Julie Martin

**Artist Statement**

Throughout my journey as an artist, I have come to recognize the limitations of an overly intellectualized approach to art—one that often diminishes the emotional and spiritual dimensions of our being. Over time, I found myself drawn to creating work that simply speaks to me, independent of its intellectual merit. After all, no theory or analysis can surpass the sheer beauty of a peony in bloom or the majesty of a river cascading through a mountain landscape.

Yet, intellect is not abandoned, for is God not the creator of intellect itself? Nature, in all its wonder, is imbued with geometry, chemistry, and unseen laws beyond our comprehension. My early flower paintings focused on close-ups of petals and leaves, capturing the elegant lines and rhythms found in nature. This attention to form and movement aligns with my deep appreciation for the refinement of calligraphy and design—an influence I see echoed in the natural world time and again.

My work often shifts between the minimal and the extravagant, embracing both restraint and expressive detail. I do not seek to contain this dynamic tension; rather, I allow it to unfold organically, much like the natural world itself. Whether through delicate precisio...

MFA, Vermont College Montepelier, Vermont

Julie Martin Gallery. Greenville, South Carolina. Ongoing Solo Exhibitions 2013 - present

'Artist of the Week', June 2017 on 'Arylic Painting', a Facebook site with over 60k members.

Lake Oswego Invitational, 2015. An 'invitation only' event of artists who exhibited in Lake Oswego's 'Gallery Without Walls' events over the years.

Illustrator for 'The Latter Rain' books by David Nix. This work included several sculptural wall reliefs depicting parables/ stories from the books. 2007 - present. This is an ongoing project that has recently included paintings.

The list of exhibitions I've been in and awards I've received is five pages long. Please contact me for the complete list.