Kate Kelly creates 3D illustrations based upon her drawings of creatures and household objects. She designs them with a ruler and protractor, working out the shapes of the designs. Once each design is finished Kate gives them a name. They are screen printed by hand and glued together. Sometimes other printing processes are involved when a particular texture is desired. Kate is particularly fond of drypoint and collagraph printing and sometimes incorporates hand drawn doodles too. The process ensures that every piece is unique.
Kate fell in love with printing techniques during her art foundation course. She spent many hours experimenting with the etching press; turning the big iron wheel to make the print, wondering how it will turn out!
At university Kate fancied a change, so went to learn how to make 3D things using process and techniques like welding and vac-forming and wood turning. There were many brilliant facilities available, but what Kate enjoyed making most of all were her paper prototypes.
Kate started making flat pack models. She was always good at maths and enjoyed a spot of geometry. She made a range based on household objects using digital printing techniques. She developed a rather cartoony style, making gramophones, telephones, microphones… there were a lot of _phones!
She made massive furniture items for a windows display at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge and also a windows display for the public arts programme at Canary Wharf. She also made a range of clocks in old fashioned designs. Kate's window display for Harvey Nichols was used as an example of good window dressing in an episode of Mary Queen of Shops!
Designs got rather complicated for flat packs and Kate decided a change in direction was in order. Kate wanted to make one-off pieces, so people could own an item that was special and unique. She got herself some printing equipment and went to work making some barn owls. Her screen printing skills were a little rusty but she soon got the hang of it! People seemed to like them, so she carried on experimenting with different colours, patterns and textures. Kate designed lots of different types of birds and broadened the range to include other animals.
Why "Kaper"?
Kate likes the word "caper". It is jovial and playful, just like her cartoony designs. Since her products are made from paper and her initials are KK she decided to merge the two together.
Current design ideas include:
kingfishers, chess pieces, chipmunks, seahorses…
Keep a look out for new designs on the website.For more information on current projects; Kate has started a blog: kaperonline.blogspot.com
You can also follow her on twitter: @KaperOnline
To view Kate's online shop, go to www.etsy.com/shop/kaperonline