Kate Florence is an artist whose work is alive, playful, raw and intuitive. In this conversation, Kate speaks candidly about the delicate balance between creativity and care, passion and sustainability, and what it really takes to protect one’s energy when art isn’t just a job, but a life-force.
We talk about early morning ocean walks, recalibration after burnout, trusting intuition over certainty, and the courage it takes to separate self-worth from outcomes in a creative life. Kate reflects on art as a non-verbal language — a mirror, a companion, and a way of staying in relationship with herself — as well as the power of community, shared vulnerability, and letting go of the myth that anyone is doing life alone.
This is a conversation about slowing down, listening inward, and allowing creativity to be something that is sustaining rather than depleting. A gentle, honest, and inspiring reminder that life can be joyful, chaotic, simple, and expansive…all at once.
—10 minute read
Carly Tomadin: It’s such a pleasure to be speaking with you this morning about all things Kate Florence, art, creativity and well-being!
Kate Florence: Happy to be here!
Carly Tomadin: Tell us, how did you start your day today? Any morning practices you’d like to share?
Kate Florence: I like to start the day reasonably early, at the moment though I am trying to listen to my body more, so I don't set an alarm and wake up naturally.
I have just moved to a new home studio set up, so it takes me a while to establish a grounded morning routine in a new place. Sometimes I wake up peaceful, other days I wake up full of thoughts. So I always try to balance that by moving, walking, swimming, anything to shake up my energy. Then I take myself for coffee and journal and read something inspiring. Right now I am revisiting “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin. It is full of profoundly inspiring insights that help me in simplifying my thoughts when it comes to my art practice. During this morning routine, I try not to think about anything too work related, which to be honest I find very hard. This has been a very useful way to manage stress and take time for myself before the day starts.
Carly Tomadin: I am so with you on the early rise and no alarms! I love to hear your boundaries around aiming not to think about work while you’re rising to the day…such a great way to manage stress, and I agree, it's a hard thing to do. Aside from early rises and listening to your body, what does life look like for you at the moment Kate?
Kate Florence: I have had to take some time to recalibrate after an intense period of work at the end of last year which was fairly stressful. I find it hard sometimes managing the balance between passion and career especially when the two are so closely intertwined. It can be very hard to switch off when you are managing so many things at once. Of late, I have become acutely aware how important it is to protect my energy and my creativity and how easily one can become disrupted or damaged, so right now I am working on not pushing myself too hard. Taking time to look after myself and also to take things slowly. Taking the time to re-establish and ground myself in a new space and a new place takes up energy, as well as being energising.
I have felt the need for a lot more quiet time and time in nature.
I can see how much this benefits my creativity and time in nature. This looks like cooking delicious food for myself, having naps, calling or seeing a friend, working for just a few hours a day, and going to the beach most days when I can! Flowing, not forcing anything.
Carly Tomadin: A season of recalibration - just what the doctor ordered by the sounds of things. I find it’s an art form in itself to stay close to ourselves when doing work we’re passionate about. It is so easy to get swept away in the excitement of bringing various projects to life to then realise we’ve pushed our bodies perhaps a little beyond their limits.
You’ve described your art as your “life force, mirror, therapist and biggest joy.” What does that mean in your day-to-day creative process?
Kate Florence: Yeah totally. The balance of constantly finding the tipping point and then bringing yourself back to centre again.
My process looks a little bit different every day. I feel as humans we go through different cycles, especially as women. It’s so precious to have a form of communication that is not verbal. Art has taught me to trust my intuition, to believe that I have the answers, and when I come up against friction and tension, I examine further what’s going on within myself. As well as letting go of any ideas of controlling the outcome, or perfectionism. I learn and improve from the physical process of making work.
A real turning point for me was understanding that there is no separation between the art you make, the life you live and the person you are. Art is a reflection of who I am and the challenges I have undergone as a person. So understanding that has been really pivotal for my art practice. My approach to painting is very much my approach to life: trial and error, give things a go without too much pressure, be curious and don’t take things too seriously.
I feel very privileged to have found my truest form of expression and get to live such an incredible life from it/with it!
Carly Tomadin: It sounds like the process of making art keeps you in such a deep relationship with yourself. It sounds like it reveals what is happening within you and where you can soften. How inspiring!
You often work intuitively with colour and form—does that process help you access or process feelings that are otherwise difficult to put into words?
Kate Florence: I don’t really pre-plan any colours and for me this is where the building of trust with my intuition has grown from. It’s also the part I love most, which is a form of exploration mixed in with some fear that you’re going to choose the wrong colour or you’re going to ruin the painting by adding something that you can’t remove!! Haha but because of that being a challenge, when I paint I am not thinking about anything and this is what really helps me process things, it keeps me away from overthinking or being too fixed on what mood I’m in (I am a fairly mood driven person being a Cancerian, I feel very deeply). I see this is a good thing but sometimes I can ruminate there, so art can pull me out of that state which I love.
