Through the ‘Emerging Artists Program’ run at the CRACA Office & Gallery an exhibition of the works of Jessica Roelofs titled "Beginnings has been extended till 30th January 2008.

The emerging Artists program was a concept developed as an outcome of an Audit of Artists within the Cardwell Shire. The Arts Audit program was supported by a RADF grant to enable professional and economic benefits to Artists. Artists in the community are able to register themselves at the CRACA Office & Gallery Mon –Fri 10am-4pm.

Jessica Roelofs, born in Tully in 1989 has spent her life in the rural area north of the township of Kennedy in Far North Queensland. As one of fourteen children, she developed a great love for nature and the outdoors.

From an early age, when other little girls were saying, ‘I want to be a ballerina’, she was saying, ‘I want to be an artist.’ Home schooled with the Australian Christian Academy, she had the freedom to develop her own ideas, and discover her strengths and talents. This led to sketching on her textbooks and having drawings scattered throughout her Maths problems.

Perhaps inspired by illustrated storybooks around the age of seven, she picked up a pencil and started drawing. The picture that signaled a life-changing journey was Moses and the Burning bush. Receiving praise and encouragement from her family, she continued to draw, diligently practicing with coloured pencils. She says she hasn’t stopped since.

Although Jessica studied an Advanced Art course in grade 12 and attended art classes at Anne Kent’s Tropical Art and Craft shop she is self -taught in mediums of oils, pastels, and pencil.

Her main inspirations come from the nature and beauty she sees around her, as well as textures and angles of faces and figures. Jessica also steeps inspiration from her favourite artists who include post-impressionist John Singer Sargent, and Spanish portrait artist Dorian Vallejo.

As Jessica develops her own style, she says that every picture she produces is almost an experiment. She loves painting and drawing portraits of people and animals, and at the moment is studying impressionist landscapes.

Also a writer, she is currently working on a novel, as well as children’s books. She takes some of her inspiration from her own family, and works on bringing out the complexity of family relationships in her writing. The link between her writing and art is very strong, for when she writes, she is merely translating colours, textures and scenes into words. Her writing style is rich and flamboyant, and she recently won first prize for a short story through her school.

Jessica has completed two portrait commissions of late, an oil painting and a sketch, and was also the 2006 winner of the Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society (Cairns) Portrait Competition for Secondary and Tertiary Students (open). One of her dreams is to win the Archibald Prize, and wants her work to touch and connect with people. Eventually, she aims to be self-sufficient on her writing and artworks.

Jessica would love to hear from you and can be contacted on 4066 0146.