Dive into the ocean-inspired mind set of Perth artist Kiara La Rocca (@kl.textures). We asked her all about how she tackles a project, her fave mediums, and her journey to creating. Read on to find out more!

What would you tell your younger self?

Always make time for the things you enjoy.

When I left high school, I spent so much time focusing on working and studying that it was hard to fit other things in… but it always felt like something was missing. Then once I started working full-time, I found it really hard to switch off and not keep working while I was at home.

Although to start with, it was a challenge to regularly take time out of the week to do things that I wanted to do (including art), I am so grateful it’s something I stuck with! Since doing so, I have found it so much easier to switch off at the end of the day and don’t find that I feel like I’m missing something in the week anymore.

Are you from a creative family or did art come to you naturally?

Yes and no! No one in my family works in a particularly creative profession but in their free time, my dad loves woodworking and tackling projects around the house and my sisters did high-level art in high school. 

I think my parents could always tell I loved art though, because it was something that they always encouraged me to do from a young age, even sending me to art classes from the age of 8.

My younger art style was much more realistic, so coming into this style was certainly really different and something I arrived at naturally.

What’s something you were nervous to start that turned out amazing?

So many things with textured art - probably the most nervous I’ve been was when I started using high gloss varnish in place of resin for a glossy look!

I was really struggling with how resin was pooling on the canvas, so I was trying to find an alternative. Although I went in knowing I would need at least 10-15 varnish coats to get the effect I was hoping for, after 2 coats I was getting worried because it was still looking quite textured beneath the varnish.

By the 6th coat I was starting to see the flat, glossy effect come together and it began to look like the surface of water, which I ended up preferring anyway so I’m glad I stuck with it!

How do you steer a creative project that isn’t quite working how you hoped?

Taking a step back when this happens is so important!

A lot of my pieces can take anywhere from 2-10 hours to paint. When I’m so close to the piece for so long, I start to forget how it looks as a bigger picture. Taking a step back when I’m in the middle of a piece that I’m not loving helps me see how the different colours interact with both the textures and each other.

Quite often, I find that repainting the piece in a different colour that suits the textures better or repainting the ombré to give it a softer effect helps me get back on track to see the vision for the final piece clearer.

If you had no time frame, what would you love to make?

Something on my list to create right now is a beach waves piece painted across a set of 6-8 canvases, all different sizes. I would create it in a way that each canvas fits into the whole set like pieces of a puzzle. 

What’s an art medium that you love and one that‘s more of a challenge?

Aside from modelling paste, one of my other favourite mediums to use is high gloss varnish. 

One that I’m finding a real challenge at the moment is inks - both acrylic and alcohol. While I find acrylic inks great for adding colour to modelling paste, it’s challenging to use them when making marble backgrounds. I do have an awesome vision for this if I can make it work though so watch this space!

Do you have a place you like to go for creative inspiration?

 Anywhere with a beach.

The beach has always been somewhere I find quite calm and relaxing, and I love the idea of being able to express that through art and bring that feeling into the home.

What does Friday night usually look like for you?

Friday nights aren’t that interesting for us, haha - work is usually pretty busy during the week so Friday nights is usually filled with comfort food, Netflix and snuggles on the couch with our pup. Perfect to recharge for a full weekend of art!

What’s your favourite time of year?

Spring - it’s not too warm, the beaches become more blue and clear as summer approaches and although my hayfever is shocking, I love watching all of the flowers come to life again. 

Any tips on how to improve at art?

Don’t be afraid to experiment!

Particularly with textured art, there are so many different tools, mediums, paints and surfaces that you can use - and not every tool or medium will work for everyone either.

Experimenting not only allowed me to practice and improve at a few different styles but also helped me discover which tools and mediums I enjoyed using and suited my creative process the best.

I did (and still do) have to be patient when experimenting – I’ve had some epic flops – but it’s been so worth it to discover new processes and designs along the way when things do work out.

So inspiring! Kiara has taught us that it’s well worth making time to create and experiment so you can discover your own personal style. Plus, art is a great way to wind down and be present outside of work hours.

See more about @kl.textures by checking out our gallery where her art journey is featured, or hopping onto her website to see more texture art inspo. Stock up on texture goodies like Modelling Paste, Sand Texture Medium, Light Moulding Paste, Impasto, and even Acrylic Inks if you feel inspired to explore ocean art. Use #montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or Facebook to show us what you come up with!

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