This artist explores beauty and culture in her woven art
You can weave a lot into an artwork, and for Elishia Jackson it is the stories of people of cultures other than hers that she likes to explore on the canvas. She then weaves her own story into her handcrafted vases and vessels.
Hi Elishia, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a visual artist based in the leafy eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I have drawn and painted for most of my life and have more recently ventured into the world of weaving and basket making. This has completely opened up my creativity and I’ve especially enjoyed merging my two practices by incorporating weaving into canvas.
“I have always dreamed of roaming the world but have not been able to travel much, so I guess my art is a way that I can mentally visit other places and adopt different perspectives.”
Elishia Jackson in her Melbourne studio.
You describe yourself as a ‘painter of people’. How did you get started with portrait art and where do the faces of your art come from?
I started seriously painting at fifteen years old and very quickly realised that there was nothing else that moved me to paint quite like an interesting face. I am especially drawn to people who belong to a culture other than my own, and love to depict them in their traditional dress and adornment.
I have always dreamed of roaming the world but have not been able to travel much, so I guess my art is a way that I can mentally visit other places and adopt different perspectives.
I rely heavily on reference photos for my work as my portraits are rich in detail. If I come across a photograph online that especially speaks to me,
I will approach the photographer and ask if they mind me using their photograph as a reference piece. So far everyone I have approached has graciously allowed me to do so. I am always so grateful for this, and am sure to credit them when showing my work. I also draw inspiration from vintage and antique historical photographs and love to use them in my charcoal drawings and collage pieces.
Your woven pieces are stunning and unique. How did you learn to weave?
I started my weaving journey with coil weaving, which was taught to me by Kristin Olds, a beautiful ceramic artist and coil weaver. At the start of our first lockdown she offered little weaving kits with hand-dyed raffia and a tutorial video. I thought it would just be a nice new thing to learn but didn’t foresee how hard I would fall for it! I’ve been weaving pretty much non-stop since then.
More recently I did an online string bag workshop with basket maker and tutor Lissa de Sailles which introduced me to the technique of twining. Once
I got a feel for that, I enrolled in an online course, Form to Freedom - Weaving for Fibre Sculpture with Harriet Goodall, which has been an absolute dream. There is such a beautiful weaving community out there and there’s so much to learn! I’m very grateful to be a part of it.
“Weaving has rules and patterns but it is also intuitive and allows for great freedom of expression.”
Can you tell us about the process of weaving? Where do your materials come from?
Weaving is a slow and mindful process that gives you space to slow down and be present. One of the beautiful things about weaving is how versatile it is. You can buy your materials or you can forage for them. I primarily use raffia for my coil weaving, a natural fibre that comes from a palm tree native to Madagascar. It is a beautiful, affordable material that is lots of fun to dye. I also use foraged fibres like Lomandra grass, ivy vines, Cordyline leaves, wild grasses – the list goes on and on. I use fine paper string for my open weave vases and love to incorporate dried leaves and flowers that I have foraged.
Weaving has rules and patterns but it is also intuitive and allows for great freedom of expression. You can make anything, from beautiful useful objects right through to wild, sculptural artworks.
What inspires you as an artist?
The creation found in nature inspires me to create in turn. I am motivated by a desire to capture the faces and emotions found within humankind.
Mostly though, I create because I have to. It isn’t really a choice, just something I am compelled to do and must do, in order to be myself and be happy. When I create momentum in my work, then inspiration springs from within.
Do you have any wisdom to share with others who would like to try weaving?
Start out with something simple like coil weaving. I truly believe anyone can learn how, even those who are not particularly creative. It is a beautiful, mindful practice and teaches you patience. It is a lovely skill to be able to make something both useful and beautiful with your own two hands.
Do you have a favourite piece that you have created?
The very first portrait I did from my Omo Valley collection is my favourite. She is now residing in California and I often miss her. The painting ‘Seedpod’, another portrait from my Omo Valley collection, is also a favourite. I so enjoyed painting her and creating the frame which is raffia woven into the canvas board.
Have you experienced any challenges in your creative business that you’ve overcome?
I’ve certainly had ups and downs. It can be very disheartening to invest large amounts of time and heart into a piece or a project and not have it pay off financially. There’s been times when I’ve had to take a break from selling art in order to reclaim my joy. I also work as an Auslan interpreter so am very fortunate to be able to have another source of income. This has given me the freedom to focus on the creating process rather than the outcome.
Melbourne, Australia
