We recently connected with Julia McKenzie Ennis and have shared our conversation below.
Julia McKenzie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Every project is meaningful to me in some way but one that stands out to me is one I made more recently for my friend Paige Corwin (who has also been featured on Canvas Rebel). I love making work for others. I feel the most inspired by the people who are close to me. This piece in particular is one that I feel has been transformative for me as an artist. It is the most physically and emotionally expressive I have ever been while making a piece, in a way that I didn’t know I could be. As an artist, there are times when I feel stuck and like my work isn’t fully representative of who I am and then there are those special moments where I feel so proud of what I created and that’s what keeps me going.
Julia McKenzie, 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?
I believe I have always been an artist. From as early as I can remember, I was creating. I moved to NYC when I was 18 and attended Pace University with the pursuit of making a living off my work, with no real back up plan. My time in school taught me a lot about the professional art world, and thus, the realities of that life quickly set in after I graduated. I worked many odd jobs while continuing to make and even sell some of my art, but I was faced with a decision to make on how I was going to make a living. I decided I wanted a career where I could help people so I went back to school to study art therapy. While in school I did a lot of self discovery and grew in more ways than one. My art was one such way and in 2022, during my second year of grad school, I was featured in a gallery exhibit for the first time alongside my good friend and fellow creator, Jamie Keim. I graduated last May and am now working full time as an art therapist while still pursuing art making in my own time. I love sharing my craft with my clients and witnessing how people can manage their mental health while utilizing art as a tool feels magical at times. My work with my clients as a therapist is the most inspiring and it excites me to see how my art will continue to transform.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I believe society needs to value artists more. Find local artists to support and expect to pay a decent price for it. While it may be more expensive than a mass produced print from some giant corporation, it’s a worth while investment to own a special, one of a kind piece of art that you will have and cherish forever.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being an artist for me is seeing myself change and grow through my art. We as people change all the time but sometimes it’s hard to notice. My work is a visual representation of myself and it’s exciting to see my work mature. And it is validating when others also respond positively to my newest work. It motivates me to keep creating.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: juliamcknz_art