Picture of the Outside of the studios

Here is a picture of the exterior of the studios, from our invitation.

More Open Studio images

The 2 weekends went really well. I sold a few small paintings and lots of my artist book postcard sets titled "Have A Nice Day" and some prints of the big paintings. But the really valuable part was that I got loads of enthusiastic response and encouragement. I was working a bit in isolation and hadn't known what anyone thought of the work. I now feel reassured that I am going in the right direction.

More about the Open Studios

The first weekend was cold but the second weekend was rainy!

Open Studios at the Chocolate Factory

The Open Studios at the Chocolate Factory where I have my studio was 25-27 Nov. and 3-4 Dec. Here are some pictures from the Private View on Friday, and the two weekends.

Hackney Mile of Art Oct. 1, 2005

Here is a photo of my display at the Hackney Mile of Art this year. It attempted to be a full mile of fine art stalls extending north and south through Broadway Market, but it may not have quite made it. I think they published that it was on Oct. 2 so that may have been part of the problem! They are hoping it will be a new annual London art event.
I had 5 of my big 40x40 inch paintings, 2 50x50cm ones on easels and a lot of the little 12x16in ones.
It was quite cold and so we suffered a bit. I got a lot of positive feedback from the passersby, though. The kids especially loved the work. They wanted to tell their parents which one they liked the best and they all loved the bright colours. A few wanted to say what they thought the work meant and one little kid even said that it wasn't supposed to look like anything, it was art - you were just supposed to look at it and think about it! I loved that!
Thanks to H for freezing with me for the art!
Julie

Artist Statement

BFA in Sculpture and Printmaking at University of Austin, Texas.

MA in Bookarts at Camberwell College, University of the Arts London, UK.

I work with visual and written language. I am in love with metaphor, colour and texture. My paintings and artists' books are 3-dimensional so I still consider myself a sculptor. Making art allows me the freedom to be emotional and is my way of being in the world.

I enthusiastically question everything. I look at contemporary society and timeless emotions. I am interested. I feel both innocent and experienced. My work is sometimes emotional, sometimes conceptual and sometimes about colour and form, but it is always about what I think it means to be human, how I see the world.

This makes for a wide variety of work. The medium and materials are a necessary part of each piece. Some things must be painted and some things must be performed. If my work follows any kind of pattern, the pattern must include my belief that making art is a gift - the artist is giving a piece of him or herself to the world.