Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julia Dordoni. 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. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I am very grateful to my parents for inspiring me to lead a creative life. Having a long history of artistic entrepreneurs on both sides of the family, my parents naturally allowed me to do whatever inspired me the most.

My dad is an inventor and independent long-haul truck driver. He spent a lifetime on the road, driving across the country, using his imagination to create complex systems. He was his own boss and created his schedule. He demonstrated what it meant to let the creative mind take over, and while doing so, the most amazing things would surface. My dad taught me to think outside the box and to follow my vision.

My mom is the most loving soul. She demonstrated what it meant to be a dedicated, loving mother, and has been my number-one cheerleader my entire life. My mom has always had a knack for making beautiful things – whether it be decorations, making the house look pretty, or the most perfect pancakes. When my mom is around, beauty follows. She has a way of making things sparkle and feel loved. I can not thank my mom enough for helping me with the transition of becoming a mother. She has influenced me so much.

Combining the traits of a free-spirited father, with a mom who makes beauty everywhere she goes, it is no wonder I fell into the career as a freelance wedding painter! When I travel for weddings, I get to see the most beautiful views and sacred places on earth. It is my honor to translate and capture the energy of love through color. I hope that my paintings are like time capsules that allow one to dive into the magic of their day.

I am so grateful to everyone who has inspired and supported my journey. Thank you.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi! My artistic career began in 2000 as a 7-12th grade art teacher, primarily focusing on sculpture.  After 6 years of teaching, my career transformed into a full-time plain-air artist. My first day painting in the public eye was on Pearl Street in Boulder Colorado. This was the beginning of a freelance artistic journey I didn’t see coming! My path was deeply inspired by Jim Freeheart, a seasoned Plein-Air painter in Boulder. He quickly became a trusted friend and mentor. Jim taught me so much about painting and about letting the inner light shine! Through watching Jim paint, I witnessed how people loved seeing themselves painted into a picture! I followed Jim’s footsteps and painted families into my artwork too. It was an instant hit. Bringing people into artwork was a major key to my success.

Jim moved to Maui a few years later and invited me to visit in 2010. He encouraged me to apply for resident artist positions at beach resorts in Wailea. Since Jim was my main inspiration and mentor, I took his advice! While visiting Maui for the first time, I set my baby her stroller beside my easel and painted a small canvas of Polo Beach. Just as I finished, a bride with angelic energy walked past me toward the ocean, where she was greeted by her fiancee, an officiant, and two witnesses. While they exchanged vows I quickly painted the newlyweds onto my canvas. It was as if a lightning bolt struck me with the realization that this is my calling! With my entire body filled with inspiration. I rushed the painting a few steps away to the Four Seasons Resort. I felt the need to show someone, although I didn’t know who! The General Manager happened to greet me at the entrance, and it was her idea to bring me to the wedding department. I didn’t even know there was a wedding department at the resort! With adrenaline rushing through me, I held a wet painting in one hand and pushed my baby stroller with the other. I had no idea what was ahead of me, but I trusted I was being led in the right direction. Standing in the wedding department with my painting and my baby, I can’t even recall the words that were said. A week later, I received a phone call from the wedding department, with an invitation to be their featured wedding painter! I had never even heard of the phrase “wedding painter”, yet they already had a wedding lined up for me, in hopes I would accept the offer. I immediately hopped on a one-way flight to Maui, with my baby daughter, who I had just been granted full custody of. I had the freedom to go anywhere on the planet and follow my wildest dreams. I put logic and fear aside, and followed my heart, knowing that if I trusted my intuition, everything would work out. We landed in Maui with only a few thousand dollars in hand. Within a week, I also signed a 2-year contract at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort in Wailea, as a resident artist. Everything fell into place and my journey as a single mom / full time artist began.

Thankfully my beautiful mom stayed with us for 5 months and cared for her grandbaby so I could focus on my career and get adjusted to the routine of being a mom. I painted several weddings, beach scenes, and historic churches all around the island. I am happy to say that I painted a handful of Lahaina scenes as well. I grew as an artist so much on Maui. I explored so many gorgeous parts of the island, but after a couple of years, I truly missed Colorado!

After my 2-year contract expired at the resort, I returned to the crisp mountain air of the Rocky Mountains. My career as a live wedding painter has flourished over the last decade to the point that I have to turn down work. It is a lucrative, fulfilling career where I can truly express my gift while being immersed in love. I couldn’t ask for more! As a single mom, it is so reassuring that I can provide a comfortable life for my daughter. I am truly blessed that my career has evolved to this point. I am so grateful.

