Meet Jaqueline Burgess | SOUL ARTIST

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jaqueline Burgess and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaqueline, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Every day for me is a gift, I appreciate the fact that I have come into this world with a gift to share with others. I have followed my intuition, and I have luckily selected the correct path and people in my life based on my gut feeling. It makes me so very happy to know that the Art that I create, touches the lives of others. The moments in the studio, where I am creating a scene from a place that has touched me emotionally, and then being able to portray that emotion through the painting is a joyful process. The most elation I receive is when a client is brought to tears when they are presented with their commissioned artwork, that means my soul has touched their soul through the medium of art. This is a connection that I have no other way of explaining other than complete and utter love.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, my parents have always spoken about my ability to draw and create, and they would say to me, ‘It is a God-given talent’. For many years, I had no idea that my ability to create through the arts was so connected to God/source/the universe. All I knew was that it was a part of me, like breathing and the need to be expressed as often as possible.
Through my journey and moving countries three times, I came to understand my soul’s essence in Australia, the longing to create, the desire to beautify, to bring to life and capture the beauty that touches my heart. I practice this in the form of painting or drawing. This is one of the many languages of my soul. Only upon the arrival of our second child, did I realise that Art was all I wanted to do. I decided to paint every night when our babies were sleeping, sharing my stories of the painting process on Instagram and my passion started growing into a business with people purchasing my work from across the globe. Through consistent hard work and determination, and a few failures along the way, I went on to exhibit in multiple group exhibitions, becoming a finalist in a few art prizes, commissions started rolling in and I managed to secure gallery representation.

In 2023, I felt compelled to find out more about a calling from within; something was urging me to dig deeper and find my way back to my true self; my higher self was giving me a shake-up. ‘There is more to this artist’s story, and there was more that I could offer’ was the gentle message I was hearing.
I decided to embark on a soul’s journey to connect with my most authentic essence. I had become lost in the chaos of life, my old belief systems, my exposure to the media, the world of social media and the opinions and ideas of others. I had lost my connection to what felt true. So, through a series of healing practices with various practitioners and following a few magical breadcrumbs, I opened up my world to something greater than what I was seeing with my two eyes; I started going within and looking at my world from a completely different lens. As an artist, I’m accustomed to viewing the world through my eyes, and this viewpoint is beautiful. And, of course, it has taught me so much, but now I have learnt to explore my inner world, where I can connect on a spiritual level with the kind of love I had forgotten exists.
Each meditation I followed led me to a new and exciting place, a soul’s journey to discover who I really am, why I am here and what my purpose is on Earth. This led me to have my Akashic Records read by a practitioner. This blew my mind, and it was here in this sacred space that I got confirmation of my soul family in the ethers; my spiritual guides lovingly reminded me of my connection to God and all I have come in contact with on this beautiful earth we call home.
Through many meditations and connections with my guides, I was drawn to study with a teacher who taught me and guided me on how to read the Akashic records. It is in this space that I want to show others how magnificent they indeed are. To remind others of how their soul radiates love, wisdom and kindness. A visual representation of how the soul is expressed in the form of a landscape painting or portrait.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live on the Northern Beaches of WOLLONGONG, which in the Dharawal language, means ‘sound of the sea’.
This coastline is my muse. I would first take them to my favourite Cafe: SKETCH COFFEE AND ART (@sketchcoffeeandart) for the best coffee and bacon and egg rolls in town, their gallery gift store is filled with Art and treasures made by local makers. there you rub shoulders with local artists, writers and the odd local celebrity.
We would then go for a beautiful drive North along the coastline, where we would stop at the top of the escarpment and start a four-hour coastal bush walk through a forest called BURNING PALMS, all the way down to the cliff edge to see the FIGURE 8 POOLS. After our day trek, I would treat them to beautiful homemade gelato from the GELATO EMPORIUM at the top of Bulli Pass with panoramic views stretching across the coast.
In the evening I would show them some of the captivating street art scattered all over town. For dinner I would take them to one of my favourite restaurants called Santinos which is tucked away in the corner of a lively laneway in central Wollongong. For a nightcap, we would pop into THE NIGHT PARROT and nestle into one of their green velvet booths to sip on a cocktail, and chin wag about our day’s adventures.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband has been my greatest support, he has encouraged me, given me the time and space, believed in me and supported every step of my journey as an ARTIST.

If I can mention a book BOOK: THE ARTISTS WAY

Website: https://www.jaquelineburgess.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaquelineburgess/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaquelineburgessart

Image Credits
Photos by :
Andromeda Lembo
Amani Lindsell