Author: jessikah

Charles Niesten was my grandmother’s second husband, and step-father to my dad. He was instrumental in helping them survive the war during the Nazi Occupation of The Netherlands. My grandmother, Betty, and Charles married after the war in late 1947. In 1951, they moved with my father across the world to Perth, Western Australia to…

The Mask (2017) is a painting of a mask my grandfather, Miles Finley (1912-2008), made me in 2001. I created this piece and others such as Collaboration (2017) and Renaissance (2017), in order to archive Miles’ art, while inspiring my own work. My grandfather came from an artistic family. His father was a wood carver…

Beginnings Romance (2017) is an abstract painting, which represents an emotional state. I have always drawn eyes and over the years, I began to create pieces entirely made of eyes. In 2012, when I lived in Paris, I spent a long time on the metro every day. To pass the time, I would take out…

  Self-portrait (2001-2017) began its life as a coloured pencil drawing on a piece of cardboard box. It was one of my first attempts at a self-portrait, before I became more serious about painting. Because I used pencil rather than acrylic paint, the effect was  was very subtle. Over time, the colours faded. It began…

Finley Brothers Renaissance (2017) began its life as Miles Finley Esq. (1965). The original portrait of my grandfather, Miles (1912-2008) was completed by his older brother, Robert Finley (1910-1972).  He referred to his brother as smiley, thus the exaggerated mouth. During the Second World War, both brothers served in the Australian Army as photographers. They…

Collaboration Miles Finley (1912-2008) was a photographer and visual artist. He had a unique vision of the world. He was my grandfather, mentor and kindred spirit. As a portrait artist, my style is quite different to that of my grandfather’s work, yet it is still complimentary. As can be seen from the photograph, Miles created…

Retrospective is a look back at 2016. It was a wonderful year for art and making the world a more beautiful place, one portrait at a time. After opening Artist at Work, my painting Trump (2016) was shortlisted for an Emerging Artist Award. It was a great experience exhibiting my art and receiving such positive…

Art Talks Artist at Work I started Artist at Work quite simply because I love to paint portraits and I wanted to share my talent with others. A painting can mean so much more when it’s you or someone you love in the picture. I accept commissions for: people of all ages, including children; nostalgia…

Talking Portfolio: Episode Eight Behind the Painting: Tokyo I painted Boy in Blue when I lived in Tokyo in 2014. Although I moved there with no more than a suitcase, I quickly invested in some art supplies. Tokyo is such a densely populated city and it’s quite expensive to live there. My budget didn’t allow…

Talking Portfolio: Episode Seven Behind the Painting: Paris I painted Girl with a Lollypop over the first winter I spent in Paris in 2012. I spent a great deal of time studying Impressionist pieces in both the Musée d’Orsay and the Musee de l’Orangerie. This influenced the style of the painting. The girl in the…