Jedess Hudson: Connecting community and culture through art

Rebecca Archer

Welcome to The Remarkables – Grant Thornton’s podcast series dedicated to sharing extraordinary stories of individuals who are making significant contributions to their communities. These people pave the way for a brighter future and motivate everyone to make a positive impact.

In this episode we sit down with Jedess Hudson – a talented artist and descendant of the Ewamian and Western Yalanji people of North Queensland. Through her creative process, she draws on her home and elements of the land, seasons, flora and fauna to produce inspired artwork. Not only is she talented, but last year Jedess won the 2023 Indigenous Business Woman of the Year in Cairns, bolstering her as a female business leader and role model within her community.

We’re excited to find out about her story on the podcast today! Welcome and thank you so much for your time Jedess.

Jedess Hudson

Thank you for having me. It's so great that we get to chat.

Rebecca Archer 

Now, we always begin our episodes by asking each guest what they're reading or listening to or watching at the moment. Do you have any recommendations?

Jedess Hudson

Oh, I'm always multitasking or binging different things, but I'm reading at the moment a book called signs by Laura Lynne Jackson. It's sort of about communicating with the other side and how when people pass that, they're always still with us, which has been very interesting. I'm watching on Netflix Nobody Wants This, which I think the rest of the world is watching and listening to an audiobook called Human Design by Jenna Zoë.

Rebecca Archer

Let's hear a little bit about you. What can you tell us about your journey, I guess, and where did your passion for art really begin?

Jedess Hudson 

Yeah, so my passion for art began at quite a young age. So, I obviously have grown up in Far North Queensland – in Cairns. I've always been surrounded by culture, music, entertainment, and tourism. 

So, my mum and dad, who have pretty much had businesses in all of those different areas kind of growing up. So, you know, collectively, I guess, learning the art of storytelling in a range of mediums and mainly through art and music and being able to capture people and communicate culture and then finding a way to share with others, and so, I guess that's probably the foundation and my upbringing and I guess the seed where everything got planted and has sort of flourished to where it is today.

Rebecca Archer

Have you always known that this was something that you wanted to pursue as a career? 

Jedess Hudson 

I would say – I mean, I think what growing up and watching dad and be a part of it, like, he's sort of done all of these different facets of business and art and sort of, you know, it's one thing to have a passion in it, but to kind of have this as a financial stable income is kind of another different thing. 

And so, I mean, I've done that through high school as a subject, and then I did a Bachelor of Creative Industries at QUT in Brisbane. So, I was always kind of, you know, inching my way in a creative business, but kind of not really knowing where that would actually land me, and so, the fact that I'm back working for myself doing this, kind of feels like a full circle moment, and I probably knew deep down that I always would do it, but to be here is kind of like, wow, I can't believe this is actually happening.

Rebecca Archer 

And it's very clear that your community is extremely important to you. What keeps you motivated to see stay so involved there?

Jedess Hudson

I think because it's such a close-knit community, especially in Cairns. Like, everyone knows everyone, so that sense of belonging, especially when you start to transition from your teenage years and move into the adult world, kind of making your own way, is very important, and I think feeling that sense of responsibility on my personal journey, being able to try and help others who are either wanting to start an art business or just be in business in general or doing something similar to what I'm doing – I never really see this competition – you know, there's always room for everyone to belong and shine in their own way, but I guess staying involved is important because I'm able to honor those teachings that I've either been taught to me or that I've found out along the way in business and in life, and in turn, you know, be able to provide that back to my community in whatever platform, have their voices heard through art and whatever discipline that they're wanting to kind of thrive in.

Rebecca Archer 

And you've mentioned already the importance of your parents, but I'm wondering, is there anyone else in the community that as you were growing up, you really looked up to, especially in terms of your artistic desires and your affinity for that?

Jedess Hudson 

Oh, there's definitely been a lot of different inspirational people that have been – I can't really name a lot of people off the top of my head, but, you know, especially with Cairns – we've got the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair that, you know, has been a part of my upbringing, and I've been fortunate enough to be a part of and have a stall and sell my goods at, and there are so many different people that I consider colleagues and who I look up to as mentors who, for inspiration in terms of, like, the way that they communicate stories from the land or from, you know, their family. 

So, it's just kind of that sense of… when you walk around and you develop those relationships and being able to kind of find ways to have those tools and put them in your tool bag, to be able to, you know, communicate that in your own way is something really special.

