Meet the artists: Kate Cochrane
In the run-up to the Frome Virtual Open Art Trail 2020 we talk to artist Kate Cochrane about her work, the impact of Covid-19 and her hopes for the future.
I see myself as a Colourist painter: my work features elements of the landscape: trees, rocks, castle ruins and reflections in water, as well as buildings. The emphasis is on colour, light and composition using layers of paint and glazing. The work is in a variety of media including oils, acrylics, gouache, oil and dry pastels. My enjoyment in the process of creating paintings, often combined with a difficult struggle to express my response to the subject, results in a rich tapestry of colour and texture. The aim is for the viewer to be able to sense the underlying passion, joy and vitality. Recently I have been working on illustrations inspired by traditional myths & stories.
I am the main organiser for Frome Open Art Trail, and as we are now online, during the Lockdown I have done a lot of the admin towards a successful Virtual Art Trail for the 52 artists involved.
I have a large number of paintings in stock, so in fact I have wanted to complete fewer paintings, and I’ve been quite happy with extra admin. I was quite glad to have less pressure around painting for any exhibitions.
The first painting I completed during the lockdown was a large commission that I had been working on for a while. It is a compilation of buildings in Cranmore for an Australian client.
A friend asked me to paint a view of White Sheet Down for her, so I have been able to finish that as well.
Three more commissions are lined up to do this year as well as another house portrait for some time next year.
The benefits of lockdown are that for the first time I have been asked to do commissions which I am able to carry out, along with a few paintings to do for a Contemporary Art Fair in November where I will show the new works alongside existing paintings.
I don’t think the pandemic has influenced or inspired any new work – finishing the existing paintings has been my focus, and as I work from my studio in the garden I have still been able to go to work!
My main hopes for the future are to be asked to do more commissions and to sell existing work. To that end I have been working on a new website, hoping that will help with marketing my art – still more to do before the Virtual Art Trail!
You can follow Kate on Instagram: @katecochrane1806 or visit her website.
Find out more about Frome Open Virtual Art Trail or visit their website.
