Artist and designer Linda Jackson helped establish a distinctly Australian fashion aesthetic. She’s known for her colourful prints created with Jenny Kee in the 70s and her Bush Couture label in the 80s, and her work is held by the National Gallery of Australia, Powerhouse Museum and National Gallery of Victoria, among others. These days, she’s often named as an influence on young Australian fashion designers including Romance was Born. This month, her picture book Rainbow Menagerie (Scribe) will be published, filled with her trademark designs inspired by native Australian animals.
When were you happiest?
I’m still happy. But I had a very happy childhood, we lived next door to my mum’s parents and close to the beach. Camping holidays were spent with all the cousins – we were a big, happy family. Living in remote Indigenous communities and learning about country was another of my special happy times. There was a real sense of family there too.
What is your earliest memory?
Walking down the dirt road to the beach and climbing trees.
What is your most treasured possession?
It could be my favourite opal, which is gorgeous. Or it could be a painting by Howard Merson, which he gave to me when I was eight years old in 1958. I remember the day – sitting in the back of the car while on holidays in Briagalong, we’d had a prang and it was the days before seatbelts. My head hit the back of the seat and I had a wobbly tooth. Because I was crying so much, Mum and some friends took me for a walk in the bush to pick flowers and Howard painted a picture of them for me.
What would your super power be?
To bring peace to the world and all the people in it.
What is your favourite smell?
The smell of the bush and the sea.
What is your favourite word?
Love/romance.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
My 93-year-young mother has been telling me that she asked me that question when I was small and I always said ‘Everything’. I wanted to be a dancer, artist and photographer.
What is top of your bucket list?
To revisit the Taos and Abiquiu in New Mexico. When I went there in 1986, I went to Abiquiu where Georgia O’Keeffe lived and to Taos where I met the Concha family from the Taos Pueblo. I really would like to visit the Georgia O’Keeffe museum, which is now open. And of course Tibet.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Buying books and DVDs in op shops, in particular Korean Chinese and Japanese martial arts movies.
What do you owe your parents?
Encouragement to be creative, confident and adventurous.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
I have too many loves in my life to say one.
Whom would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Dream dinner parties are best with music, so I would invite all my musician friends from those early days when I made colourful costumes. I would include Lucky Dube, Bob Marley, Miriam Makeba and Cesária Évora.
How do you relax?
Paint, read, jump in the creek, walk in the bush and talk to lyrebirds and wombats and king parrots.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I really believe that this book – Rainbow Menagerie – is. It’s been 60 years in the making. I have always dreamed of making books. I started drawing pixies and faeries when I was very young and have wanted to create a book ever since.
How would you like to be remembered?
As an artist who brought a bit of colour and happiness to life.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Believe in yourself.
• Linda Jackson’s Rainbow Menagerie is out now through Scribe