Rebecca Archer 

And do you remember the point at which you realised that selling your art could actually turn into a viable business and be your income?

Jedess Hudson 

Yeah, I guess, like when I was at uni and then after that, I sort of started to paint for myself, and then some friends and family were interested in purchasing it and, you know, there's sort of like, this fine line between, you know, are they friends and family that are just kind of wanting to make me feel good? You know, could this actually stand up to the test of time? 

And so, it was probably around 2017 where I decided to... I was living in Brisbane and I decided to move back to Cairns, move back in with my mum and dad because we have an art studio at the back of our house and actually had a stall at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair and sold my works, which I guess was the first time in terms of a commercial opportunity where the public are pretty brutal in terms of giving you, like, honest feedback, and so, when people bought my work or, you know, just having conversations with people and, you know, people are engaging with it, they're interested – that was kind of where that sort of provided the motivation for me to kind of continue that. 

So, I had my business and was like, okay, I do graphic design, so maybe I could try and figure out a way to digitise my artwork, and that was kind of really early on in the piece, and now, you know, graphic design and digital artwork is such a core part of most people's businesses and definitely mine, and so, yeah, that's sort of where it slowly was…it's a bit of a slow burn, and throughout that, always had to have another sort of job to kind of supplement my art business.

And then over the years, it became more of a full-time passion, and now here we are. So, yeah, it's definitely grown, and now I have a lot of work to keep me busy in a whole range of different areas, which is great.

Rebecca Archer

And I wonder if you might have some tips for finding confidence and maybe building some business skills. For those people who are thinking of potentially starting their own business but just aren't sure how to make that first step...

Jedess Hudson 

Oh, there's so many different things, and I think along the way, like, I've, I've really gravitated towards people who have offered to be mentors to me throughout business and who have mentored me personally, and that has been really invaluable in order to building my confidence up to be able to thrive personally and professionally. 

I think, you know, we're all teachers for life. You know, we're, you know, we're always learning about different things and, you know, we're able to sign up to, you know, do a Cert IV or do a Cert III in something, or do an online course. There's so many things that are available out there and really for quite inexpensive things. You know, I think maybe five years ago, there was stuff that was really quite expensive and unattainable for people to kind of start learning about business or even just specific things that they can kind of, you know, hone down and try and find what they're really passionate about, but, you know, nowadays, there's, we're inundated with learning resources and educational things online, and so I think it's really about trying to find the motivation within your yourself to take anything that you can learn and be able to kind of cherry pick a whole range of different things and be able to kind of put that into practice with whatever you're passionate about and really, you know, have a crack and, you know, knowing that if you do fail, at least you know that you tried.

Rebecca Archer 

And did you have a transition sort of period where maybe you were having to do some other work that wasn't necessarily related to your business now, while you were kind of finding your feet?

Jedess Hudson 

Oh, definitely. Yeah, I first started my business in 2014, and so who I was and what my business was ten years ago is completely different, but also because the landscape of business and the world has changed so drastically, and so you've had to kind of learn and adapt and be quite versatile in the way that you approach things in life, because if you aren't constantly changing, then you're getting left behind, and that's the unfortunate reality of it, but from 2014, I've worked many different jobs. 

I've worked in local radio at our local Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander radio station here, Bumma Bippera Media, as a radio host and a producer for National Talk Black, which is an amazing experience and a great community, and I still do a lot of work with them today. I've worked at Queensland Health, working in the Aboriginal and Torres Islander Health Unit in health equity and a whole range of different casual jobs, working in event management, freelancing, and so all of those different times, and obviously the reality of all of that stuff, like, I needed to get married, and I need to buy a house, and so the financial demands of the want and the desire to pursue your passion in a creative world sometimes isn't realistic, and that's just sort of, you know, unfortunately, that has to take a bit of a backseat. 

But while that's kind of bubbling away, you know, your full-time job is occupied with a 9-5 job, and, you know, I come home and then I'm working at nighttime, I'm working on weekends, and it's a bit of a social sacrifice, you know, where you don't see friends and family much because you know that there's a bigger future ahead for you, and yeah, so it was probably in around 2020 that I took the leap and finished my full time jobs and just threw myself in the deep end into what I'm doing now, and I haven't looked back.

Rebecca Archer

You draw a lot on home and elements of the land, seasons, flora, fauna for your work. Where else do you find inspiration, and can you talk a little bit about those elements that inspire you and that appear in your artwork?

