Kat Merewether Illustrator from Design on Q on Vimeo.

TESTIMONIAL – Claire Ashmore

Authour of  ’The Boy Who Could Only See Purple’, 2011.

Kat Q Merewether illustrated my children’s picture book: The Boy Who Could See Only Purple, (currently at press).  From the very first meeting with Kat, through to the final submission to the publisher, Kat was exceptional, extraordinary and professional at all times and under all conditions. We worked together on concept, drafts and details when necessary, and Kat was completely trustworthy in taking the project to completion creating a style for the book (which will continue for the rest of the series) and illustrations which are precise, yet creative, full of beauty and sensitivity, colour and light.

Kat is, in my opinion, one of the highest ability illustrators I have seen. I feel privileged to have her as the illustrator of my first book.

TESTIMONIAL – Pānia Papa

Director of Takatu Associates and Author of ‘Pito Mata’.

He rawe a Kat Merewether me tana tīma i Design on Q i Te Awamutu.  Neke atu i te tekau tau, e mahi tahi ana mātou ko tēnei kamupene. Ahakoa he aha taku tono, he mahi hoahoa, he whakarite rauemi, he whakatakoto pūrongo, he whakatikatika i ngā tohu me ngā upoko reta o te kamupene, he aha rānei, ka tutuki i a rātou, ka mutu, he kounga rawa atu ā rātou mahi. Tēnā koutou i te ātaahua o ā koutou mahi!

Kat Merewether and her team at Design on Q in Te Awamutu are awesome.  We’ve been working together for over 10 years. Regardless of the type of request I have, for design work, illustration, resource production, laying out of reports, refining our company logo and letterhead or cover pages for major proposals, they always exceed my expectations, and the level of quality and professionalism is outstanding. Thanks for providing such beautiful design work!  

Puna Kupu 1, 2 and 3 ‘A Dictionary and Resource for Māori Language Beginners’.  Written by Pānia Papa – Takatu Associates.  Illustrated by Kat Q Merewether (Nee: Quin) in 2002.

REVIEW OF ‘The Boy Who Could Only See Purple’

by Dr Roxanna Erickson Klein from the Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter Vol 31, #3

The artist with whom Ashmore partnered is Katherine Q. Merewether. Starting with Ashmore’s initial rough sketches, Merewether brought the story to life with line drawings that flow through the book matching the lightness of the text. The style is distinctly different from her previous publications as an illustrator of children’s stories. Throughout, the story’s economy of words is mirrored with deceptively simple illustrations.

A fanciful storyline illustrates the limitations each of us hold within, while illustrations draw out internal imagery to blend with images on the pages. Beautifully done line drawings punctuated with subtle washes of color show how limitations can alter perceptions. The direction of expectation, engagement, exploration and discovery become a pathway. Enrichment by sensory exploration generates new possibilities and appreciation for beauty of every day surroundings. It is all part of the story and of life itself.

 

A delightful new kiwi story

Review by Author Maria Gill 

Kuwi’s First Egg by Kat Merewether

Find out how Kuwi the Kiwi looks after her newly laid egg. She knits a scarf, sings a waiata and takes it out to play but Egg doesn’t seem too impressed. When the egg begins to crack Kuwi thinks she has not done a very good job  – what can she do?
Read this delightful imaginary story about a clueless kiwi looking after her egg.

Note, in real life the male kiwi incubates the egg – parents can start a discussion with them about that. Children will enjoy the pictures, as the burrow expands and new insects make their own little homes around it, and the little kiwi’s expressions are rather gorgeous. A book that will be asked to be read again and again.Kat has illustrated many books for authors before but this is the first book she has written and illustrated and published herself. I spoke to Kat about her book and she said that her father had worked for the Department of Conservation for many years and now works as a volunteer at Maungatautari Reserve with Kiwi Conservation so she had talked a lot about the father/egg incubation.