Dedication to duty translated to canvas and watercolour

A decade ago, when severe illness forced lifelong sportswoman FSGT Karen Tate-Smith to step away from her athletic pursuits, it brought a dormant love of art to the fore.

FSGT Tate-Smith said training for sports and practising artistic techniques, like mixing colours or different brush strokes, were similar.

“It all comes together in what can be the training session. If you don't train, you lose that technique and then you don’t produce your best on the weekend,” she said.

Her journey from sport to art was on display at Defending the Arts, the annual exhibition and performance week run by the ADF Creative Arts Association (ADFCAA).

Alongside the exhibition, participants attend workshops, tour the Australian War Memorial and take part in a Last Post ceremony.

For FSGT Tate-Smith, painting has become an outlet.

“It’s been very cathartic and gives me a space where I can unwind from work, just focus, zone in and forget about everything else,” she said.

Working primarily in watercolours, she is drawn to landscapes and Australian native flowers.

“I enjoy what paints and water can do – how you can just let it flow, then you have to control the water. Once water flows, ‘it’ flows,” she said.

“I like blossoms because of the colours, and each one has a different style or requires a different stroke to practise and learn.”

Her exhibition piece Devotion to Service marks a departure from her usual work.

The work speaks to a lifetime of sacrifice: moments missed at home, quiet burdens carried without recognition, and the enduring costs borne by families and communities.

FSGT Tate-Smith hopes the work conveys a sense of devotion and unwavering duty central to service in the ADF.

The portrait, gifted to a wing commander she has known for more than 30 years, required careful observation and a new set of skills.

“As it was going to someone, not staying in my own collection, I didn’t want to give him a portrait that was less than,” she said.

To research her subject during the workday, she made mental notes on colours and features during meetings and conversations.

“The hardest part of the painting was the hair. Because I do landscapes, this was my first real attempt at a portrait,” FSGT Tate-Smith said.

“I feel very relieved. What I’ve tried to do is still relatively abstract, and I’m happy that he absolutely loves the piece.”

Now, instead of competing on the weekend, FSGT Tate-Smith spends her time painting, often with her grandchildren, who she believes can learn valuable lessons from the art.

“Because watercolour is not about painting within the lines. It’s OK to go outside of the lines – you’re still creating something,” she said.

ADFCAA promotes artistic endeavour, collaboration and expression. It continues the tradition of creativity within the ADF, exemplified by the collection of nearly 30,000 creative artefacts held by the Australian War Memorial.

With about 170 members across Defence, it provides an avenue for serving personnel to network, develop and showcase their creativity.

To join the association or find out more, email adf.creative@defence.gov.au.