I finished a few paintings during the Art retreat in Italy. The dispaly above is from our final night in Montelparo when the Governor came to our little exhibition from the week!

This painting will be gracing the wall at Hotel Leone.

I let the Italian landsape inspire the start of a few new paintings as I traveled around Italy. Stay tuned for more to come.

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

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.)

Empty Nest, Winter of my Soul

Changes.  
New things come, old things pass.  
It is hard to let go. 
It is hard to say good-bye to what was,
Treasured moments; the good, the bad
Yet 
letting  go is part of living.
It is part of loving.
There will be new beginnings;
New memories;
New changes.
Such is the circle or spiral we live in.
We cannot hold on to the present.
It must fly
Away.
And the empty nest
is the memory we have left.

Painting: Empty Nest

Art Vocabulary of the Soul Retreat

Connecting with God Through the Arts

Oct 28-30, 2016

Time : Friday, 6:00 pm to  Sunday, 3 pm

July 23, 2016  What a fun Plein Air Painting Day we had!

If you would be interested in taking part in a workshop next spring and summer contact Julie (at the bottom of the biography page).

Here are some photos from the day:

Northern Lights in Watercolor  Workshop  Register at Paintspot.ca

Nov 13
10 am - 4 pm.

$80

Capture the beauty and movement of the Northern Lights using watercolor in this step-by-step workshop. These simple landscapes can be done by beginner to advanced students.
Learn to:

• work with pouring and wet into wet to create movement in a night sky
• mix colors to create the night scene
• use photo references and imagination to sketch out ideas for painting the landscape
• combine different watercolor techniques to achieve the elements in the landscape

Supply List for Workshop:

Watercolors: tube paint 

• Dioxazine purple or Deep, dark purple
• Alizarin crimson
• Phthalo blue
• Lemon yellow
• Permanent Green

Palette for watercolor
Arches 140 lb cold press full sheet, tear into quarters
Painting boards (tape on watercolor paper) heavy cardboard or Masonite are good options
Green painter’s tape
Container for water Brushes

• 1 in flat brush
•  Rigger brush
• Small Round brush
• Assorted other brushes

Rag/ paper towel
Masking fluid
Old toothbrush
Salt
Sea sponge
Cling wrap
Pencil and eraser
(optional – permanent ink pen with fine tip)
Small sketchbook
Photo references (optional): northern lights, landscapes in the dark
Apron
Lunch, water bottle

Registration for all the classes below are on the movelearnplay.Edmonton.ca website then click>registered programs>arts programs>adult programs> ***painting classes are now under Painting Classes and drawing classes (zoo classes) are separate under Drawing and Mixed media art programs.

The classes are listed by date they begin. 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 May

Drawing and Painting Landscapes and Interiors at the John Walter Museum: Class Code #768870

 4 Sundays, May 24 - June 14, 2026 

 2-5 pm

cost: $108

John Walter Museum: 1901 (3rd) House (possible field trip options to 2nd and 1st houses) 9180 Walterdale Hill NW

With the opportunity to be indoors or outdors we will explore drawing and painting landsacpes and Interiors of the John Walter Museum houses. We will work in watercolours and pencil drawings. Part of the class will be to strengthen your drawing and observation skills of the rooms of the mueum and the other part of class will be to work on reference photos of landscapes using watercolor techniques and perspective. 

Painting The Skies In Watercolor: Clouds, Northern Lights and More - Class Code: #768863

3 Thursdays, May 28 - June 11

6 pm - 9 pm

cost: $99

Location: John Walter Museum: blue house (9180 Walterdale Hill NW)

Capture the movement of the northern lights, the impressive thunderheads and the amazing sunsets we see in Alberta using watercolor techniques such as pouring, layering, lifting, masking and much more. This class is for beginner to advance students.

Drop in Painting sessions at the Muttart 

May 30, 2026

Two options: 1 - 2:05 pm and 2:15-3:20 pm

Registration and cost will be posted on the MoveLearnPlay. edmonton.ca  two weeks before.  Contact the Muttart

ALL MATERIALS  INCLUDED 

Location: Muttart Conservatory, 9626 96a St NW, Edmonton, AB T6C 4L8

Classes in June

Sketching Animals at the Edmonton Valley Zoo,  class code #768865 

1 Saturday, June13,  2026  (NOTE: This class is under Drawing amd Mixed Media classes in Movelearnplay.edmontong.ca)

10 am -3 pm

$80

Catching wildlife in pencil & ink as it lives and breathes allows you to capture the energy in the drawing. Enjoy a day drawing en plein air (in the open air) at the Edmonton Valley Zoo observing the animals and capturing the essence in your sketchbook. 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. ALL MATERIALS INCLUDED, just bring yourself and your creativity!

