Title: Maggie May
Introducing Kate
What's in your art cup? Tea or coffee?
For the majority of the day, a cup of English breakfast tea is by far the preferred beverage!
Why this piece of artwork for the cup?
Funnily enough I chose this artwork because in 2024, my brother and I were having flat whites in Cottesloe, out of nonetheless but an Art Coffee Cup! The artist’s work on this particular cup was actually a friend of mine, so I decided to look into the Art Cup Project. We were joking around, saying how funny it would be if I entered my painting of Maggie, the sheepdog, and people in Cottesloe were walking around with her on their coffee cups.
And well, here we are — the rest is history!
What is the story behind this piece of art?
I painted this in 2023 as a birthday gift for my brother. I’d taken the photo of his dog, Maggie, earlier after much effort to get her to sit still! Maggie’s a super happy dog with a long shaggy coat, and while she’s technically supposed to help with the sheep, she’s not exactly the most reliable worker (she tries, though).
I wanted to include the farm in the background since it’s such a special place for our family — it’s where we live and work, and it’ll always be close to our hearts. The photo was taken on a classic hot January day that had brewed up a storm. It was one of those days that called for a swim in the dam for the dogs. As I took the photo, the sun was setting, and the sky was putting on a show of colours, while the farms well east of us were getting a good dollop of rain.
"As I painted, I was amazed by how deeply ingrained this landscape is in me, as I knew every detail instinctively".
Why is it important to support the arts?
I think everything in life influences the world and the people around us, whether it’s obvious or not. Art, in many cases, can be overlooked because it often exists quietly, quite literally like a wallflower. But, like anything people pour their effort into, the arts deserve support, because without them, life would be pretty dull!
What have you enjoyed about this project?
I love painting scenes from home because they feel so familiar, and it quite literally brings back memories with every brushstroke. As I painted, I was amazed by how deeply ingrained this landscape is in me, as I knew every detail instinctively, from the shape of the gum trees on the drive that we hooned past on the bike when we were late for the bus(a common occurrence) to the rusted tin on the shed roof. Watching the painting come together felt like rediscovering home on canvas, which was so exciting as I slowly recognised home exactly as I know it.
Where can people find your art?