Jedess Hudson

Nature and land, I guess, are my biggest inspirations, but I also find inspiration in my personal experiences and the stories that I've experienced growing up, and I think that's sort of been a little bit of the point of difference in terms of how I do some of my artwork is people can resonate with that and they can look at the cultural element of that, but they can also see that personal growth and how that can appeal to them as a person reading that story, and I think that's really special, and I think for me, painting over these years has been quite a cathartic process and that I use to heal myself and my own personal intergenerational experiences. 

And so, I think people are able to feel that as well when it is a genuine process that's actually coming through. And then obviously, you know, we've got my family's history, especially our connection to country, and the stories of resilience and survival, you know, is a deep influence in my work, and, you know, I've gained a lot of insight in doing deep dives into having cups of tea with friends and family and, you know, hearing stories and the struggles of, you know, our people and also the joys as well that we've experienced over many years, and I think all of that combined has kind of, you know, really grounded me but also motivated me in the things that I've been doing and communicating.

Rebecca Archer

And in terms of having an artist's eye, when you're out and about in the world and you spot something, do you sometimes have that moment where you go, I actually would really love to see how that turns out in a painting, or I would love to create something based on that imagery. How does it work for people who aren't maybe artistically minded?

Jedess Hudson 

Yeah, I think that's the thing as well, is like, for artists is that we're constantly finding inspiration from so many different places, and sometimes that is with other artists and seeing their creative process and being like, huh, I wonder if I could somehow adapt that into my own way or just even through nature, you know, looking at, you know, looking at leaves and the different things and then trying to find different ways that are quite, you know, like, you can kind of make that quite big or just searching the Internet, being on Pinterest, looking at fashion. Like, I really love fashion as well. So, looking at, you know, how patterns are created, because I love the way that people create fabric and techniques and things like that. 

So, it's almost like, for me, I never actually know what I'm going to look at that's going to inspire something creative. It could just be looking at the makeup of a rock, you know, and seeing how the patterns and shapes kind of blend with one another. That could actually inspire the pattern on a painting, you know? And it's sort of like the creative process can't really be narrowed down into something that starts from a-b-c, and, you know, is that kind of process every single time, which is actually quite annoying, really, when you think about it, because it's like you never really know where inspiration is going to kind of hit, and you kind of have to roll with that, but it can be frustrating, but it can also be – if you allow that process to kind of be a free flowing thing – things can kind of come to you yet all the time.

Rebecca Archer

And how do you manage things when… what are the strategies that you might turn to when you maybe run into a bit of a block with your creative process? Are there any tips that you've got or techniques that you go through to sort of get things back on track and flowing more freely again?

Jedess Hudson

Creative blocks, especially in this business, is always probably the bane of your existence and quite frustrating, especially when you've got deadlines and things that you need to kind of work through. It's like, I don't have time for this, you know, but I've learned to try and be quite patient with myself because I think at the end of the day, I will make it. 

Like, I will get to the deadline, and we will get to where we need to go. It's just the process on how we actually kind of get there sort of changes all the time, but I think changing my environment helps. I really like to listen to quiet, deep, focused music. I like to put on essential oils and light a candle and make sure my space is really kind of set for the optimal creative process. Fortunately, my house actually backs onto a bit of rainforest and park – sorry to make you jealous – but, you know, if I ever feel like I'm getting a little bit stuck or anything, I'll usually take my dog Sissy and, you know, we'll have a bit of a walk down the park and just kind of start to be amongst nature and just, yeah, try not to be too hard on yourself, and sometimes there are those days where you can kind of get back into the zone and you can, you know, get back on track, and then there are other times where it's just like, all right, let's just pack it up and call it a day and we'll start again tomorrow.

Rebecca Archer

And do you think that's a good thing to do? Sort of if it is just becoming all too much and you feel like I'm not getting anywhere, is the best option to just take a break and then come back to it another time?

Jedess Hudson

Definitely, because I think once you've hit that phase where nothing's coming, you kind of need to be quite intuitive to know, okay, I'm really pushing something up a hill that's not actually going to get me any further, and so, it's better to just completely shut off and go and do something irrelevant, go and fold some washing and, you know, just come back to it another day and it'll come back to you.

Rebecca Archer 

Is there anyone that you talk to during times like that…or do you just sort of…is it quite a solitary process that you just work it out? Or do you, can you ring someone or go and have a cuppa with someone and say, oh, I'm just really stuck at the moment and I'm not able to get past that block?

