I'm a self-taught Artist born in Darwin, the Northern Territory (Australia).
I spent my early years in a town called Batchelor, 98 km south of Darwin. This sunny, natural, free, bush lifestyle taught me respect for the land,it’s creatures and inhabitants.Those vivid memories of the sights, sounds and smells of the Australian northern Tropics of which I am often inspired to paint, will stay with me forever.
My father informs me that I was always painting and drawing as a child, and he actively encouraged my creativity. He once commissioned some Indigenous Artists to paint a mural on our lounge room wall and I remember this was so wonderful and inspiring it gave me my first insights into the magic of art.
I have lived in Dandenong, Victoria, for the past 48 years and I paint on canvas, wood, ceramics, furniture, anything that will hold some paint!
My husband, Robert Walker, a wonderful potter of 45 years taught me how to paint on ceramics. Though not a painter himself he knew all about glazes and how they reacted and fired in the kiln. I had to figure out the rest of this complicated process myself and after some time even managed to win some hand painted ceramics awards in International trade shows in the 80's and 90's (under our business name of Colourware Ceramics).
I’ve entered small Art exhibitions in both Melbourne and Sydney and have won a few encouragement, Merit and honourable mention awards when I was in my 20’s/30s.I’ve also had a solo exhibition in the past, in a place called ‘The Old Cheese Factory’, Berwick in 1992, a gorgeous old world public art gallery here in Victoria made of blue stone and wood.
It was such a pleasure to exhibit there, given the wonderful atmosphere,but since then due to a full time caring role in my family, I have not found the time to have any further exhibitions. Hence finding Blue Thumb as a means of exhibiting my work has been a real blessing.
I paint the ideas, visions and memories in my mind. I paint entirely from my imagination, mind’s eye or spirit, rarely painting in any other way.Occasionally, I might try to paint what I see in the garden or paint a scene that has impressed me from a camping trip or a bush walk, nature is a most powerful inspiration.
My favourite paints are Acrylics, because of their brilliant colours and quick drying time. I’ve been told by many that my paintings have originality and a unique and distinctive style.It is true that I don’t copy at all from other works and I don't reference any materials before painting. I just start painting and see what wants to emerge onto the canvas and my paintings nearly always surprise me in a wonderful way!
I love reading an amazing book called ‘A Course in Miracles’ which has helped and inspired me for more than 25 years, so hopefully you will see that some of my paintings have a type of spirituality about them. My paintings have been called "other worldly "which is such a lovely compliment to me.
I also love fossicking for shells and rocks and gold panning, anything really where I can be in an environment and at one with nature which gives me the life energy and spirit that goes into creating my Art.
***All Art works shown here at Bluethumb.com by Catherine Walker are copyright (c) of the artist Catherine Walker ,nothing is to to be printed , copied, downloaded ,uploaded, photographed or used in any way without the artists permission "All rights reserved "-thank you for your understanding.