Helen Milroy presents podcast: Katie Stewart says encouraging kids to ask and answer their own questions is one of the keys to creativity
Katie Stewart said she turned to art because she couldn’t keep up with her two older sisters who were incredibly bright. Drawing was her way to do something that distinguished her from them.
With pressure on her to go to university and make the most of the opportunities her mother never had, Katie first did a degree in archaeology then had many career twists and tangents. Katie was well into her fifth decade before she finally turned back to her abiding passion for art. In this podcast she discusses her work and her journey with Helen Milroy.
Topics discussed
Artist studio or hoarder’s paradise?
Critical thinking for kids
Digital illustration
Following your passion
Where do ideas come from?
Show Notes
About the host
Dr Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She was born and educated in Perth and has a passionate interest in health and wellbeing, especially for children. She is currently a professor at the University of Western Australia, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission. Her books have been shortlisted for the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards (2019, 2020), the Readings Children’s Book Prize (2020) and the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year (2020).
Backyard Bugs, Backyard Birds and Wombat, Mudlark and Other Stories are available in all good bookstores and online.
About the guest
Katie Stewart is an author and illustrator. Born in the north of England, she came to Australia at the age of nine. She started her working life as an archaeologist and ethnohistorian, went on to teaching and then to being a mother. She later worked in a school library, but her lifelong dream was to be what she is now. She is married to a farmer, has three children and lives north of Northam, where her love of animals means she has a lot of pets and takes lots of nature photos. In her spare time, she tries to play the harp or wanders the countryside with a metal detector amusing the neighbours and occasionally finding an interesting piece of history.
Where do stars go? and What colour is the sea? are both available in all good bookstores and online.
Connect with Katie on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Original music
‘Steel Cap Serenade’ by Aidan D’Adhemar, © 2021
Sound engineering
Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire
Produced by
Claire Miller, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications Manager
This podcast was produced in Walyalup in Whadjuk Boodja, on the lands of the Noongar people.