Jedess Hudson

Oh, yeah, there's probably a few people I could call and whinge to, but I think because my job, when you work for yourself, is quite an independent process, it's sort of knowing that the responsibility of you getting yourself out of a rut over the years, you've kind of learned to try and figure out. It's a lot of responsibility, really, when you think about it. 

I'm also an only child, so I also think I have learned some tools over the years on how to kind of really adapt and overcome some of those personal, creative struggles. So, yeah, kind of just getting out of your own head and just kind of finding different tools, whether it's listening to music, taking a walk, you know, doing a bit of a walking meditation, or trying to find some different ways to kind of get you out of that funk, and recharge, definitely.

Rebecca Archer

Now, Grant Thornton has recently moved into its new Sydney office, and your artwork is going to be a standout feature there as part of our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan. Can you share how you approached creating this particular piece?

Jedess Hudson 

So, the Grant Thornton team, who are part of the Reconciliation Action Plan Committee, had an initial consultation with me a few months ago where I kind of just gave the team a bit of an overview of my collaborative and creative process, and from then, we have been working on the design and the story for the past couple of months, just kind of unpacking it all and seeing where it could kind of go. 

In these consultations. As much as the final work, I guess, is important, the story is also really integral to make sure it accompanies it really well and resonates with every single person reading it, and so I want to make sure that, you know, it's emotive, it's inspiring, it's inclusive, and that different levels of the organisation who are part of that fabric feel like they're seen within that work, and sometimes this can be quite a challenging process because I'm always asking people to, like, go a little bit deeper, you know, but the end result is really goal, that we start to communicate, and, and I think that's ultimately for the client's benefit, but also for me as well so that the work that we are creating together is genuine and authentic, and those are part of my core brand values and my gauge on, I guess, developing meaningful relationships that is then translated through my work. 

So, yeah, and because we've done a digital aspect and then we're also creating an original piece of artwork, the piece that we have kind of, that, I guess, has come out of all of this sort of process is actually really, it's really beautiful, and I can't – I hopefully one day will get to see it hung up in the stunning office that has been created, but the work is one of my favourites.

Rebecca Archer 

And how do you get to that point? So when you are approached to do something like this, do you have a little checklist that you need to go through in terms of really getting to the heart of what you need from the person who is commissioning a piece from you to make sure that you're on the same page? Because I imagine that would be really challenging when it comes to something as potentially abstract as an idea of art.

Jedess Hudson 

Yeah, and it's sort of a little bit challenging. Like corporate work has kind of become a part of my core business and somehow I just found myself in this avenue and it's sort of hard because the corporate world and what you're wanting to create is sometimes very different, like how we're kind of creating that through Aboriginal artwork. 

So, it's trying to find, you know, again, the storytelling components, peeling off those layers and making sure that what I'm painting and what I'm drawing is actually something that you guys resonate with as well, and sometimes it's very, it's very polar sometimes the clients that I sort of work with, but underneath it all, there are always things that we can kind of resonate with, you know, whether that's healing, whether that's communication, uniting, you know, reconciling. 

You know, there's so many overarching things that kind of come back into play, and so it's not until you start shaping them for people that we, you know, we all, we always come back to the drawing board and we always find something that people can kind of be like – yes, that's it.

Rebecca Archer

How long does the process take? Or is that something that really very much depends on what it is that you're creating?

Jedess Hudson 

Sometimes the deadline creates that, or me, I think because I've worked, I've been doing this for a little while. For me, the story component is something that I kind of need to work out first with the client to make sure that these are the core components. Like, are we focusing on, you know, connecting your offices nationally, around the country or, you know, maybe it's not that. I have to kind of know what the general consensus is of the story so that when I'm drawing it, it's going to match that process as well and that it comes together, that it's not this isolated thing that I've created. That is a pretty picture, but when you guys look at it, it's like I don't see myself in that. I don't resonate with that. So, it's kind of trying to bring these two worlds together, this western and sort of traditional ways of thinking, and that is sort of the art of that process.

Rebecca Archer 

Do you have any projects that you would want to talk about that have been particular career highlights?

