Kirsten Jackson is a dynamic Australian artist whose work is a celebration of vibrant colour and joyful expression. With over 20 years of professional experience, Kirsten’s paintings radiate positivity, built on a foundation of personal healing and creative freedom. When she’s not creating her texture-rich acrylic masterpieces, Kirsten shares her expertise through her online course, Steps for Success, guiding other emerging artists toward commercial success. In this Q&A, Kirsten reflects on her journey, her creative process, and what inspires her to continue spreading happiness through her art.
Q&A
Tell us a bit about your yourself?
I live in the beautiful bayside suburb of Hampton in Melbourne’s south, with my studio based not too far away in Sandringham. I’ve been a professional artist for 20 years and started using art as way to heal after the passing of my father at the age of three years old and later my mother who passed away from leukemia when I was 14. I stopped for a while but went back to art after the birth of my daughter 23 years ago. I realised I could make my art commercially viable and make a living from doing what I love while staying home with my kids. My corporate background in marketing and sales went a long way to getting the business off the ground and successful. I now run an online course for artists called ‘Steps for Success’ which guides artist through taking commercial control of their future as an artist and guiding them to commercial success.
How would you describe your creative style and mediums?
I work with little thought and just paint. I am very messy and love colour, no structure. I am way too impatient for oils so my mediums are acrylics, oils pastels and watercolours. I use art as a positive outlet and painting is a meditative process for me.
Who and what inspires you?
I need to be surrounded by beautiful things. I used to run marathons professionally and running every day puts me in a good mood and inspires me. I love artists Jai Vasicek, Michael Bond and Ken Done, to name a few.
What do you love about your work?
I get lovely messages from people who buy my work telling me how happy my work makes them feel. This is what I love about what I do as well as guiding emerging artists via my online course.
About Kirsten
Kirsten Jackson is a fiercely independent Australian artist whose work shatters the myth of the tortured, pretentious artist in favor of vibrant, joyful expression. With a love for painting that spans her entire life and a formal education in Visual Arts from RMIT, Kirsten creates exuberant, texture-rich works that radiate energy and happiness. Working in impasto style with acrylics, she builds layer upon layer of colour that reflects light and emotion, infusing each piece with her boundless spirit. Her early figurative series, Faces, captures portraits of her late mother—whom she believes guided her to art—but her style has since evolved into a dynamic exploration of colour and space.
A true expressionist, Kirsten’s paintings are not just for viewing but for feeling—they are meant to spark joy in both herself and the viewer. Her works have been featured in prominent magazines like Home Beautiful, Inside Out, and Real Living, and have been exhibited in cities worldwide, from New York to Hong Kong. Whether it’s in her hometown of Melbourne or on the walls of Southbank’s Aria Hotel, Kirsten’s art is a beacon of positivity, inviting everyone to bask in the glow of pure, unapologetic happiness.
@kirstenjackson_gallery
Studio: 220 Bluff Rd, Sandringham, Victoria
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