For artist Jai Vasicek, a lifelong connection to the ocean, travel and tropical landscapes sits at the heart of his creative practice.

Having spent his first 15 years growing up aboard a sailing yacht, Jai's childhood was shaped by faraway islands, sun-drenched coastlines and life at sea.

His latest collection draws on memories of tropical ports, where weathered paint, seaweed, salt-worn surfaces and sun-bleached objects create unexpected combinations of colour and texture.

Layered, expressive and full of character, the works celebrate the imperfect beauty of tropical life, capturing colour, memory and the natural elements.

What does a typical day in the studio look like for you?

I like to begin my time in the studio with a little ritual. I’ll burn incense, put on music and take a moment to acknowledge the space before I start creating.

For me, preparing the environment is just as important as the painting itself. It’s about creating a sense of balance and setting the energy of the space. There’s something quite sacred about that process, almost like tending to something special. It allows me to settle into the moment and let the creative process unfold naturally.

Where do you find most of your creative inspiration?

Nature is definitely the backbone of my work. I see nature as energy, something that’s constantly moving, changing and surrounding us. I’m particularly drawn to colour and the incredible combinations that exist naturally in the world.

A lot of my creative process feels quite channelled. I don’t always know what I’m going to create when I begin. It’s very intuitive and happens in the moment.

I love that sense of not knowing, of allowing something to emerge rather than trying to control it. There’s a certain magic in watching everything come together.

Your work is full of colour, texture and layers. What draws you to these elements?

I’ve always been fascinated by colour and texture, particularly the way nature and time can transform a surface.

One of my paintings was actually inspired by the underside of a boat. Having grown up around boats, I’ve always been drawn to the incredible textures created by layers of antifouling paint that have been weathered and corroded by the ocean, with barnacles attaching themselves to the surface and new layers of paint being applied over time.

There’s something so beautiful about that history being embedded in the surface, with different colours and textures revealing themselves through the layers.

I try to recreate that feeling in my own work. I’ll apply paint, leave it to dry for days, then sand it back before adding another layer. Sometimes I’ll repeat this process multiple times, allowing the colours and textures underneath to gradually reveal themselves.

I love that each layer holds a little history of the painting. It’s a slow, intuitive process, and there’s something really beautiful about allowing the surface to evolve over time.

Is there a place you've travelled to that has stayed with you creatively?

The Pacific Islands have always been a huge source of inspiration for me, particularly their extraordinary natural colours and tropical landscapes.

I’m fascinated by the colours found in tropical plants and fruit, the way lush greens merge into deep purples, or the incredible contrast of a banana flower with its rich purple tones and bright yellow details.

I also love hibiscus flowers, particularly the way their bold red centres transition into softer purples towards the outer petals.

Nature creates these incredible colour combinations that I find endlessly inspiring. There’s such a richness and vibrancy to the tropics that naturally finds its way into my work.

What inspired Tropicali, and what story did you want to tell through the collection?

Tropicali feels like a return to my roots.

I grew up in North Queensland, spending much of my childhood living on a boat and surrounded by tropical islands. The ocean, the lush landscapes, the colours and the atmosphere of the tropics were such a significant part of my upbringing.

In many ways, the tropics have always felt like home to me.

When I began exploring the concept for Tropicali, there was an immediate sense of connection. It felt like a natural alignment between my childhood experiences and the visual language I’ve developed as an artist.

The collection is really a celebration of that connection, the richness of tropical colour, the energy of nature and the feeling of being somewhere that resonates deeply within you.

It’s both nostalgic and joyful, a reflection of the places and experiences that have shaped who I am.

What's something people might be surprised to learn about your creative process?

Probably that I don’t really plan my paintings!

My process is incredibly intuitive. I rarely begin with a clear idea of what the finished piece will look like. Instead, I allow the painting to evolve naturally, responding to what’s happening on the canvas in the moment.

I also don’t really believe in accidents when it comes to painting. I feel that anything unexpected that happens is somehow meant to be part of the process.

Sometimes those unexpected moments become the most interesting elements of a piece.

I think there’s something beautiful about trusting the process and allowing the work to become what it’s meant to be.