A background in fashion and food has been the recipe for success for self-taught Australian Artist Lucinda Jones. Lucinda’s distinctive style and ability to cultivate a process that allows her to seamlessly combine these elements has earnt her a cult like following, with famous it-girls after a piece of Lucinda’s works for their own personal collection. 

I am lucky enough to call Lucinda one of my oldest friends (we used to have matching red Converse sport shoes in primary school – iconic), and I have had the privilege of watching her create using her head and hands for many years – whether that be baking one of a kind cakes for friends birthday parties, styling outfits advising what shoe to wear to complete a look (solved many of my past outfit dilemmas via text – godsend!) hosting dinner parties cooking an intricate 4 course meal that looked as good as it tasted without breaking a sweat, and of course painting and conceptualising to her heart’s desire – is there anything this woman can’t do? (Stop making me look bad.)

Wise beyond her years, Lucinda is that friend that seems to know a bit of everything about a bit of everything (she’s basically a real life cool version of Siri), gives the best advice and has the intuition of a cat (still regret not listening to her on multiple occasions to this day.) Her grounded yet vibrant energy can be sensed from a mile away and translates into her work through composition and colour. Although refined and considered, I can tell you first hand that Lucinda isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and get her hands dirty, she works hard and is not a stranger to a drill from time to time (hangs curtains like a boss). She is dedicated and disciplined in her practice and although naturally gifted, her success hasn’t happened out of coincidence. Modest in nature she will roll her eyes at me saying this, however from where I am sitting it is quite clear that everything she touches turns to gold – or should we say colour?

From her younger days flipping through the pages of Paris Vogue to today photographing and painting striking artworks of her female muses, Lucinda’s inspiration transpires from strong,

emotive images of women with a captivating gaze that ignites something deep within her imagination. Lucinda’s painting process is highly personal verging on compulsion, struggling to feel at peace until her ideas are out of her head and onto the canvas, fixated on meticulously executing the mood she envisioned before returning to reality. She loves that her practice allows her to bring together this innate desire to capture a fleeting moment using multiple mediums, adding layer upon layer of creation and imagination – turning a feeling or emotion into something tangible.

Female friendships, connection and energy always play an integral role in her work, with her subjects evolving from a personal link to the artist at some point in her life. Her upcoming solo show “Out of body’ held at Hake House is a true testament to this – one at which you need to experience in the flesh to grasp the full scale and power of the works.

The boundaries of creation are endless for Lucinda – from her art to her wardrobe, home, food and beyond – her imagination spills over into all aspects of her world, redefining the relationship between artist and muse.

Tell us a little bit about yourself… 

I am a self taught Artist, with a background in fashion and food. I create from my home studio on Guringai country, where I also live with my small family. 

Where do you call home?

Avalon Beach/ Guringai country

Star sign?

Taurus sun, Virgo moon, Aries rising. 

My friends would describe me as:

Stubborn and Generous

Introvert or extrovert?

Introvert.

Describe your sense of style:

Lots of black, minimal and practical 

Currently watching/ reading?

Watching ‘Love my way’ for the countless time

Song on repeat:

Anything jack harlow 

Meal on rotation:

Anything roasted 

“I crave a feeling of calm and peace in all aspects of my life. If things are peaceful then I feel free to create without boundaries.”

Daily routine:

coffee, walk, shower, paint, cook, share, shower, sleep

Ideal Sunday:

Cooking an early dinner with my family and watching a movie together on the couch

Earliest memory of painting or creating growing up?

Very young, Always pretending I hadn’t just spilt my paint water all over the carpet in my bedroom, 

How does your life and/ or values shape your expression through art? 

I crave a feeling of calm and peace in all aspects of my life. If things are peaceful then I feel free to create without boundaries. 

How important is creativity in your day to day?

If something doesn’t involve creative thoughts, I’m not interested.

Your solo exhibition ‘Out of body’ opens this Saturday, what is this collection about?

This collection is a sort of self portrait, but out of my body. Through the female form, symbolism and colour I am expressing elements of myself. It is indulgent, but the process of creating it puts my mind and creativity at peace. It’s almost like my meditation resulted in a body of work. 

What was the inspiration behind this series of works?

Earth elements, female friendship, self reflection and energy.

Briefly talk us through your creative process:

I’m inspired by female friendships and the strength of women. I shoot photos with my muses with the aim to capture a feeling or moment. These moments or photographs are then used to inspire the composition and form of my paintings. Starting with a very light sketch, I then focus on painting the positive and negative spaces, until I reach an intuitive finishing point. 

Describe the collection in just a few words:

Earthy, rich, indulgent and energetic.

“It’s always darkest before the dawn.”

How does painting make you feel?

Free

What / who inspires you?

Mark rothko, Pheobe philo, Juergen teller, Nigella Lawsen, Ashleigh Holmes, Deborah Sam’s, my mum, and all the creative women in my life. 

When did you decide to focus on your art full time?

When I realised in order to be full-filled, I needed to create with my hands, around 2015. 

What was the turning point?

My Saturn return 

What have the challenges of being an Artist been so far?

Separating my worries about myself from the art itself. 

Pinch me moments?

Every day I get to create. 

What advice would you give a budding Artist?

Listen to your gut, and the universe will look after you. 

If you could tell you past self something, what would it be?

Everything happens for a reason 

If you could tell your future self something, what would it be?

Not sure…

Quote you live by?

It’s always darkest before the dawn. 

Daily rituals you swear by?

Creating.

When do you feel yourself most?

No schedule, ocean swim, fridge full, good friends.

How do you keep it real?

A wine with friends.

“Listen to your gut, and the universe will look after you.”

You can view Lucinda’s first solo exhibition ‘Out of body’ at Hake House in Brookevale, Sydney from the 23rd July.

Preview the catalogue of available works here.