artist karlee rawkins

Iain Dawson moving his gallery to Oxford St, Paddington, has been a happy change for me. It means every day I get to admire artworks hanging in the window as our car drives past. One day I contacted Iain as soon as I arrived at work. Who was the artist behind the giant penguin-like creature? Turns out it was a Boko Mountain Bear, and it was the work of Karlee Rawkins. She is quite a talent, having won the Brett Whitely Travelling Art Scholarship in 2003 and being a finalist in the Prometheus Art Award twice since. Her next show Big Rock Candy Mountain opens on August 25.

Which five words best describe you? Energetic, creative, reclusive, passionate and happy.

What was your first career/job and what path have you taken since?

I think I have always been an artist, it’s a way of being as well as a profession. I drew incessantly as a child, I loved scribbling and creating things.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Time management was the biggest challenge for me: working from home I have had to learn to balance work commitments with being able to relax. Having a workspace ten metres away has its benefits and difficulties.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Winning the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship.

What’s been your best decision? To always follow my passion and dreams, sometimes at the expense of logic. I tend to make adventurous decisions.

Who inspires you? My nearly two year old son. His passion and enjoyment of life and learning is tremendous.

What are you passionate about? Art, aesthetics, food, community and positive global change.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Janis Joplin, just because she was cool.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? I would like my studio practice to be totally sustainable. I also want to see our home garden producing enough food to feed our family with near complete self-sufficiency. I want to eat my own fig jam on my own bread!

What are you reading? A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle and Hop On Pop by Dr Seuss.

images courtesy of karlee rawkins and iain dawson gallery