at the Northlight.