Classes in July

Watercolour Explorations at Dr. Anne Anderson: course #772814

2 Mondays, July 6 & 13, 2026 

6:30-9:30 pm

$70 All Supplies Included

location: Dr. Anne Anderson, 11810 35 Ave SW

 ALL MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED, just bring yourself & your creativity.

Watercolour Explorations: course #772815

2 Wednesdays, July 8 & 15, 2026 

6:00-9:00 pm

$70 All Supplies Included

location: Booster Juice Rec Centre (Terwillegar), 2051 Leger Rd NW

 ALL MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED, just bring yourself & your creativity.

Drawing & Painting Botanicals: Watercolour Workshop at the Muttart, course #771816

2 Thursdays, July 9 &16

6-9 pm pm

$80 All Supplies Included

Capture the essence of flowers and variegated plants with watercolours during this three week workshop at the Muttart Conservatory. During the first week Artist Julie Drew will teach you that art is learning how to see; she will have you spend time sketching, creating composition strategies, and gathering inspiration from the botanicals in the Feature Pyramid. After drawing what stands out to you, taking photos, and finding interesting inspiration you will learn how to translate this to a painting with hands-on demonstrations and one on one instruction that will open up painting possibilities for you to explore. The second week, you will expand on your newly learned skills with brushwork, composition, and colour mixing to paint a finished painting. Embrace letting the botanicals inspire you to paint your unique painting - you will find your own style whether it be abstract, illustrative, or realistic as you bring to life the plants & flowers that stood out to you. 

 ALL MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED, just bring yourself & your creativity.

Adult Art Camp: Watercolour Pouring: course #772817

4 days:  Monday, July 27 - Thursday,  July 30, 2026 

1-4 pm

$TBA

location: Arts Hub Ortona, 9722 102 St NW

Classes in August

Sketching Trees at Yorath House: Class Code #772818
(under the Drawing and Mixed Media classes in Movelearnplay.edmonton.ca)

 Thursday,  Aug 13, 2026

 6-9 pm

cost: $65

Yorath House: 13110 Buena Vista Rd NW

Drop in Painting sessions at the Muttart 

Aug 15, 2026

Two options: 1 - 2:05 pm and 2:15-3:20 pm

Registration and cost will be posted on the MoveLearnPlay. edmonton.ca - Link: 

https://movelearnplay.edmonton.ca/COE/public/category/browse/MUTDIP

ALL MATERIALS  INCLUDED 

Location: Muttart Conservatory, 9626 96a St NW, Edmonton, AB T6C 4L8

Painting Trees with Watercolours Workshop: Class Code #772819

 Thursday,  Aug 20, 2026

 6-9 pm

cost: $60

John Walter Museum: 1901 (3rd) House (possible field trip options to 2nd and 1st houses) 9180 Walterdale Hill NW

Water in the Landscape

Painting the Nature of Water: waterfalls, tumbling water, waves crashing into rocks.

July 20-23, 10:30 am to 4:30 pm

Location: Paint spot: Artelier is located at 10045 81 Avenue NW, Edmonton (back alley entrance). The workshop space is one block south of The Paint Spot.

$395 ($315 + $80 Supply fee)

Registration through the Paint Spot

Water is amazing as it moves, flows, reflects and tumbles down a mountain or hill. It is translucent and picks up color around it. It changes as it moves. I never get tired of painting water.

Learn how to paint the nature of water as it falls and tumbles and crashes over or into rocks. We will look at how it reflects or picks up colors around it. We will look at the flow and how it changes the way we paint it. Included will be filling in the landscape around the water.

In this Four-day workshop, each morning, we will work on studies with an aspect of painting the movement of water. In the afternoon, we will apply what we learned to a full landscape working on your own projects.

We will cover: 

• The use of masking in the waterfall, and water movement
•  Painting the rocks under the surface of the water
•  Capture the luminescence of a wave that is crashing
•  Painting the reflected lights and color on the water surface

I will be teaching with demos in the morning and coaching you on your projects in the afternoon. You are welcome to follow along with the demos or work from your own reference photos.

Techniques in watercolor we will touch on:              

• Planning a painting
• masking
• layering
• color mixing the shades in water
• sponging
• spritzing water
• scraping
• cling wrap
• wet into wet
• wet on dry
• pushing and pulling