Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julia Aspinall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Julia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

To be honest with you, I don’t think I had a sudden “eureka” moment where I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally. For me, it was more of a quiet, gradual realisation. I’ve always been at my happiest when creating art – it’s been a deeply personal part of who I am. For years, the idea of sharing my little characters publicly felt intimidating because my work was so personal, and I’ve always been naturally quite shy.

However, moving from Canada to the Netherlands was a major life transition that somewhat forced me out of my comfort zone. That change sparked a notable shift in me, which ultimately encouraged me to finally share my art with others (in the hopes that they would feel the same joy that I do!). After a few months of sharing my art on social media, one thing led to another, and I was opening my own Etsy store – something that would’ve felt impossible just a few years ago. Now, I’m excited to take the next step by launching my own website in the coming months!

Looking back, it wasn’t one defining moment but rather an entire journey that eventually led me to develop the confidence to pursue this path.

Julia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Julia, and my journey as an illustrator has been shaped by a life filled with movement and discovery. I was born and raised in Bowral, a wonderful small town in Australia, before moving to Canada at 15 with my mother to finish my secondary education. After graduating, I spent several years living in various countries, including England, the Cayman Islands, and the United States, before finally finding my footing in the Netherlands. Although the language barrier has been a challenge, I feel more at home here than I have anywhere else in a long time.

Art has been my constant companion for as long as I can remember. Whether it was with a paintbrush or pencil, I was seemingly always recreating what inspired me (sometimes when I ought to have been doing something much more responsible!)—most often the vibrant flora and fauna of Australia. Growing up, I found comfort in the enchanting stories and illustrations of Beatrix Potter, whose influence still weaves through my work today.

Starting my creative business definitely wasn’t something that happened overnight. I’ve always been shy, and for a long time, that meant keeping my illustrations to myself. But I reached a point where I realised I owed it to myself to nurture this passion and share it with others. That’s how my small business, Julia’s Tales, was born.

Julia’s Tales began with high-quality art prints of my original illustrations and has naturally expanded to include stickers and keychains. Soon, I’ll be opening commissions due to growing interest in custom-made illustrations—a prospect I’m genuinely excited about! I just love collaborating with clients to bring their ideas to life, whether it’s for a children’s book, a brand logo, or a meaningful gift for a loved one.

What makes me most proud is when people tell me my art brings them a sense of nostalgia or reminds them of a happy moment in their childhood. For me, there’s no greater joy than creating something that sparks warmth and happiness in others. My greatest ambition is for Julia’s Tales to be a brand that feels timeless, whimsical, and heartfelt for everyone—a little escape into a world of storytelling and imagination.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Actually, yes, there is one! Once I started moving from one country to the next, I realised how hard it was to keep track of all of my art supplies. They would often become lost or damaged in transit, and as many of us know, art supplies are no cheap investment… For a while, I even stopped illustrating altogether because it became too expensive to replace everything time and time again.

It wasn’t until I saw a YouTube video one day of an artist drawing on their iPad – I had never seen or heard of one before, but it amazed me how a drawing could be transferred to the screen so seamlessly. This gave me the idea to do the same – it was amazing to have a single tool that I could travel around with, and today, it’s become my main medium!

Discovering digital art opened up so many new possibilities for me, and I only wish I had known about it sooner!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing how my illustrations, however trivial, can genuinely uplift people! There’s something so fulfilling about knowing that something I created, and poured my heart into, can spark happiness in someone else. But it’s more than just making others smile—it’s also the shared connection we experience through that joy. There’s something deeply pure and meaningful about knowing that a piece of my art can bridge that gap and create a moment of warmth between me and the viewer.

In many ways, this connection makes me feel closer to people. Art really becomes a language of its own, allowing me to express myself and connect with others in a way that feels authentic and comforting. That emotional exchange is, without question, the most rewarding part of my creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julias.tales/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JuliasTales

Image Credits

All images were taken by me.