On the bright side
Becoming an artist was never actually the plan for Australian artist Jacklyn Foster. But sometimes life just makes its own path along the way.
Tell us about your creative journey. You left a 5-year degree three weeks before graduating to pursue life as an artist?
Well, what a journey hey. You would be correct, I studied Occupational Therapy for five years and hated it. The warning signs were there from early on – I wouldn’t do the pre-readings, I would rock up late and stop and stare at the art studio on campus between classes. I was miserable and my mental health wasn’t good either. I just reached a point where I was fed up with not listening to the voice inside, my intuition, that was screaming at me, that Occupational Therapy was not for me.
I didn’t fall into art straight away, but I did after a year. I grew up doing art, and was the DUX of my school in Visual Communications, Art, Studio Art, but felt the weight of societal pressure to get a ‘real job’, hence why I didn’t study art. I was always told it was just a hobby and that you can’t make money out of it! But hey, I’m here now.
A few months ago you moved into your new studio. Is it important for you to have your own space to create?
Yes! I took over our spare room and turned it into my studio space, as prior to that I had been working out of the dining room. I have the most patient husband who let me use that space, and not have a dining area for a few months. Safe to say he is very happy that I now have a space to spread out the mess, and that we can close the door on. I honestly don’t know how I managed for so long just in the dining room, I could never go back. I’m already thinking about my next bigger and better space. I love having room to create, to display my art materials (typical Virgo, all my paints are lined up, in colour order and brand), as well as somewhere to display my work.
Is there a project that you’ve enjoyed working on the most?
There are two that actually come to mind. The statue for The Royal Children’s Hospital as part of their 150th anniversary Me & Uoo Uoo. Then the other is the mural I painted for The Bottlework’s as part of a teddy bear hunt, the Barista Bears, which was really fun.
Your art is colourful and bold. What inspires this?
I love this question, and it’s funny you mention this because I wouldn’t say it’s intentional. I use whatever colours I gravitate towards that day and am really vibing at the time. I take inspiration from what is going on around me, and the emotions I am feeling. It is always fun to look back and connect the colours with the feelings at the time, and the technique. If I’m calm for example, it’s mirrored in my more refined, detailed works. The erratic, spontaneous techniques come if I’m upset. Painting has become a fundamental way of how I process my feelings and situations that come up in life. I don’t think I could articulate how my life would look without it, the only words that comes to mind, are empty and miserable.
How long will you sit with a piece until deciding that it’s finished?
This is a tough one. I can be quite impatient and call it completed quite quickly after it’s finished. But then weeks or even months later, I will up-cycle it and change it completely.
Victoria, Australia
