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 October

Capturing the Essence of Botanicals: Watercolour - Class Code #777333

3 Thursdays, October 1 - October 15, 2026

6pm - 9pm

Cost: $99

Location: Muttart Conservatory, 9626 96a St, Edmonton

For students of all levels.

https://movelearnplay.edmonton.ca/COE/public/booking/CourseDetails/777333

Capturing the Essence of Botanicals: Acrylic - Class Code #777334

3 Sundays, October 18 - November 1, 2026

10am - 1pm

Cost: $99

Location: Muttart Conservatory, 9626 96a St, Edmonton

For students of all levels.

https://movelearnplay.edmonton.ca/COE/public/booking/CourseDetails/777334

Perspective in Watercolour Paintings - Class Code #777335

4 Tuesdays, October 27 - November 17, 2026

6:30pm - 9pm

Cost: $114

Location: Coronation Park Sports & Recreation Centre, 11160 135 St, Edmonton

For students of all levels.

https://movelearnplay.edmonton.ca/COE/public/booking/CourseDetails/777335

 Classes in November

Fluid Acrylics Workshop - Class Code #777336

1 Wednesday, November 4, 2026

1pm - 4pm

Cost: $60

Location: Booster Juice Recreation Centre in Terwillegar, 2051 Leger Rd, Edmonton

For students of all levels.

https://movelearnplay.edmonton.ca/COE/public/booking/CourseDetails/777336

 Classes in December

Acrylic Painting Explorations - Class Code #777337

3 Wednesdays, December 2 - December 16, 2026

1pm - 4pm

Cost: $81

Location: Booster Juice Recreation Centre in Terwillegar, 2051 Leger Rd, Edmonton

For students of all levels.

https://movelearnplay.edmonton.ca/COE/public/booking/CourseDetails/777337

Christmas Blooms Watercolour Workshop - Class Code #777338

1 Thursday, December 3, 2026

6pm - 9pm

Cost: $60

Location: Muttart Conservatory, 9626 96a St, Edmonton

For students of all levels.

https://movelearnplay.edmonton.ca/COE/public/booking/CourseDetails/777338

What an amazing week at Hotel Leone in Montelparo, Le Marche, Italy!

Where is Hotel Leone and Le Marche? See the red Montelparo on the map. The photo boxes on the map indicate where I traveled and took a number of pictures.

We painted the sunrise overlooking the view toward the Adriatic sea, which you can see in the distance. In the afternoon, we took advantage of a large awning to paint the clouds and storm clouds as they came up.

We went on three excursions to paint:

Pedaso on the Adriatic Sea.

Smerillo with a Roman ruin and medieval village.

Due to rain, we went to Servigliano as it had places to still paint outdoors under shelter. It was cold and rainy, though and a number of us went inside the church to paint and draw.

Not only was it an art retreat, but we dipped into the culture there. We learned some of the history of the area as we traveled to our painting locations. 

The long mealtimes were a great time to sample Italian cuisine and get to know one another. We were well taken care of.

Our day off, we spent touring 3 Le Marche family run farms - produce (we saw the tomato sauce preparation), dairy (cheese production) and wine. And we tried the different produce, cheese and wine the farms produced. A real "taste of Le Marche" experience.

As It was rainy on our second day spent in Montelparo, we stayed in the studio to work on the paintings we had already started. 

Our last night was a celebration with a showing of our beautiful artwork from the week. It is always so nice to see all the artwork together up on display. My group painted lovely paintings that Captured Italy as they saw it that week. I have included samples of their art here.

I am making plans to return to Hotel Leone, October 8-15, 2027. (two years from now) Will you join me on the next retreat?