I am excited to have finished mixed media painting, Regeneration 3, I started working on in the Acrylic Explorations class in the fall! 

It will be shown for the first time at the Nina Haggerty Gallery, 9225 118 Ave NW,

during the Deep Freeze Festival January 21-22, 2023 12-6 pm 

Buiding a Textured Painting:

I blocked in the colors and used it to demonstrate texture building 

I added the trunk in handmade paper, eggshells create the texture of the burls and for the ground cover of pine needles I used saw dust and sand. I painted over the textures.

After adding the ink lines to the bark of the tree, I added more handmade paper for some 3D effect of the ferns and branches coming out of the burls.

I have painted this particular scene several times, each time is a little different. Here is one: Redemption-New Life Another one was part of the Waiting series that was shown at the Glenrose with this poem/ meditation.

You can see the painting this weekend at the Nina Haggerty Gallery during the Deep Freeze festival. I will be there in the building at the Artisan Market. If you come to the festival, be sure to stop by for a visit!

Birds and Flowers Art Show

Artist: Julie Drew

October 25, 2018 - Jan 2, 2019

Reception: Nov 20, 2018
2 - 6pm

Location: Blue Curve Gallery
Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital 
10230 111 Ave NW, Edmonton AB

I love flowers and birds there is something that is so joyful of the beauty of flowers and the singing, the soaring and the delight I find in watching birds. When I walk in the great outdoors, it is like a treasure hunt to see what I can find. I am thrilled when I find something that really catches my eye and my heart. I take a photo reference or sketch it right away.

Flowers come in so many shapes and colors. I seek to capture the details and essence of the flowers. Birds have a character all their own. I particularly like the ones I do not see every day, like the egret, eagle and osprey. These birds and flowers speak to me of God’s beautiful creation.

Waiting

Sept 27, 2019 -Jan 2, 2020

Art on the Inside gallery, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital

10230 111 Ave, Edmonton (basement level outside the cafeteria)

Waiting 
     - Just being present

Waiting
     - With anticipation, expectantly
What are you looking forward to?

Waiting 
      - For clarity, direction and inspiration

Waiting
     - For redemption… and transformation

Waiting
     - For Spring, new life, hope

Waiting
     - For rebirth, regeneration, new growth

Waiting
     Is about letting go and trusting the process

but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31

The Art Walk went well. It is so fun to share and talk about my artwork with everyone who comes by. I worked on a painting of Tangle Falls that I had started as a demo. 6 paintings are now adorning new homes.

Here is the Tangle Falls I was working on:

Another surprise was the visitor I had during the last day of the Whyte Avenue Art Walk. At 11 am, I was talking with someone, and they commented on the realistic dragonfly on one of my paintings. Surprised, I looked and there sat a dragonfly taking a rest. It stayed there resting in a camouflaged way all day until we packed the art away at 5 pm.

Do you know the title of the painting it rested on all day? Season of Rest. (It still makes me laugh!)

I am excited! I took 19 paintings today to have them set up in an art show at The Carrot Community Coffeehouse for the month of August. Woohoo!

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted to move up my art show from November to August. On that short notice, I pulled together waterfalls and rivers that I had available and titled it “Let the Rivers Flow.” I put four of them into frames and the rest were ready to go.

Let the Rivers Flow,  August 2-27, 2022

As the rivers flow, and cascade on their downward path, spilling over rocks and making their own paths, they bring life with them to nourish the thirsty world.

I enjoy painting water, it’s movement and flow. It is peaceful to sit and take in the beauty of a river or waterfall, but to go further and capture the moment with paint is delightful. I experimented with different painting methods for capturing the water scenes: watercolor, acrylic, oil, combining ink and watercolor, and using handmade paper for texture in some of the paintings.

This series includes 19 paintings of waterfalls and rivers in Alberta, Oregon, Croatia, Iceland and Norway.

Opening Reception
7-8pm on August 4, 2022
The Carrot Community Coffeehouse
9351 118 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5G 0N3

Let the Rivers Flow Art Show will be up from August 2- 27, 2022
The Carrot Hours: Tues.-Fri. 9am to 8 pm; Sat. 9am to 10 pm. (closed Sun. and Mon.)

Part of the fun of teaching is watching the creativity start to flow. We have finished 5 out 8 classes. The students are getting comfortable with the medium and trying some ideas of their own. (After the initial classes, I have added more of the final images for some of the student paintings. I didn't remember to take photos at each class.)

In the acrylics class, we did some fun textures of adding eggshells, sand and sawdust to provide texture to the paintings. One of the students went home and added lentils and semolina to his painting. I didn’t get a picture of that one, but here are a few others:

I brought some collage scraps of my handmade paper to the class and showed them possibilities with a couple of my own pieces.

Their ideas started flowing and they started in on creating. Their works in progress were fun to see here.