Colour was, for a while, my biggest challenge. For many years I just worked in black-and-white. I didn’t train in painting so I had a lot of fear around knowing how to build colours so this has been a real process over the past few years and exploring that myself which I have loved!
Carly Tomadin: The way you approach making art sounds like a form of medicine. I can hear your self-trust and how you allow yourself to do what you intuitively feel is right in that moment…a practice of presence. It sounds like you have found your way of using colour. And my gosh it is beautiful!
In the early days you’ve mentioned you sometimes felt alone in your practice. How has fostering a community changed that for you?
Kate Florence: Having a community has been totally game changing for my attitude towards doing art as a career and sharing experiences and sharing knowledge and feeling inspired by the women around me at the studio i spent the past 4 years in. Now I am in a new season of working alone, I have found that my creative energy and focus is more streamlined and I am really seeing how that extra energy is coming through in my paintings. Then I am more consciously intentional with socialising outside the studio.
Through the podcast I have met so many amazing creatives. It has really helped me realise that we all struggle with the same things. Having an art career is not at all straightforward and definitely has its challenges. There is no set system in which to do it, so I feel the most powerful way to grow as an artist is to connect with those around you and share the experience and empower one another to grow.
Carly Tomadin: It sounds like you’re feeling far more supported at this point in your career and that you and your community are all figuring it out together, step by step. It is so true that we all struggle with the same things. What we think separates us from others is usually the very thing that unites us.
Your Nitty Gritty Podcast opens up honest conversations in the art world. What has sharing vulnerability—your own and others’—meant for your well-being?
Kate Florence: It has helped me massively feel more comfortable with the struggles that I experience and it makes me so happy that this platform has connected with and been a support network for other artists. I have felt way less isolated since starting the podcast.
Carly Tomadin: I get the sense it’s helping others feeling far more comfortable with their struggles, too. When you’re seeking balance or calm, what practices (art-based or otherwise) do you turn to?
Kate Florence: I try to make sure I’m more structured with my working hours and try not to work outside of that. I go to the gym, I go to the beach and swim, I book a massage to relax, I book a trip to visit my friends interstate ( I always feel so refreshed by quality time with friends), or I cook nourishing food for myself and others. Food is for sure my way of caring for myself and others. At the moment I’m making sure I am doing some of these things regularly so I don’t slip too far out of balance.
Carly Tomadin: Movement, nature, friends, cooking, kicking your feet up, and giving the gift of a home-cooked meal…a recipe for well-being, I love it. As you continue to grow, through exhibitions, your podcast, community building, what sort of emotional legacy do you hope your art creates for others?
Kate Florence: Ooo that’s a hard one. I think the best thing I could hope for as an artist is for my work to carry a joyous, raw, nostalgic & playful energy that inspires the viewer to see themselves within it and for it to remind them that life can be silly and adventurous and chaotic and simple – all at once. I hope that it can inspire people to do more of what makes them happy.
Carly Tomadin: So beautiful, what an intention. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given, and do you actually follow it?
Kate Florence: Oh, that’s also a hard question! I would say that it was this:
If you want to run your art as a business to make money to sustain yourself long term, then you need to separate yourself from the results. Try not intertwine and attach your self-worth with the results and external values of your business. This is of course so hard when the work needs to come from an authentic place within you and you need to access your emotion to create. Once the piece is done, I try to no longer be attached to where/how/if the piece will sell and what it means if it doesn’t sell.
The art I create is a reflection of my spirit but I try not to attach my worth to my paintings. Otherwise I end up chasing external validation instead of trusting and knowing myself.
Carly Tomadin: Ooft that is a potent piece of advice. I think I could talk to you about that for hours!
Kate Florence: It’s the thing I see so many artists stuck in and it’s so damaging.
Carly Tomadin: I can imagine it to be damaging and also a very tricky piece of advice to embody, especially when the work being created is so personal. Okay final question…what’s on the horizon for Kate Florence?
Kate Florence: I’m feeling ready to embrace some change, I want to travel more in the next year and explore lots of new places to inspire my work. One thing I have really come to recognise is the importance of having big chunks of time without creating. In order to sustain myself long-term as an artist, I need to have breaks to travel and be inspired. I would also love to develop some ideas I have brewing, which will be a further development of community-focused arts projects which is super exciting. As well as developing my painting practice further!
Carly Tomadin: In my own way I fully see the benefits of stepping away to get perspective, to see the bigger picture and to feel into what is emerging. I’m looking forward to seeing what you bring to life in your paintings and on the community project front.
What a treat to speak with you today Kate, thank you for sharing with such honesty. I have a feeling lots of people are going to be inspired by what you’ve spoken about here today.
Kate Florence: Thank you!! Have a lovely day xx
Carly Tomadin: Thanks so much Kate! You too xx