Kate Maura

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After over a decade long career in business, and then a long hiatus dedicated to raising my three children, I went back to school and attended continuing studies courses at Red Deer College. Encouraged to do more with my art practice by an instructor, I applied to OCADU, presented a portfolio of works and was accepted to the drawing and painting program. I completed the BFA at OCADU in 2019 with distinction and awarded the Mackenzie Investments foyer placement for Inclusive Spaces.
Having spent a lot of time outdoors as a youth canoe tripping at camp in the summers, working at our farm and visits to family in Ireland by the sea, had a tremendous influence on my art. The work always starts with the natural world and using all of my senses, I respond to whatever catches my attention.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Since my thesis year in 2019, I have been creating abstracted stylized images of imagined transformations inspired by the dragonfly and butterfly. These ancient creatures caught my attention while plein air drawing and are metaphor of transformation. In my most recent work I became fascinated with the white butterfly which happens to live in Ireland and I also include markings from Ontario species. I intertwine biological wings, sometimes figures and text and distort and recolour them using digital Procreate drawing, photo sources and once printed, I often work overtop with traditional ways of making using pastel and paint or I will import hand drawings into the digital world. The synthesis of older and newer ways of making speak to the importance to me of understanding our history and the latest technology in order to gain a deeper understanding of who we are. Sometimes I intertwine text from poetry or philosophy into the works. Overall I wish to evoke a sense of things changing and transforming, hoping to offer a meditative experience from which the viewer can draw their own thoughts and feelings from the work.

$950.00

Digital art and pastel on canvas.

20x30x3"

Limited edition 1 of 1.

Exploring with patterning within wings thinking about how interconnectedness within nature is so pervasive, as all is one. We as humans are only a part of a greater world that we are intertwined with and rely on for our survival and health and wellbeing. Neuroscience has shown how nature rewires our brains. Plein air drawing, digital print and pastel. Original synthesis art.

Kate Maura

$950.00

Digital art and pastel on canvas.

20x30"

Limited edition 1 of 1.

Exploring with patterning within wings thinking about how interconnectedness within nature is so pervasive, as all is one. We as humans are only a part of a greater world that we are intertwined with and rely on for our survival and health and wellbeing. Neuroscience has shown how nature rewires our brains. Plein air drawing, digital print and pastel. Original synthesis art.

Kate Maura

$2,200.00

Digital art and paint on canvas.

40x40x3"

Limited edition 1 of 1.

The wing forms of the random movements of butterflies I draw plein air became something of a floral, the gardens were in full bloom and so many blustery clouds as well as a lovely breeze. From memory I create as the natural worlds powerful beauty is transformative and healing. My analogue drawings I bring into digital, transforming them again I paint overtop the printed canvas. Original art, drawing, digital, painting.

Kate Maura

$2,200.00

Digital art and paint on canvas.

40x40x3"

Limited edition 1 of 1.

When immersed in nature I draw the random movements of the butterfly wings and bring these analogue drawings into the digital world to transform them again. Then I’ll respond with paint overtop the archival ink printed canvas. It is a unique synthesis of layering, transforming. A mediation on how nature transforms us.

Kate Maura

$7,500.00

Acrylic and archival pigmented inks on canvas.

56x80x3"

I’m inspired by the beauty and forms I find while deeply immersed in nature. Drawing from observation plein air is where the work begins, as well as research in biology, neuroaesthetics, the environment, philosophy and poetry all inform my work. Nature transforms us and the beauty in the natural world as well as in art can require our brains to be healthier humans. I’m fascinated by how important the beauty one can find in nature is to our health and well being. Protecting nature is protecting ourselves and our own longevity and survival on this planet. Embracing our interconnectedness is crucial to our future.

Kate Maura