Julie studied Fine Art painting at the University of Reading 1980-84 where she was taught by Mali Morris, Albert Irwin and Terry Frost. Influenced by the energy in their abstract expressionist work, Julie has used this feeling in her landscapes where delicacy is combined with energy. The landscapes are usually occupied by a mysterious figure.
My working process includes painting plein air, using numerous sketchbooks and then working on my paintings in the studio. I enjoy the excitement and immediacy of working outside, especially working loosely with paint. I often sit on the beach painting the landscape and the people walking in the distance or standing at the waters edge. The paintings are all completed in the studio where I might look at the sketchbooks as a reminder, but I will usually work from memory in order to capture the feeling of the landscape and the people I have seen. The work I make gives an alternative view of reality, where subtle layers of paint and texture give a depth to each piece. Though a figure, bird or leaf may appear in a painting, their is a deeper message of beauty and sensitivity. Each piece is made as part of a series, working on heavy watercolour paper. As I paint with watercolour and acrylic, I push the boundaries of the medium. When I work there is constant reference to nature and a desire to reach the heart of the matter.
I have been inspired and influenced by many artists, most notably Klee, Turner, Rothko, Giacometti and the ancient frescoes that I have studied on my travels to Italy and Greece, where fragments of images can be seen. I moved back to the sea in 2014 and feel at home here, where I resonate with the light, the ever changing skies and living on the edge.
Julie Collins 2018
My working process includes painting plein air, using numerous sketchbooks and then working on my paintings in the studio. I enjoy the excitement and immediacy of working outside, especially working loosely with paint. I often sit on the beach painting the landscape and the people walking in the distance or standing at the waters edge. The paintings are all completed in the studio where I might look at the sketchbooks as a reminder, but I will usually work from memory in order to capture the feeling of the landscape and the people I have seen. The work I make gives an alternative view of reality, where subtle layers of paint and texture give a depth to each piece. Though a figure, bird or leaf may appear in a painting, their is a deeper message of beauty and sensitivity. Each piece is made as part of a series, working on heavy watercolour paper. As I paint with watercolour and acrylic, I push the boundaries of the medium. When I work there is constant reference to nature and a desire to reach the heart of the matter.
I have been inspired and influenced by many artists, most notably Klee, Turner, Rothko, Giacometti and the ancient frescoes that I have studied on my travels to Italy and Greece, where fragments of images can be seen. I moved back to the sea in 2014 and feel at home here, where I resonate with the light, the ever changing skies and living on the edge.
Julie Collins 2018
