I first fell in love with Jessie's artwork when I spotted her artwork in a Melbourne home years ago. I was so drawn to her playfulness and her use of bold colour. It's a privilege to have her beautiful pieces in our store.
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HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN DRAWN TO BRIGHT COLOURS OR HAS THE PLAYFULNESS EVOLVED OVER TIME?
Thank you so much. I am what you would call a colourist! My wardrobe and home a true testament to that. I have always loved naive art colour and pattern. Traveled a huge amount after uni, I studied fine arts at RMIT majoring in painting. They tried to beat the colour out of me so I left a little before my degree was earnt. I wanted to stay true to my heart. I always love to add an element of chucklesome to my work. Try not to take things to seriously.
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CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU NAVIGATE THE JOURNEY FROM IDEA TO FINISHED PIECE?
A finished work can feel and look very different. Every day I walk into to the studio I can be in a different mood. So something I thought was marvellous the day before can look completely wrong to me the next. Its so great if you're in the flow and then it can come to you in one day!
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WERE YOU ALWAYS INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN ARTIST AND IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU EVOLVED SINCE YOU STARTED PAINTING?
I have painted for as long as I can remember. My mum designed jewellery for Georges so the house was filled with shelves and shelves of exotic jewelled beads and pelts of electric coloured leathers. Mum traveled around the world to find the eclectic mix. My mother unfortunately died when I was 14, she always said to me Jess you are going to be an artist and this stuck with me. She also gave me my entrepreneurial drive
WHAT THREE WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOUR AESTHETIC AS A PAINTER?
Oh I really don’t have three words, I am changing all of the time. But I guess my work always has a signature colour and sort of naiveness to it.
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IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR WORK IN ART INFLUENCE THE WAY IN WHICH YOU LIVE?
I always feel lucky to be an artist, it gives me so much freedom as a single mum. Not running by anyone else’s watch.
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WHAT WERE THE MOMENTS OF INFLUENCES THAT SPARKED YOUR PASSION FOR YOUR UNIQUE STYLE OF PAINTING?
I really have never done anything else. Every moment can spark something, I always loved Brett Whitely and was bought up in Sydney so the harbour and its jewelled colours. I also have a huge studio in Melbourne which I have Masterclasses in, teaching everything from Painting watercolour butterflies to landscapes. Its so exciting to see what people come up with. It really brings me joy to give people tips and to spark heir creativity.
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WHO, WHAT AND WHERE DO YOU TURN TO FOR INSPIRATION?
I have so many things that inspire me. I ofter head down to the Chapel St Bazaar a fabulous curios shop in Prahran for a dose of colour and quirk! I meditate and do when my brain gets too full.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL STYLE.
I would call my style eclectic. I have constantly got paint on my clothes but love to put on a tailored frock when I go out.
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WHAT GALLERIES, MARKETS, BARS OR RESTAURANTS DO YOU RECOMMEND VISITING WHEN IN MELBOURNE?
There are so many galleries I love in Melbourne but to name a few. James Makin, Heidi gallery and strolling past the windows of all the Sigh st Armadale galleries, which is where my Studio is. I live in St Kilda so I absolutely love Ciccinlina and Di stasisio.
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WHEN YOU AREN'T PAINTING HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME?
I spend a lot of my spare time at the studio :) we have a lovely veggie garden there, although I am a novice. Family friends cooking travel. The usual stuff. I do actually paint or draw a lot of the time I have spare as its not what I consider work. Its my hobby also.
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