Studio Visit with Jacqueline Chan

Studio wall covered in draft artworks

As soon as you enter Jacqueline's home you can see that she's a D.I.Y. nut.  Paper pompom flowers, tassel garlands, mobiles and other odds and ends are dotted throughout the house.  This girl just loves to make things.  She's in the right job...  There doesn't seem to be anything she hasn't tried.  The studio is the same, a cosy, sun-drenched room at the end of the hall.  One wall is a collage of draft artworks and illustrations, the opposite an inspiration board with more hand-made goodies.

Jars and containers sit on every horizontal surface holding all types of creative instruments from knitting needles, markers & paint brushes to paints, jewellery findings & patterned tape.  Finished paintings for the exhibition are neatly stacked in boxes ready for the journey into the public eye.  Hand-made bags and jewellery hang from any hook available.  It's a riot of colour & production.  Jacqueline is a full time designer and spends most of her days with busy hands accompanied by her very friendly and adorably dressed side kick Cuwie.

Jacqueline moved to Sydney from Malaysia in 2004 to study engineering at university.  After one year in the engineering industry her passion for creativity and design had not faded.  The strong presence of independent designers and artists in Australia was a reminder for Jacqueline that it can be done and that you can have a future as a creative.  So she enrolled in a Bachelor of Design at COFA and has never looked back.

I first came across Jacqueline a few years ago when we both had stalls at the “Verandah Markets” which were held over one Summer at Byng Street Local Store in Orange.  Thought up by Prue Swain, they were the closest thing Orange has ever had to a high quality designers market.  I was immediately drawn to Jacqueline's work for her quirky and unique designs and fine craftsmanship.  All the work is made from fine quality materials and with great care and thoughtfulness, I purchased a necklace straightaway!

Animaginarium will be the first exhibition of its kind at The Corner Store Gallery.  While Jacqueline has pushed herself outside of her comfort zone and created standalone artworks for the walls, she will also be exhibiting her life's work of handmade jewellery, homewares and other unique accessories.  The gallery will become something of a "pop-up" shop, celebrating everything Whimsy Milieu.  It's a chance to show off her incredible talent and dedication to design, and a chance for Orange to experience one of Australia's finest young independent designers.

unfinished painting foe the exhibition

Jacqueline and her little helper Cuwie