biography

Kathlyn Ballard has always had a keen interest in art, even from her early schooldays in Melbourne. After completing her secondary school studies, she enrolled in the wide-ranging art course of the Swinburne Technical College (1946-1949) and specialised in art studies to follow a career in that field.

Kathlyn completed 4 years of study and then worked as a graphic artist in advertising, which gave her a firm grounding in drawing and proved beneficial to her future work. Kathlyn was offered a partnership in a Melbourne advertising agency, but declined in order to pursue her interest in watercolour. After broadening her horizons travelling overseas Kathlyn married and returned to Melbourne with the ambition of a career in watercolour painting. Since watercolour was not taught in art courses she read every book she could find on the subject. Her rigorous self-training and self-discipline led her to formulate the opinion that it was essential to paint with exactitude, putting on paper what was observed, before superimposing the imprint of personality.

From first exhibiting in 1960 Kathlyn has held solo exhibitions throughout Australia, participated in group exhibitions here and overseas, and is widely represented in many countries. In 1984 the Castlemaine Art Gallery mounted a retrospective exhibition of her work “1946 – 1984” in recognition of her years of painting, and this was also shown at the Gould Galleries, Melbourne.

A hallmark of Kathlyn’s watercolours is their integrity to the difficult medium of watercolour, to the subject, and to proven artistic principles; a product of the self-discipline of her own rigorous training and determination to extract the essential truths of life. Her strong character and dedication have left her with no time for falsity or triviality; she gets directly to the point of her work, although to do so has entailed much thought and effort. This characteristic forthrightness, combined with a mastery of her medium and great respect for the economy of style, decisive execution and simplification it demands, results in the remarkable clarity, freshness and luminosity that only sensitively handled watercolour can produce. Yet beyond mastery of technique, Kathlyn’s paintings are very personal and individual. Her deceptively simple, restrained and almost casual style produces pictures of great charm and intriguing interest. These are paintings to which one can return, and still find fresh enjoyment.

Kathlyn has held several executive positions within various art societies, frequently serves as a judge at art shows, and has devoted much time to teaching and promoting watercolour painting.

Her paintings are in public collections such as the Castlemaine Art Gallery, Sale Art Gallery, Rockhampton Art Gallery, Waverley City Art Gallery, Artbank, C.U.B. Collection, Duchess of Westminster’s Collection and various corporate and private collections.

In 1998 Kathlyn received an OAM for her services to fine art, particularly as a watercolour artist, to arts organisations and art education.