Community
3 April, 2025
Artistic endeavour captivates a crowd
ARTIST Jess Fowler welcomed two authors to town over the weekend to unveil a pair of collaborations which have been years in the making.
Jess Fowler Art studio, located at Johnstone Court in Terang, was a hive of activity when the Glenormiston-based artist hosted a launch event for her collaborations with United States author Sonee Singh and Melbourne-based novelist Michelle Weitering, who writes under the pseudonym Mickey Martin, on Saturday.
As Western District Newspapers reported last month, Mrs Fowler loaned her artistic talents to design the cards in Dr Singh’s oracle deck, ‘Daily Divine: Reflections to Connect Within,’ and the illustrations featured in Mrs Weitering’s children’s book, ‘Mindful Mila.’
Mrs Fowler said the day had been “absolutely brilliant” with attendance far exceeding expectation.
“The turnout has been incredible with support from not only our local community but people coming from other places as well,” she said.
“It’s been really cool – everyone has loved it and it’s been so much fun.
“It’s been far more like a party than a launch event.”
Mrs Fowler said the response from the community to her designs featured in both artistic collaborations had been heart-warming.
“Having all the affirmation drawings on display as a backdrop was overwhelming,” she said.
“Even though I had them in my possession for months, to have them all out brought back a flood of memories of the process, of designs I had forgotten about, and seeing the cards themselves in the ‘Daily Divine’ oracle deck, they’re just so pretty.
“The ‘Mindful Mila’ book is something that I’m so happy with because the character, Mila, is such a sweetheart.”
Mrs Weitering, who grew up in Glenormiston and has previously collaborated with Mrs Fowler to create cover art for books in her Victoria Collection, said she relished the opportunity to reconnect with an artist who has become a close friend.
“Jess was pretty full on throughout the process,” she said.
“I wrote it and sent it to Jess, and let her create what she wanted based on the words she was reading – and I just love what she’s created.
“The turnout we’ve had to the launch has been absolutely wonderful.
“It’s been very exciting, and we’re so grateful to the locals for showing their enthusiasm.
“I don’t think it could have turned out any better.”
Dr Singh said having the opportunity to visit Australia, meet Mrs Fowler in person and see the original designs was “surreal”.
“To go from working with someone on a screen to meeting them in person is incredible,” she said.
“It was a beautiful collaboration so I knew it would be special, but I didn’t expect how emotional I would be to see the drawings in person for the first time.
“I wouldn’t have met Jess if it wasn’t for Mickey – I met her in 2019 and we became friends just from being two authors working in the industry.
“When I was looking for an artist, she suggested I reach out to Jess.
“It was a match made in heaven, we didn’t struggle throughout the process and we always worked so well together even if there were drawings we had different thoughts on.”