Local artist profile: Jessie Bleakley

THIS week we chat with Jessie Bleakley, a multi-disciplinary artist heavily inspired by nature, who said creating is something she thinks about every moment of the day.

What motivated you to take up art as a practice?

I have been creative since I was young, always making things, inventing, and seeking to learn new mediums. I began sewing around four years old, taught by my late grandmother who was a talented crafts woman (she was a milliner by profession). She taught me to be innovative, to have a fearless can-do attitude and really cultivated my creativity. I have been a gold and silversmith since age 17 and choosing to go to uni as a mature age student – at RMIT to study fine art sculpture – really was a conscious decision to work as an artist from that point forward if possible.

How would you describe your style?

My artwork across all mediums is very textural and heavily detailed. My challenge with each piece is to create a situation that invites the viewer in, a chance for them to seek out the details of the layers and the hidden gems. I’m heavily inspired by nature. I seek textures, patterns and colours in everything I see. My current style has developed over the past few years simply through the space to play, experiment and many, many hours of practice. My pieces at this stage are predominantly abstract in nature but do use elements from nature within these pieces that are more lifelike.

Which other artists inspire you?

I really am inspired by artists working across a variety of mediums. Katherine Wheeler, a talented ceramist and ink/ watercolour artist from Victoria, Holly Roach who is a talented print artist, sculptural jeweller Nicole Ringold, the late sculptor Bronwyn Oliver and of course a few of the greats – Monet and Cézanne.

What are some highlights you have from your career?

My first solo exhibition earlier this year has been a really proud accomplishment, a huge thank you for the encouragement, and opportunity from Rood Henry’s Artspace and generously supported by

Palling Bros Brewery and Fosterville Gold Mine. The chance to fill a space with my artwork from sculpture, textiles and mixed media paintings was really wonderful. I really valued the feedback I got from members of the public and the huge learning curve putting a show together was for me professionally.

How can people check out your work?

My art practice and available artworks are on Instagram @jessiebleakleydesigns and Facebook @Jessie Bleakley Designs. I love to share my process, provide insight into my inspiration, and connect with the community via these platforms. Coming up in the next few months I have some artworks on display at the 50 Square Art Prize at Brunswick St Gallery.

What would you say to any regional aspiring artists who are considering taking up the artistic life?

I am a firm believer in using the skills and gifts you have been given to their fullest. For me, creating is not a thing I choose to do, rather than something I think about every moment of the day. If you need to create then do. Practice regularly, take classes and try new mediums. Eventually one or two of them will simply click. Turning your art practice into a career is certainly challenging, but when you love what you do passionately you owe it to yourself to share your artwork with the community. After all, your art is meant to be in dialogue with others.