Meet Bianca Jill, who turned her lifelong passion into her profession. She always knew her office would be an art studio and her screen, a vibrant canvas. And honestly … she wouldn’t want it any other way.
Bianca Jill is the kind of visual artist who sees the world through rose-tinted glasses. With a brush in hand and a splash of paint, she doesn’t just capture the beauty around her … she amplifies it. In the prettiest of ways.
Her artistic journey began when she was just a little girl, spending countless hours with her gran, who was an artist herself. These moments, filled with bite size advice and the scent of fresh paint, laid the foundation for Bianca’s lifelong love affair with art.
“She would always place paper and some paint in front of me while she was busy creating. To this day I keep some of those very first paintings in a drawer in my art studio. They are such lovely memories and keeps me inspired, reminding me of how far I’ve come.
“Artistic talent runs deep in the family … trickling down from my gran to my mom, aunts, and cousins, too. And it’s such a supportive environment where we can all learn from each other, encourage growth and help one another refine skills.”
Bianca started to pursue her passion straight after school … getting her qualification in visual communication and first stepping into the business world as a graphic designer. Then, a decade ago, she had a spontaneous retinal detachment, which left her with impaired vision.
The demanding nature of full-time graphic design soon became too strenuous for her eyes, which lead her to focus more on painting. Although she still dabbles in graphic design today, Bianca admits her true passion lies in painting … a medium where she finds her deepest expression. And it was only a matter of time before she opened Bianca Jill Studio.
Her poison? Watercolour. While most art media will fall into line and obey the will of the artist much like you can expect a well-trained dog to respond to you in obedient, predictable ways … watercolor is, well, not like that. Described by many artists as a cat, with a will of its own.
And Bianca just loves it. For this talented artist, watercolour painting feels almost like second nature. Unlike many artists who focus on technique, Bianca allows the watercolour to guide her, embracing the medium’s unforgiving nature.
“You can’t really fix mistakes once the pigment is on the paper. But that just makes it all the more special. Each stroke is deliberate, every mark intentional, resulting in artwork that feels both spontaneous and deeply emotive.
“With that being said, I’m committed to remaining as authentic as possible and staying true to myself. I paint from a place of genuine inspiration and excitement to create pieces that evoke a powerful emotional response. I don’t believe in blindly following trends.”
Nature is Bianca’s biggest muse. It’s like the natural world just fill her with a sense of wonder and provide a constant source of creative energy. “I’m forever in love with flowers, leaves, birds, and butterflies, which is what I most love painting. But I am just as inspired by a beautiful book or piece of poetry.”
Bianca dreams of expanding her small studio to its full potential and exploring international markets further. In fact, many of her paintings have already found homes overseas. She’s also a regular exhibitor at Kamers Makers, and is currently working on a new collection for an upcoming exhibition.
She’s continuously growing and spreading beauty through her art. All it takes, she tells us, is a little passion, authenticity and some paint to make your life the masterpiece you’ve always dreamt about.
Details: Visit biancajillstudio.com or follow @biancajill on Insta and @biancajillstudio on Facebook
Your fave part of the job? I’m very fortunate to be able to create every day. I love sitting down to start a new painting and seeing people’s reactions once they receive their artwork.
How has your style changed over time? I’ve always had quite a clean style. I love a lot of white space left open and untouched. Lately I love adding more and more little intricate details into my work. I am quite the perfectionist when it comes to my work and I think you can see it in my style.
The best remedy for overcoming an artistic block? Just create as much as you can. Don’t go for a specific idea or end result. Just sit and let the paint do its thing. It’s lovely to paint without pressure … get your head clear and soon one is inspired again.
The best time of day to create? I typically prefer to work in the morning. The best is when you are able to find that sweet spot of flow while painting. And before you know it, the whole day has passed.
How does art help in other areas of your life? I think art helps you have an appreciation not only for the beauty that surrounds you, but also seeing potential.
How do you define success as an artist? One of the greatest rewards of creating art is being able to share it. I have often had feedback of what a certain artwork had meant to someone. I once added a Cape Robin bird print to a package for a client of mine and after receiving it she said that was always a sign for her that her father was watching over her. Stories like that are worth more than thousands of likes or followers.
Who is Bianca at home between friends and family? I am probably the biggest home body. I love being in my little space, pottering around the garden and slow days with loved ones.
How do you unwind? A good book always does the trick. I have stacks of books lying all over waiting to be read. And, working alone from home, I find it very important to socialise and get out of my little bubble. I love walking and doing yoga. Both very important for my physical and mental state.
Bianca’s top watercolour tips
If you’re looking to get started with watercolour or improve your techniques, there a few things you should take into consideration. Watercolour is a fun and sometimes unpredictable medium. With the amount of ways to use it, this could be a really long list, but Bianca has boiled it down these basics to get your started.
• Good quality paper is a must. I’ve spoiled many an artwork because the paper quality was inferior. Look out for Arches and Fabriano. I prefer paper with a slight rough texture (cold- pressed.)
• Invest in a few quality paints with which you can mix the colours together. A little always goes a long way in watercolour.
• Natural bristle brushes will always hold colour and water much better than synthetic brushes.
• Learn to go with the flow. Watercolour has the tendency to do what it wants. Let those happy accidents add character and interesting texture to your work.
• Always work from light to dark and remember watercolour is a transparent medium and tends to dry lighter so working layer for layer is key.
• Leave pieces of your artwork untouched. The white of the paper with its texture is beautiful and adds to the end result.
• Know when to walk away from a painting. One will never be finished. There will always be another stroke to add.
