Featured Artist Jacqueline Coates

Sensuous, lush and luminous, artist Jacqueline Coates’ floral portraits are a feast for the eyes. Learn more about this artist by visiting her website.

 

 

By my mid-twenties, I longed to be an artist—yet was terrified to make a start. I began painting flowers in thick oils with my fingers. Later, I attended art college for structure, then continued working and painting part-time. Being around art was a total love affair, yet I struggled to make it work financially.

 

 

One night I dreamed I was inside a deep red rose. An opera diva emerged from the centre, swathed in petals. The rose interior became a velvety auditorium as she let rip at the top of her lungs. I then clearly saw myself painting large-scale, deep red, rose paintings. Waking from this powerful dream, I worked out how I could make this vision become a part of my life. I painted a seven-foot square painting and was invited to show it in a major gallery.

 

 

When I unexpectedly became a single mom of two children under the age of two, I decided to exhibit my blooms paintings. This was the start of believing in myself as an artist. I adored losing myself in the colour and folds of peonies, roses, tulips, and other blooms.

 

 

I sold over half of my paintings during one of my shows and gained publicity and enough commissions to support me for at least a year. This work became the foundation of what I do today, which includes not only painting but teaching others how to access their creativity.

 

 

I moved to rural Barossa Valley in the south of Australia into a beautiful stone ruin I purchased and renovated at low cost. It was a step that was crucial to securing control over my financial life as an artist as well as creating a magical place to raise my kids.

 

 

I began to find there was a growing demand from others for my teaching skills. This led to my first workshop in 2002. I developed a simple system of painting that anyone could apply and which ensured great results. My students were thrilled. I discovered I loved teaching as well as painting.

 

 

I later created a large professional creative space and art hub—Salon Rouge Gallery—and wrote my Blooms online painting programs, reaching out internationally to students. I still call the Barossa Valley home, although I teach across Australia, France, New Zealand and recently in the United States. The stunning results my students achieve in oils and acrylics and the positive life changes they experience are very rewarding.

 

 

In 2016, I created a painting studio in the heart of rural Limousin, France where the Impressionists once painted. I share this inspiration with others through my French Art School. I take groups from Paris to Monet’s Giverny in the Loire as well as to Limousin through the spring and autumn seasons.

 

 

Art has brought lasting beauty and stability in my life. I’ve had wonderful adventures, challenges that have allowed me to grow, and opportunities to meet many wonderful people and make lasting friendships. My son Hannibal is an amazing portrait artist. My daughter Lily is set to study fashion design in Paris.

 

 

I can’t recommend becoming an artist enough!

 

Artist Jacqueline Coates invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram as well as her Arts Creative Hub online workshop site.

 

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