Artist Interview with Jessica Olpp

Words | Madeline Young and Jessica Olpp. Photos | Madeline Young.

We’re thrilled to introduce Jessica Olpp, our first artist-in-residence at The Corner Store Gallery. When we visited Jessica in Melbourne earlier this year, she welcomed us into her modest but light-filled garage studio, an open-air space where tubes of paint, messy palettes, and quiet focus set the scene for her evolving practice.

A self-taught painter, Jessica began creating just three years ago as a way to unwind from teaching French, and her work has quickly developed into a soft, moody style marked by muted pastels and earthy tones. Inspired by both still-life and landscape, her upcoming solo exhibition Cuisine et campagne celebrates the beauty of kitchen life and the countryside, inviting viewers into serene moments of calm and contemplation.

Now based in Orange for her residency, Jessica will be living and working on-site, drawing inspiration from the region’s landscapes, markets, and daily rhythms as she prepares this body of work.

Scroll down for a glimpse inside Jessica’s Melbourne studio, where her creative practice continues to unfold.

Cuisine et campagne “Kitchen and Country” is on display from September 24th to October 6th, make sure you pop in and make her feel welcome during her stay! We’d love you to join us for the Opening Night on Thursday September 25th 6pm, sponsored by Nashdale Lane Wines.

Jessica Olpp’s open air studio in Melbourne.

Tell us a little about your background. How long have you been painting?

Nearly three years ago I decided to try making artwork for our newly-renovated home, and also thought it would be a lovely way to unwind after such busy days in the classroom teaching secondary school French. I am self-taught, and after countless hours of experimentation have developed a soft, moody style, using a colour palette that is instinctive and seems to be influenced by the pastel hues I noticed when living in France. I’ve always appreciated the arts, and am so thrilled to have taken a new direction in my professional life.

You’ll be living and working on-site in Orange for this residency - what are you most looking forward to about immersing yourself in the local environment?

It’s my first visit to Orange, so I am very much looking forward to morning and afternoon strolls to explore the area. I’ll also have a car, so I plan to take some mini road trips and photograph the local landscape which will serve as inspiration for my paintings. I’ve heard this part of Australia is very picturesque, so I can’t wait to spend time there.

Jessica Olpp’s paintings for *Cuisine et Campagne.*

What do you hope to discover or create during your time here in Orange?

I will most likely focus on creating some landscape paintings inspired by Orange’s beautiful scenery and skies. Having said that, I am hoping to visit some farmers’ markets and paint some fresh produce and spring flowers from life. I also hope to discover antique stores to perhaps bring home some objects for my still-life scenes.

Jessica Olpp, *Campagne sous un ciel bleu*, 2025. Oil on linen, 38x48cm framed in natural oak.

Can you describe your studio space to our audience? What are the benefits of working is such a space?

One day I would love to have a “she-shed”, but for now I am working in our open-air garage. It is certainly a modest set-up, but the fresh air makes working with oils and solvents much easier, and I can make a mess without worrying about stains. My table is covered with well-loved paint tubes, and although it looks chaotic, I know where everything is located. As a perfectionist, there is something very freeing about embracing my messy work station.

Jessica Olpp’s open air home studio, safer for oil based paints and solvents.

Your exhibition Cuisine et campagne is inspired by both kitchen life and the countryside. Can you tell us more about how those two worlds meet in this body of work?

I would say that both genres pay homage to the beauty of the natural world, whether it be a still-life of a group of pears or a depiction of sweeping skies. This year I am primarily working from home, having decided to pursue my art practice full-time. This has allowed me the flexibility to take some art-related trips which have been the source of inspiration for my landscape works. In terms of still-life painting, I have been able to indulge longer pauses when grocery shopping, lingering over the colour and form of fresh fruit and vegetables. Luckily my husband is a very patient man!

Jessica Olpp, *Nature morte aux citrons et à l’huile d’olive,* 2025. Oil on canvas, 53x43cm framed in natural oak.

How do you approach creating a cohesive palette for an exhibition, and what role do muted pastels and earthy tones play in this collection?

Mixing colours is my favourite part of the process; I use a lot of raw umber to tone down brighter hues, and it always ends up looking like melted ice cream on my glass palette. I confess that I’ve never used a colour wheel and have not studied colour theory, but I do trust what pleases my eye. For me, these muted pastels and earthy tones help create a consistent mood across the collection, and it means that the artwork can be mixed and matched in many different combinations.

Your paintings are often described as serene and nostalgic. What do you hope viewers feel when standing in front of your work?

I hope that viewers enjoy a sense of calm when observing my paintings, and that while they recall artworks from another era, they also feel modern. When I visit galleries I love to take a moment to quietly contemplate work, not necessarily thinking too much, but allowing myself to feel immersed in the scene. I hope this exhibition allows viewers the same quiet moment to themselves.

Artist Interview with Jessica Olpp

Artist Interview with Jessica Olpp

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