For any artist, up and coming or established, a major desire is for their work to be appreciated, to gain notoriety and to be used as a platform to create a name for themselves.
For local Canberra girl Jess Cochrane this dream is fast becoming reality, and at only the tender age of 20.
An unexpected yet impressive opportunity was presented when owners of Canberra cocktail bar La De Da Aaron Ridley approached Jess after coming across her blog through local Canberra website and artistic hub, Daddy Issues. We were able to have a chat with Jess about her inspiration and up-coming ventures.
Jess’s artistic display on Daddy Issues prompted La De Da to offer her a platform to potentially launch her career. Jess was asked to create a mural that would be featured across one of the bars walls. After receiving the news, ideas and inspiration swirled, she wished to create a piece which would both compliment the atmosphere and design of the space as well as holding its own as a stand alone piece that is reflective and indicative of her own style.
The alluring and enchanting mural featuring Siren like femme fetale’s entices patrons to stare and admire the mural. Jess utilised her love and inspiration for fashion illustration, the fashion industry and appreciation of the female form. She experimented with new techniques whilst staying true to her personal artistic style when creating the mural.
The mural took two days of filming, numerous hours creating and visualising concepts and around 23 hours to paint. Copious amounts of coffee were consumed, and music fed her veins with inspiration. To prepare, Jess begun sketching and conceptualising what she could bring to the room. Jess wanted the sirens to stare at incoming patrons, whilst alluring them and drawing them into the bar. Their striking white hair contrasted against the bars dim lights and only added to the allure.
Her artistic style is evident; Jess is particularly inspired by the likes of Kelly Smith, Gustav Klimt as well as the stylists from New York and London fashion week, drawing from their mood boards and delving into the inspirations behind their work. In her spare time Jess is either working in fashion retail, attending university, or entrenching herself in fashion and drawing upon inspiration.
For Jess, art comes naturally, you could say it’s in her blood as her father is also a painter, primarily doing landscape drawings. He has always been very encouraging of her passion. Jess prefers to paint in a calm, solo environment with music playing to spark her imagination, as she feels her work is very intimate and personal.
The mural for Jess is representative of her current stage of life, her artistic transition, expressive nature and progressive drawing styles. She possesses unique artistic qualities, her images can be confronting to some and are quite brass. She quoted the experience as being “amazing, couldn’t have asked for a better gig, [I] was given full creative freedom”. When asked to give advice to prospective artists, she simply said, “don’t over think it”, and “fresh eyes bring new perspectives”. She also suggested that emerging artists get onto Twitter and create a blog, as she was scouted for her talent through the blogosphere.
After creating the mural it has inspired Jess to move forth into more street art, and pasting. She wishes to develop her talent in that realm whilst bringing more femininity to the field, before venturing off into her ultimate goal, a fashion illustrator.
On the 27th of June Honkytonks will be hosting an exhibition of all Jess Mess original artwork, be sure to check it out as she loves creating pieces for creative audiences who appreciate artwork.
To see more of Jess’s Artwork check out her blog or follow her on Twitter.
Photography by Chris Whitfield.
