Trusting intuition

Nestled in Echuca’s lively creative scene, artist Jess Leigh has attempted to change the boundaries of art.

In fact, she’s hoping to take said boundaries and throw them straight out the window.

The 32-year-old practises intuitive art through the form of fluid mediums, an endeavour that has brought her more than she could have imagined.

“Intuitive art is a spiritual process, creating from the heart and soul with feeling, using colours and mediums that are an expression of you,” she said.

Hailing from the Cobram area, Jess moved to Echuca in 2015 and while she’d always had a creative spark, it wasn’t until the following year when she saw a paint pouring tutorial that her spark ignited to something greater — her calling.

Using “endless options” for surfaces, she prepares either yupo paper, canvas, art boards or aluminium panels.

Then utilising a myriad of mediums — often including acrylics, resin, alcohol inks or shellac — Jess fashions pieces swirling with colour and life.

With tools in hand and an open mind, she lets the artistic process lead her.

“To me, intuitive art is a therapeutic creative journey of surrendering, you become mesmerised watching and waiting to see the outcome with very little control,” Jess said.

“I’m trying to drop the expectation of how a final product should look and be guided by the medium and how it flows on the surface, the way the universe intends.

“I believe this practice can then transfer into other areas of our life, learning to become an observer of our situations — particularly those we have little control over.”

Creating has given Jess the space to observe from afar — with each work she enters a state of inner stillness while she paints away.

“You are present in the moment, focused only on the colours, mediums and the way they move and blend.

“Just like meditation, in those moments you are not focused on the past or the future, only the present.”

Though the journey to confidently letting the works guide her hasn’t always been so simple, the artist said the results had spoken for themselves in practising art — and not just physically.

Finding an outlet that allows her to trust the process and let go has improved her mental health, she said.

So much so, Jess has taken to sharing the craft with workshops to help others, too.

“My workshops differ because instead of having participants replicate an artwork, I guide them to tap into their intuition and create art that is unique to their own journey of self-discovery,” she said.

This year is set to bring big plans to fruition for the artist, with more sessions on the agenda, along with further exploration on her artistic journey.

Jess Leigh Art can be found on Facebook, Instagram and online at: www.jessleighart.com