Jacklyn Foster: Capturing Joy in Everyday Moments
For Mildura-based artist Jacklyn Foster, the path to full-time artistry was anything but linear, but always inevitable. A self-taught painter, Jacklyn’s love for art began early.
“I was always the kid that loved art throughout school,” she recalls. “I did Studio Art, Visual Communication, and Art all through secondary school, and I often got the DUX for art and visual art.” By the age of fifteen, Jacklyn had already sold her first painting — a giant rose she created for a Year 10 school project. Despite this early success, she initially pursued a health degree.
From the very beginning, Jacklyn was in her element with a paintbrush in hand.
“I was very much told that art was not a real job. It was always something to be kept as a hobby. Which I have since learnt is not true.” Eventually, she made the brave decision to follow her creative instincts, leaving the health path behind and rediscovering her passion for painting.
Platforms like Bluethumb, which champion artists to build sustainable careers doing what they love, have played a key role in helping Jacklyn and many other people prove that art is a real job.
Meet Jacklyn Foster, the self-taught artist turning everyday memories into vibrant works of art.
The Turning Point
While Jacklyn had been exhibiting her work locally in the lead-up to 2020, it was the arrival of the pandemic that truly reshaped her career. “I was working 30 hours a week in a part-time job and painting on the side,” she explains. “When COVID hit, my hours went down to nine a week, and I used that opportunity to build my art career online. That’s when I realised I wanted to dedicate more hours to my art — that was the turning point.”
Citrus Cocktail by Jacklyn Foster.
Style & Intent
So how would she describe her work to someone discovering it for the first time? “That’s a great question and a hard one,” she laughs. “I’d describe my artwork as fun, vibrant, and hopefully memory-evoking in a joyful way. It’s grounded in everyday life, and I hope it makes people smile when they look at it.”
Add a pop of playfulness to your kitchen with Jackly Foster’s pantry-inspired still life collection!
Her still life paintings often centre around themes of shared meals, domestic rituals, and moments in the kitchen — scenes that many viewers find deeply nostalgic. “I love that I can paint an item, and so many people can look at it and have different interpretations,” she says. “Even though they’re looking at the same object, it can evoke different memories for each person.”
Careful, It’s Fragile by Jacklyn Foster.
Creative Process
Jacklyn’s process is shaped by both instinct and structure, and deeply influenced by her experience with ADHD. “I often sit with a concept for a couple of days or weeks, thinking of an item I’d like to paint,” she says. “But once I’m ready, I’ll paint it in one sitting. I very rarely come back to a painting. There’s a lot of peace that comes with that — I don’t allow myself to keep tweaking and editing. I can appreciate the work for what it is, without constantly critiquing it.”
Jacklyn’s fast-paced, hyper-focused approach pairs perfectly with her medium of choice: acrylic. “Acrylic allows me to work quickly and build layers without waiting too long for things to dry,” she adds. Photograph by Elisa Smith.
Studio Life
Despite working from her home studio, Jacklyn maintains a sense of routine to support her creative mindset. “There’s no such thing as a typical day, but I do have a strict morning routine,” she shares. “I’ll have a cup of coffee, watch my favourite cooking show, and make sure I’m dressed and have eaten before I start.”
Jacklyn now uses a separate office space to frame works and pack orders. “That change has really helped me mentally separate the creative and admin sides of the job,” she says.
When asked about the less glamorous aspects of life as a full-time artist, she’s candid: “There’s a misconception that when you build your dream job, there are no downsides — but there definitely are. The amount of time spent alone can be challenging, and the pressure that comes with everything falling on your shoulders. But I also enjoy the variety. It’s not just painting all the time, and that keeps it interesting.”
Cocktails and cupcakes, small canvases celebrating life’s sweetest moments, one sip and bite at a time.
Inspiration & Materials
Her creative inspiration often starts with something simple: a piece of garlic, a favourite memory, or pantry staples. “One Sunday, my mum brought over some garlic to a family dinner,” she recalls. “I thought it was beautiful, so I painted it.”
Jacklyn is a self-proclaimed “creature of habit” when it comes to materials but enjoys setting occasional creative challenges. One of her favourites? “I blindly chose four colours from my paint board and used only those four in a painting. That was so much fun — I might try it again soon.”
Organised chaos or creative magic? Either way, it all starts here.
Her go-to tools are “definitely acrylic paint, a flat square paintbrush, and a small brush for detail.” And perhaps unexpectedly, her most treasured studio item is the space itself. “It’s ever-evolving, and I love that it’s just mine. I can make it how I need it to be and tailor it as I go.”
She also has a hilariously practical brush organisation system. “I rank my brushes from ‘trash’ to ‘good, better, best’,” she laughs. “And once a brush goes into the trash drawer — that’s it, it’s on its way to the bin!”
An artist can never have too many brushes… unless they’re in the trash drawer. Photograph by Elisa Smith.
Connection with Collectors
Since joining Bluethumb in 2019, Jacklyn has built strong connections with a growing community of art lovers. “Bluethumb has been such a great opportunity to access a larger audience that may not have found my work otherwise,” she says. “It’s great for experienced collectors and also for people just starting their collections.”
One recurring piece of feedback particularly warms her heart: “People often tell me my artwork reminds them of their loved ones or a significant person in their life. That, to me, is one of the greatest gifts my art can give.”
When Jacklyn’s work enters someone’s home, she hopes it brings joy, conversation, and colour. “I hope it becomes a talking point when people come over. That it resonates with them, makes them happy, and brings warmth into their space.”
Limoncello Dreams by Jacklyn Foster.
Looking Ahead
Jacklyn is currently preparing for an exciting milestone: an artist residency at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Show, running from late September through early October. “I’m so excited for the opportunity to meet more of my collectors and see the magic of the internet brought to life.”
She’s also dreaming of future collaborations that blend her two great loves: art and food. “My dream is to see my art on kitchen items, like placemats, coasters, aprons, tablecloths. It ties in beautifully with the fact that my art centres around cooking and dining.”
Tomato Sauce by Jacklyn Foster is available as a limited edition print on Bluethumb.
In the next 12 months, Jacklyn hopes to deepen her exploration of still life. “I want to continue honing my skills and see how the work evolves naturally,” she says. “Right now, I’m just enjoying the ride.”
You can explore Jacklyn Foster’s joyful still life paintings on Bluethumb here.
I’m inspired!