Portuguese man-of-wars have a way of slipping their tentacles into Katherine Summerville’s art.

The 37-year-old painter loves the siphonophore’s delicacy and beauty. One of her pieces will go up for auction on Wednesday at a fundraiser for the Adult Education School. Mrs Summerville was happy to donate the work; she earned her GED there at 17. She spoke with Lifestyle about her art career.

Q: Do you have a particular passion for the ocean?

A: I think I have a particular passion for Bermuda. It’s so beautiful and the colours are so vivid. I love my paintings to reflect that.

Q: How did you get involved in the auction?

A: A good friend, Sophie Wightman, invited me to join the show. She’s an organiser. It is a very good institution. For many reasons, some people don’t fit into the regular school system. It is great to have something that allows people to continue with their studies. I was only there for three months so I don’t remember a lot of it but I have friends who went through the school and have gone on to university to achieve master’s degrees.

Q: What do you hope comes out of the auction?

A: I hope they get lots of money and they are able to carry on with all of their programmes that help kids.

Q: What did you do after you finished your GED?

A: I travelled a lot afterward. I went to the Middle East and worked on a kibbutz near the Sea of Galilee in Israel. I worked in a huge kosher dining room for a while, the banana fields as well. It was a great eye-opening experience. I think it had an influence on me later because it gave me a broader view on life.

Q: How long have you painted?

A: I’ve painted for many years, but I only started seriously exhibiting about four years ago.

Q: What took you so long to start having shows?

A: Before that I had a few shows, but I did it privately. I have two kids, Alice, 9, and Harry, 6. I’m a stay-at-home mom, and they took up a lot of my time. Now that they are a bit older I am able to focus on my art more.

Q: Where was your first show?

A: My first was at Rock Island Coffee. I’ve had a few there. I’m currently working on a show of my illustrations that will open at Rock Island on June 3. I have also been quite busy with commissions.

Q: Do you remember your first sale?

A: It was of a poinciana tree in winter. It was part of a members’ show for the Dockyard Arts Centre. I was shocked when it sold, especially because it sold to Molly Godet. She is one of my favourite artists. I was completely floored that she bought my piece. It made me feel like maybe I could do something.

Q: What do you like about art?

A: I really enjoy doing it and I enjoy connecting with people through my art. It can be a little stressful before you figure out how the work is going to be. When you do, it is the best feeling. It can be very relaxing.

Q: Do you have a goal with your art?

A: My goal is simply to get better and to keep on being innovative. In high school I never thought of it as a career path. I don’t think it is an easy thing to have as a career in Bermuda or anywhere. Luckily, I have a very supportive family that allows me to do my art.

Q: What do you find most challenging about art?

A: Getting it right. When I first started doing Portuguese man-of-wars, I probably had to do them six or seven times before I figured out how to do them [properly]. It’s like with anything you just have to keep on practising. The hardest thing is to match what is in your imagination to what you have the ability to do. That is my greatest struggle.

Q: Is there any subject matter you struggle with?

A: There are tons of things I can’t do, but nothing I won’t try. My art is not abstract, but it’s not traditional either. I paint with ink on watercolour paper. Everything is quite design-oriented. I am completely self-taught. I definitely struggle with self-doubt. When I am unsure whether a piece is good, I have a very good friend and I ask her opinion. She is always blunt and very honest, and she has very good taste.

• The Adult Education School fundraiser takes place on June 1 and runs from 6pm to 9pm in Gosling’s Wine Cellar. Tickets, $40, include drinks and canapés. Buy them on www.ptix.bm, 292-5809 or info@aes.edu.bm