Original Art by Karen Shilkin

Karen Artist Statement / Biography Karen Shilkin’s work is deeply inspired by the textures and colours of the ocean. Her artistic journey began after visiting the Busselton Underwater Observatory, where she was captivated by the encrusted pylons alive with coral, seaweed, sponges, starfish, fish, and other marine life. Since then, she has explored textured surfaces to capture the richness of these underwater environments. Her practice now also embraces perspectives from beneath and above the water, offering both immersive and aerial views of aquatic landscapes. A recurring feature in her palette is Aqua Green Light—a colour she treasures not only as a tube of paint but also as a poetic evocation of water itself. Karen taught Visual Arts in Western Australian secondary schools for more than three decades before retiring to focus fully on her own practice.