It’s hard to capture the beautiful new mural at Towradgi Train Station. Sure, photos show the stunning landscape painted by local artist Jaqueline Burgess, the piece awash with green-grey coastal heath, the blues of the Pacific Ocean and several native animals. But photos don’t show the effect that this new mural has had on daily commuters, the story of the artist behind it or the little secrets it has tucked away inside.
Jaqueline, born in South Africa and now based in the Illawarra, tapped into her artistic side while she was very young.
“My Dad recalls a very creative drawing I did around the age of three,” Jacqueline said. “When he asked what it was, I answered, ‘It's an upside-down acrobat’. So, I was already delving into my imagination from a young age… Rather than playing with dolls or miniature creatures, I was drawing them instead.”
Nowadays, she paints full-time with regular commissions and exhibitions. I first found Jacqueline’s work at Sketch Coffee and Art, a cafe owned by her parents, when she was painting an array of native birds. Since then her art, like her inspiration, has shifted.
“Australian landscape and any body of water seem to be my muse…” she said. “The landscapes really speak to my soul, and although I still paint animals, birds and plants… I really love expressing my appreciation for Mother Earth and all her beauty through painting the landscapes that resonate with me.”
The contractors working on the refurbishment of the train station also discovered Jacqueline’s work through Sketch as they grabbed coffee and breakfast each morning, and thought her art would be perfect for the station’s makeover. However, working on a huge outdoor mural brought with it many different challenges.
“At first, I was quite apprehensive about working out in the open, with the public walking past, and dealing with the elements,” Jacqueline said. “But I ended up absolutely loving every moment.
"Towradgi has a few local travellers who were so excited to see what was unfolding on the walls each day. The encouragement was amazing, and I was blown away by the kindness and appreciation of the work that went into painting the mural.”
And while Jaqueline had decided to make the mural less detailed than her studio works, she couldn’t resist adding in some very special touches.
“There are also hidden written messages of hope, positive encouragement and mantras nestled in and amongst the painted foliage for people to discover if they stand long enough to focus on the painting,” she said.
"If I can remind people to be more adventurous and explore this beautiful world, stop and take in the views, breathe the air and listen to the sounds of nature, then I'm doing my job as an artist.”
Follow Jaqueline Burgess Art on Facebook and Instagram.
Jaqueline will soon be adding Akashic readings and Soul Paintings to her range of prints and textiles. Head to her website for more details