Tag: Kirsten Jackson

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Bathrooms Expert Tips Styling

Styling art: what comes first: artwork or accessories?

By Alex Carter

What comes first, the art or the surrounding styling? It’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation but it doesn’t have to be hard! Picking art can be a daunting task, let alone figuring out how to tie it into a space.

The simplest way to do this is to start with a blank room and choose a piece of art that you love. From there, pull the colours out of the paintings with furniture, rugs, florals, ceramics, cushions, throws and any other accessories to create a visual journey linking colours in different mediums.

My favourite thing to do is to pay special attention to the least represented colours to really make the space exciting. In the living area pictured here I’ve used ‘Be mine forever and ever’ by Kirsten Jackson which only has one patch of green but I have emphasised this by including a shag rug with a bright green pattern, green velvet cushion on the rattan sofa and hints of green on other cushions and in florals.

By doing this, it makes the green in the painting stand out in a way it wouldn’t if there was no other green in the space.

If you’re adding a piece of art to an existing space, consider the existing furniture, wall colours and decorative pieces that will be staying and let this inform the colour palette of your selections. Like everything with colour, art can be complementary to the space or contrasting.

For example, in the dining room, the art is a huge ‘Happy Face’ painting by Kirsten Jackson. This piece is extremely vibrant, large and bold so I have made this the focus and kept the rest of the styling pared back with a few pops of colour to link the painting to the room.

Whereas, in the bedroom the painting is softer so I have amped up the colour and went all out with the bedding, repeating all the colours in bright and cheerful hues!

At the end of the day, art and colour are extremely personal and subjective. Whatever way you choose to go, having art in your house that you love will always work. It’s a fantastic way to show your personality and to change the vibe of a space by either making it exciting or relaxing. Trust your gut and have fun with it!

–Alex Carter is an interior and photoshoot stylist at harlow + willow

CREDITS

Artwork: Kirsten Jackson | Styling: Alex Carter | Photography: Jody D’arcy | Florals: Long Stem Florals | Style Assist: Julianna Love | Bedding: Sage x Clare | Homewares loaned by Mandi at Home

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Art

Artist Kirsten Jackson’s new prints & 20% discount code

'A lot of happiness' print

Regularly exhibiting on the international circuit, Melbourne artist Kirsten Jackson’s 20-year professional artistic career continues to thrive and this month her work becomes even more accessible with the release of five gorgeous new prints starting from a very affordable $390.

‘A lot of happiness’ print

“Three of the new prints are very bright and the other two feature more monochrome, rustic colours,” says Kirsten of the limited edition run that is printed with archival inks. “They’re very close to the original but the quality is amazing. I get so many stylists come to my studio with clients and they think the prints are original,” says Kirsten. Available printed on canvas (to look like the original) or on archival paper behind glass, the sizing runs from small to extra-large but Kirsten can create custom made ones too.

'Forever Love' print
‘Forever Love’ print

Working with watercolours, inks, acrylics, oil pastels and house paints, Kirsten describes her style as happy and contemporary. “I love colour and I’m really drawn to colour. I’m not very good at drawing but I’m good at colours and putting compositions together,” says Kirsten who takes a visceral approach to her work. “I don’t think when I’m working – if I think then I usually wreck it!” 'A love that lasts forever' print

‘A love that lasts forever’ printBut ironically, Kirsten’s ‘happy’ aesthetic was borne out of childhood grief with her dad passing away when she was just three years old and her mum when she was 14. “The only thing that made me happy was running and painting so I initially painted just for me but then began painting for other people. I still have people telling me that my works made them very happy,” says Kirsten.

'Forever love series' print
‘Forever love series’ print

Based out of a studio in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Sandringham, Kirsten has a ‘by appointment’ shop front and workshop at the back. And it’s there that she paints her works before they’re shipped across the world with many of her clients finding her through Instagram. “Instagram is unbelievable for business. I think it’s really amazing that people can find you and it’s been huge for me. Last week I had paintings shipped to Canada, the UK and France,” says Kirsten.

Kirsten in her studio
Kirsten in her studio

And March is looking like a huge month for Kirsten too with her work being exhibited in London, New York, Brussels and Sydney. “My work has been shown overseas many times and every show is a sell-out – there’s always people waiting. Sometimes the pieces are sold before they even get there. I imagine this time will be no different!”

Until midnight this Saturday 2 March, Interiors Addict readers are able to get 20 percent off Kirsten’s new range by using the discount code THANKYOU20. 

Shop online | Discover artist Prue Clay

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Art

Australian artist Kirsten Jackson’s big year

It’s been a big year for Australian artist Kirsten Jackson. Not only has she had two sell-out exhibitions in London and Singapore, but later this year she will also exhibit in Amsterdam, Stockholm, Hamburg and Melbourne.

Sea Blue

Known for creating artworks that capture the beauty of love, the soft essence of sunsets and the cheerful delight in her much admired Happy Faces (below), Kirsten has also won a catalogue of awards this year including a Highly Commended award at St Kevin’s Art Show and the Best Mixed Paining award at the DACE Exhibition.

Happy Me Today

But it’s not the awards or the sell-out shows that drive her, it is the effect her paintings have on people. “My passion drives my creative output but the most inspirational aspect behind my desire to paint is to brighten people’s homes and lives through colour. I believe my paintings can change a person’s mood by uplifting them and their homes and spaces.”

Summer Colours

Working with acrylic and oil paints, translucent glazes and colour vanishes, Kirsten builds texture and explores the beauty of impulsive and almost accidental forms to create her distinctive vibrant and layered artwork.“My main motivation is to portray the inherent beauty and harmony that exists in the inter-relationship of colour, composition and form. I love to work intuitively using the language of colour, light and texture to produce art that pushes, pulls, pulses and speaks fluently to the senses.”

For more information visit her website here.