We started the process of transfers. I brought an option of my own ink drawings photocopied for the class to use. I look forward to next class and the new possibilities the students will try. The flamingo and trio of rocks are my quick samples from my ink drawings. One student was ready with her image of a polar bear which turned out great.

Some of the other projects in class:

Monochomatic painting

Experimenting with techniques: Textured backgrounds, sponging, pointilism

We did some work with Perspective in our last class:

Registration for all the classes are on the movelearnplay.Edmonton.ca website then click>registered programs>arts programs>adult programs> art programs then the classes are alphabetical. I put the class code with each class that may work in the search. ALTERNATIVELY,  you can call 311 to register. There are similar class titles by other instructors. Check the time and instructor information as well. 

Classes in July

 Acrylics 1 & 2 - Class Code: 708167

(4 sessions) 
Mondays and Wednesdays  July 11 - July 20, 2022 (this class was postponed a week to get more students, new date starts July 11. The registration page still has it as July 4 with an alert to the new date.)
6:30-9:30 pm

Location: City Arts Centre: 10943 83 Ave NW, Edmonton

cost $85 

Acrylic Class Supply list

Quick drying time and multiple textures make acrylics a great choice for beginners and intermediates. In this weekly course learn painting basics such as composition, colour, and numerous painting techniques. Talented artists and painters will guide you through various subject matter such as still life, portraits & figures, landscapes, and much more in this inspiring and engaging weekly course. Have the opportunity to learn a wealth of knowledge and express your personal creativity.

Students can expect material costs to be between $100-$200. Materials are not included; a supply list will be provided closer to the program start date.

Sketching Botanicals at the Muttart Conservatory - Class Code: 708184

Wednesday July 27, 2022
5:30-8:30 pm

Location: Muttart Conservatory

cost $55 ALL SUPPLIES INCLUDED

Capture the beauty and essence of flowers and plants with a sketchbook and drawing tools in hand while at the Muttart Conservatory. Through hands-on demonstrations you will learn to draw petals, leaves, and backgrounds using a variety of sketching techniques. Artist Julie Drew will teach you that it is much different to draw from life than just using photos, what our eyes can see is so much more than a photo can capture. Experience an evening full of seeing and sketching the botanical beauty around you while learning important drawing skills and techniques..

Classes in August

Pouring Watercolor - Class Code: 708188

(3 sessions) Tues- Thurs, Aug 2-4, 2022
9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Location: City Arts Centre: 10943 83 Ave NW, Edmonton

cost $85 ALL MATERIALS  INCLUDED

Take your watercolor to new levels with pouring watercolours and working with layers. Explore the techniques of watercolor in new ways using the natural world as inspiration. During this 7 week program with artist Julie Drew you will learn a vast range of watercolour skills such as: masking, pouring, working with layers and salt, painting in details, composition, and working with the results – listening to the painting. This course is perfect for those who are starting out with watercolours or are looking for an expressive technique or for those with previous painting experience looking for a new style and inspiration

Acrylic Painting Explorations- Class Code: 708166 

(5 sessions) See what other classes have done here
August  8-12  (Mon-Fri) 
1-4 pm

Location: City Arts Centre: 10943 83 Ave NW, Edmonton

cost $142.50  ALL MATERIALS  INCLUDED

Explore the possibilities with acrylic paint with artist Julie Drew. To begin, gain knowledge in paint and colour by learning about colour mixing and themes. After getting used to brushwork and paint handling, then experiment with adding textures and inclusions: eggshells, sand, and collage elements such as handmade papers and transfer techniques. Make your own creative choices and explore your imagination using acrylic paint. Have the chance to develop your skills as you further your own style and preferences as you explore acrylic paintings with subject matter that inspires you and sparks your creativity.

River Valley Drawing in Plein Air - Class Code: 708186 

4 sessions (Mon-Thurs) Aug - 8-11, 2022
6:30-9:30pm

Location: Yorath House, Lilac Room  13110 Buena Vista Rd NW, Edmonton, AB

cost $92  Materials are not included; a supply list will be provided closer to the program start date.

Enjoy the outdoors with a sketchbook and drawing tools in hand. Spend the evening for 4 days straight in the River Valley at the scenic Yorath House sketching en plein air (in the open air). Artist Julie Drew will teach you that it is much different to draw from life than just using photos, what our eyes can see is so much more than a photo can capture. Experience four evenings full of seeing and sketching the scenes around you while learning important drawing skills and techniques.

Painting Botanicals: Watercolor workshop - Class Code: 709331 

Monday, Aug 15, 2022
6:30-9:30 pm

Location: City Arts Centre: 10943 83 Ave NW, Edmonton

cost $55  ALL MATERIALS  INCLUDED (Class is FULL)

Capture the beauty and translucence of flowers in watercolours during this evening workshop. Through hands-on demonstrations from artist Julie Drew, learn to paint petals, leaves, and backgrounds using a variety of painting techniques. Be guided through several techniques, colour suggestions, and basic composition strategies as you come away with the know-how to continue painting flowers with watercolours.