Jedess Hudson

Yeah, I mean, there's a few highlights, I think are probably my most recent collaboration with Yindi Indigenous office manufacturing, where my artwork was featured on Australian office furniture, and now it's in Officeworks. So that's been a pretty interesting process, but very, you know, rewarding, and so, to see that international brand has been pretty incredible to kind of see and to see where that kind of, you know, takes off next, and last year I won Cairns Indigenous Business Woman of the year, which was very unexpected but quite flattering, really, thank you. And I guess really just in general, like being, you know… sustaining a creative business and supporting myself full time in this current climate seems to be quite an achievement in itself.

Rebecca Archer 

How do you determine the kinds of projects that you will accept when you're approached? What are the sort of things that you look for in terms of it being compatible and something that you really want to be a part of?

Jedess Hudson 

There's always a bit of a process that I kind of go through. 

So, people can approach me to do different work. I guess it's sort of being able to have an initial conversation and being able to kind of vet them, to be able to see whether it is a genuine and authentic partnership. If it's just something that people want to kind of tick a box and throw some money at, I probably have to kind of make a conscious decision, you know, do I really want my brand to be aligned with that? Is that something that I'm proud of? And if other people found out about that, what would they think of me? And because I think there's a lot of responsibility, I guess, within the community to not be taking financial compensation for work that isn't actually true and genuine, and I guess maybe other people don't have that. But I think in this sort of world, we have to be kind of conscious about that, and so I guess we always kind of have to have that kind of gauge on is this something that's actually meaningful? And if not, you know, I can always have that conversation with mum and dad and be like, what do you guys think about this? You know, and they'll also probably give me some feedback, but usually deep down, I'll know whether it's something that I should be, you know, pursuing or not.

Rebecca Archer 

And what can you tell me about your involvement with Supercars Indigenous round?

Jedess Hudson

Yes. I guess that's another career highlight that I've been involved in the V8 Supercars for, I think, probably the last four years for a range of different teams, and I've got a friend who sort of works in that world and she sort of ropes me in every single year to do that for the Darwin Indigenous round, and, yeah, it's an interesting process. I never really thought I would be involved in Supercars because I'm not a Supercars person, but it's such an interesting world, ut being able to kind of have that, again, national exposure where, you know, your name and your profile and your artwork gets to be put and displayed on a vehicle in, you know, two ways, is kind of, yeah, quite interesting, and have media and PR and stuff involved in it is just kind of another different avenue where it's like people are so confused where they're going to see my artwork next. 

Like, it's on chairs, it's on Supercars, it's on buses, you know, it's like, yeah, I'm going to keep surprising you, you know, keep people on their toes, so, yeah, that's always the way.

Rebecca Archer 

And are you working on anything particularly exciting at the moment that you're able to talk about or hint about, give us hints about?

Jedess Hudson

I'm actually creating a textile business at the moment, so it's called The Dreamweave Collective. So, it's something that I've wanted to do for a while, and I guess my collaboration with Yindi office furniture has been something that I guess, sparked that. I did that last year through fashion, where I went to Darwin and we did Country to Couture and also for Cairns indigenous art fair as well. 

We did some fashion stuff there as well, so we're getting some samples at the moment, but I guess that's sort of the next main focus that I'm going to hopefully be pursuing, and it's just another, you know, it's just another avenue, really, in the creative process.

Rebecca Archer 

And just finally, I wonder if you would mind sharing the most remarkable advice that you've ever received? It can be in the business sphere, it can be in your personal life. What's something that really stays with you in terms of advice you've been given?

Jedess Hudson

Oh, what a fun one! I would probably say, you know, my parents often say a lot, you know, stay grounded in who you are, but don't be afraid to grow, ans I think it just reminds us to, you know, how important it is to honor our roots in our community, but to never be afraid to embrace change, and I think as a person and also in business, I think that's, you know, something that we should all kind of take a leaf out of.

Rebecca Archer 

Jedess, it's been such a pleasure to speak to you today. I wonder, for people who are interested in following your journey, seeing what you're doing next, what's the best way for them to find you?

Jedess Hudson 

So, you can follow me on Instagram and Facebook; you can find me @Jedesshudson and I always try and share my latest works or some of the different things that have been popping up from projects. I also updated things on my website, which is jedesshudson.com.au, or you can find me on LinkedIn for some of more of my professional insights, I guess you could say. So, yeah, follow along and see what happens next.

Rebecca Archer 

If you enjoyed this podcast and want to hear more incredible stories, be sure to follow and subscribe to The Remarkables podcast by Grant Thornton Australia on Apple podcasts or Spotify. We'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions for future guests. I'm Rebecca Archer, thanks for tuning in.