All artists have a unique style that shines through in their work. My style is soft and dreamy with enhanced colors to match the vibrational energy I feel around me. I also pay close attention to skin tones and details in the newlywed’s hair, jewelry, and floral decor. Most Colorado weddings are outdoors, which is ideal since I am so comfortable painting landscapes!  Painting rocky mountains and clouds is my specialty. Having painted hundreds of weddings in Colorado, my favorite venue is the Boulders at Black Canyon Inn. The mountain view is so magical, and I feel like my spirit is at home when I am painting there.

I am most proud of my progress in capturing the human form. When I first started painting weddings 13 years ago, I painted very simplified figures with no faces. Now, I capture the most subtle details – down to the eyelashes. I am still working on perfecting the glow of skin, as well as capturing the texture of fabrics. Being an artist is a lifelong evolution, and I enjoy the challenge. My goal this year is to deepen my understanding of color theory, contrast, and shadows. I also have a vision that I will begin sculpting again, and perhaps integrate it with weddings! Stay tuned!

I have a side project in the works. I am launching a product line with my artwork on hats! I am confident that it will be a success and a nice way to earn passive income. My spirit spoke loudly to me about this, and I am listening.

On a personal note, I’d like to share a message with you about living your dream. If I can live my dream, you can too. Here’s the key: Listen to your heart. Think of what inspires you the most, and do it to the best of your ability! One small goal at a time. Be open to learning and expanding beyond your comfort zone. Don’t be critical of yourself nor compare yourself to others, because you have something unique to offer the world. Put fear aside. Trust yourself! Learn from obstacles and keep moving forward. It is life-changing to follow your dream. I truly hope that my story inspires you to pursue your heart’s calling. I believe the purpose of life is to experience the vibration of love, gratitude, and creation. We all deserve that.

Thank you for reading my story.

From my heart to yours,
Julia

live your dream.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I believe it is a misconception that there are “creatives” and “non-creatives”. I believe every human spirit is creative, but some have expressed their creativity more than others. Most people assimilate creativity with visual or performing arts but there are so many other ways to be creative.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to expressing creative energy. It takes creativity to design and build houses and roads, or to be an effective therapist, teacher, or writer. Sadly, some people are conditioned to believe they are not “creative”. Perhaps a parent or teacher was critical of one’s drawing abilities, which conditioned a child to believe they are not creative. The problem lies in the definition of creativity. Being creative is so much more than drawing a nice picture or playing an instrument. Being creative is expressing a vision! It is opening one’s mind and allowing the imagination to wander to what lights up their soul, and then trusting one’s ability to manifest it.

Don’t ever let go of what makes your spirit shine! We all experienced doing something we loved as a kid, which lit us up inside. But as we turned into adults, we thought we needed to stop doing it, so we could pick a regular career, and have a “normal” adult life. For a while, it may feel easier to follow a predictable schedule that someone else lays out. But it appears people get frustrated after decades of not expressing their creative spirit in their everyday lives. It is never too late to take up a new hobby or one that we once loved.

I believe that the most successful people (in all aspects of the definition) are those who mold their lives around doing what they love! When one generates income doing what they are passionate about, it is no longer “work”. Instead is living out their purpose. They are expressing their spirit and creating their dream life.

We are all creators.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

4) To demonstrate to other single moms that it is possible to raise a child solo while pursuing their dreams. There will be bumps, and it might be a humble life for a while, but never give up. Stay true to the vision and it will manifest over time!

5) To create passive income with my wholesale hat business, so I will have the financial means to help others. I aspire to build a non-profit organization that serves as an orphanage and private school. I will invite and hire many amazing teachers from all across the globe to participate in the evolution of children’s lives who had a rough start. Every child deserves a safe home, a good education and the opportunity to create. Every child deserves the right to have their voice heard, and to develop their talents. Every child deserves peace in their heart and soul. Every child deserves to know that they have a purpose and that they have amazing gifts to offer the world. Every child deserves to grow up in an environment with the understanding that they are loved. I want to build a spiritual home and educational environment for children who don’t have homes. This is my ultimate goal. I have been working very hard my whole life, and I am finally getting to the point where I can start manifesting the next level of my journey. I don’t know how many years it will take to make this happen, but I am building the vision and taking the first steps. As soon as my passive income business is stabilized, I will put my creative energy into building this orphanage. It will happen in my lifetime.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.JuliaLiveArt.com
• Instagram: @ColoradoWeddingPainter
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julialiveart
• Linkedin: Julia Dordoni
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuliaDordoni
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradoweddingpainterjuli7750
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/colorado-wedding-painter-estes-park
• Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LiveWeddingPainting