Kathryn Blumke
Light and colour are very important elements in my work and I am greatly influenced by the beautiful, crisp, clean colours of the Redlands landscape.
Over the past few years, I have been working with geometrics in watercolour and this year I have been particularly interested in applying these geometrics to the landscape. Most weekends, my husband, daughter and I picnic down by the water at Cleveland Point and the works
Tidal Changes, Cleveland Point are inspired by observations of the bay during these times.
Tidal Changes, Cleveland Point explores the prismatic effects of light on the sea. The refractive and reflective colour properties of the bay can be seen in each of the geometric water colours. Colour, light, order and repetition are dominant factors in the work.
The landscape colours at Cleveland Point specifically and the Redlands generally, are unique. Rich, red volcanic soils, clear blue skies, white sand hills and green islands are transmitted and translated in the sea. I am interested in the effects derived from the placement of adjacent blocks of these colours. Subsequent veils of colour create the perception of depth to the sea.
The rectangular grid is also an important feature in the works. The grid creates order and provides organisation for the geometric shapes. It originated from the observation of light penetrating the moving waves and projecting a pattern of grid shadows on the underlying sand.
The repetition of geometric shapes depicts the meditative, rhythmic motion of the waves.