Babe Profile - September 2007

Kate Knapp

Not unlike one of her magical characters, Kate Knapp is an amazing creature - an artist with a head for business. She has learnt this unique mix the hard way, but takes this in her stride and views her experiences as one of the many interesting happenings on her journey through life and the development of her creative studio, Twigseeds.

"So it began like this," tells Kate. "Powdery blue skies. Gentle clouds meandering across their stage. Temperate days filled with acres of daydreams and philosophies. Life in my dreamy, happy nest was delightful.

"Then one day ... grumbling grey clouds stomped over the horizon. Chilly winds made my little nest begin to shudder and shake and eagles of teradactyl proportions circled menacingly.

"Yes I was blissfully, naively and artistically unprepared. Suddenly I was exposed to the 'business world'. This was a business world where I was not even sure of what my business really was."

The struggling artist? Yes, but not in the traditional sense. Kate was struggling to marry the two worlds of Art and Business.

"Although I considered them like oil and water they actually need shaking up and mixing with each other."

Kate's career as an artist began the day she was born. It was pre-ordained, yet something she struggled with for many years.

Ruby - a well traveled hare -
enjoys a café latte in Paris

"From my earliest of days, mystical relationships with animals and imaginary people in trees were the initial materials from which Twigseeds was built.

"I possess this affinity with the mystical lives of animals and creatures that other people strangely didn't seem to be able to see. This gift has made my journey of integrating creativity with the unfamiliar and unspoken business world quite a significant challenge.

"Because there are no road maps for the artistic career, I sauntered out the doors of art college with no idea how to marry lots of ideas with running a commercial business."

Kate worked her way around various jobs both here and overseas throughout her early 20s - including her Shirley Valentine moment of working in a remote taverna in Greece, where she learnt to make a mean tzatziki - hoping to find some other career that would make her feel remotely normal with a straight path to follow.

"In every job, I always found time to scribble little drawings or design the employers Christmas cards or invitations. Eventually I conceded to being an artist but not the 'dark and mysterious' artist that was so acceptable in the halls of art school but an artist who drew little animals, flowers and pretty stuff."

There was no escaping the persistent little birds and other creatures that followed Kate around. She also knew the romantic idea of being an artist living on crumbs in a cold draughty turret was not going to work for her.

"However much the enchanting architecture may have fed my soul I needed other fuel of the money kind as well!"

On her return to Australia, Kate moved from Brisbane to the artistic environment of Montville, where she found an enthusiastic and embracing support network within the creative community that seemingly thrives on the mountain air.

Kate & Saffy

Whilst Kate was ensconced in Montville, she met her muse.

Saffron, or 'Saffy' as she is affectionately known, is the gorgeous 'bitsa' dog that is Kate's constant companion.

"I went to the animal refuge and there she was, at the back of the cage in the dark, while all the other dogs were jumping up and down. I knew she was mine, although I now think that was her plan all along!"

Saffy has become a focus of Kate's artwork, leading a motley crew of canines as they roller skate, surf, fly aeroplanes and drive sporty cars, amongst other things.

Moving back to Brisbane, Kate opened her gallery in Paddington where she continued to develop her myriad of creatures and sold as many paintings as she could produce, whilst also getting her first taste of commerce. It was during this time that Kate 'met' her most popular character, Ruby Red Shoes - an environmentally aware hare!

"I met Ruby at a local garden nursery - we were both looking at strawberry seedlings, and I commented on her fabulous red shoes!"

A friendship was born, and Ruby continues to be Kate's most engaging character, with her own blog documenting her trips overseas and her musings.

After a few years with the gallery, Kate realised that although this paid the bills her patience for continual commissions was wearing thin.

Then it came out of the blue. Someone thought Kate's work might suit licensing. It had commercial appeal, suited various applications and was something she was interested in.

Two licensing arrangements were underway; the first with a major greeting card company and the other, a children's bedding and toy manufacturer. The extensive range planned was to include bedding, homewares and toys in both a boys and girls range.

Kate was fortunate to have a father with very astute business knowledge. His advice was to gather a team of professionals.

" 'Get a team!' he would say."

So Kate took his advice and gathered a 'team' which included an IP solicitor, IP accountant and branding specialists. With their help, Kate started to navigate and understand the precarious balance of art and commerce.

"Each time we as designers create any new work, we potentially form between one and six kinds of intellectual property. These can be registered designs, trademarks, patents and copyright as well as either or both associated with goodwill.

"I have found some of these six areas of intellectual property quite slippery and it can be tricky to grasp at first but it gets simpler with time. What I do is think of it in the simplest terms of what am I trading..

"To the greengrocer it may be carrots, potatoes, peas or cauliflower. To the designer - copyright, trademarks. I soon appreciated that I owned my designs and that others would respect my ownership if I asserted it. I began to realize that I had commercial and legal leverage. As a designer I had not previously been operating as an owner of assets. Most of the time I thought I was performing a service for which I was paid."

One of Kate's first tasks was to rebrand her business.

"I embarked on this with ever so slightly clenched teeth and clutching close to my chest my old company - Kate Knapp Design. I was not really sure I wanted this birth. But when the name Twigseeds emerged from its little shell I fell in love.

"Twigseeds describes our belief in the value of small things in the world. Little twigs, when woven together, have unity and strength. Seeds are the carriers of information as well as houses of potential and possibility. The logo has a winged friend carrying a peaceful branch. Our message and mission to 'consider our world'.

"One of the greatest surprises to me has been the time it has taken to build a really strong nest that can withstand the strongest of winds, rainy days and most importantly, the passing of time. My mantra has become "Genius is eternal patience" by Michelangelo. In a culture where instant, fast rewards and quick success are the norm I am learning to embrace a craft that may take a lifetime to mature."

So where to for Kate Knapp now?

Kate has taken a step back to really think about the kind of people she wants to work with, and who will honour her creations and talent. She has recently created a series of 58 greeting cards which are licensed and to be distributed by Affirmations, an environmentally friendly company.

"The Twigseeds mantra is 'consider our world' so it is important to me both personally and professionally to work with like-minded businesses".

Kate is also in the process of helping her sister Sam establish her boutique store - Giddy & Grace - at Maleny. It will stock beautiful homewares, handmade products and boasts a gallery displaying Kate's original artworks.

And there are also books in the works, including storybooks for adults.

"People of all ages need stories ... with pictures too! Some of the best messages in the world are in children's books - simple and profound. Why are these messages only targeted at children? Adults need those messages just as much as children."

An artist with talent, a message, business acumen and a plan? You bet.

Kate Knapp is one amazing creature.

To find out more ...

www.twigseeds.com
www.affirmations.com.au

Giddy & Grace (Opening the first week of October)
furniture-handmade products-homewares
Shop 2, 1 Maple Street
Maleny Queensland
Phone 07 5494 3636

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