From the moment Jacqueline Tyracek came into this world, she was immersed in the beauty of artistic self-expression. Her work evokes the wonders of childhood discovery while showcasing her dedication to precision and detail. Often mixing bright flowing colours with strong inkwork reminiscent of woodblock printing. Jacqueline would often tell stories of her father making art for her and encouraging her to find her own visual storytelling voice when she was small. This is a magic I see her passing down to her children with doodles, stories, and dress-up fun. Her work and styling has always seemed to have one foot in the Narnia closet door even when she’s creating one of her signature realistic portraits; adding small details that one could easily overlook that, then become a treat for later. The subjects of her work are often inspired by the things in life that bring her joy and creativity. Even her darker subjects hold a hidden playfulness. Her passion for children’s illustration, horror films, literature, animals, music, friends and loved ones feed her creative mind. Mashing subjects that some would never expect to have commonalities, she is able to seamlessly connect. Jacqueline’s life is art, her drawing, painting, writing and performance all play a part in her every day. Anyone lucky enough to witness her closeness with her art will see and feel its magic.
– Written by Cecily MacGregor-Gauntts, long-time friend & fellow artist
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Which neighbourhood are you in?
I recently moved to Abbotsford as housing options were limited in Vancouver at the time I was expecting my first child during the pandemic. However, I still spend a large portion of my time in Vancouver and surrounding areas. I still consider East Vancouver my home, as it is where I grew up after moving from Saskatoon at 3 years old, where my parents originally settled after immigrating from then Czechoslovakia. It’s also where my friends are, my family, my familiar haunts, traces of my history and it is where I often work and focus myself creatively. It’s an area that factors a great deal in who I am, and thus, impacts the work I make, so in a sense, I live between these two ‘home bases’.
What do you do?
I’m a predominantly visual artist working in a range of mediums, with a focus on detail, in what some call a darkly surreal dreamscape art style that incorporates a range of intertwined subject matter to create an avenue of expressing topics that impact me personally, my surroundings and document the world around and within me, often simultaneously. I like to use contrast and imagery to provoke thought and to convey a story that is often inspired by the stories, books, films, music and folklore that impacted me growing up, and inspire me now, especially old Czech stories my parents read me as a child, while still touching on current relevant factors, such as history, mental health, struggles, fears and methods of overcoming adversity, to name a few. I work a lot with ink, watercolour, pencil crayon and oils, as well as found object assemblage which I use for mask making. I’m an avid dancer, so music and sound often influence my visual interpretation as well as poetry, which I have been writing most of my life and incorporate into some pieces. I also enjoy paying tribute to those who inspire me through creative portraiture.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on a new painting for a collective show I will be participating in at Slice Gallery in October, as well as a number of other ongoing personal passion projects – an endangered animal portrait project, a new series of watercolour & ink paintings and a found object horror inspired costume to wear for a dance performance. I have various ongoing projects like a children’s book, a poetry collection and a novel, which have been a bit on the back burner since having two children, since being a new parent has been its own fairly consuming project!
Where can we find your work?
I am currently working on a new website but have an Instagram I post to fairly regularly with work and news. I will be participating in a group show at Slice Gallery on October 5th, as well as will be part of several upcoming markets in November (All Hallows Eve Market, Creator’s Coven in Chilliwack) which I will be vending at, as well as a few other events which will be announced on my Instagram.
