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

Hi Julie, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

It’s my hope that each new body of work will feel more meaningful than the next, and will grow in language and reach. I feel that’s the case with what I’m working on currently. There is a shift in my painting process on this new series that digs a little deeper into contemporary life as a human in relation to the natural environment. I’m allowing the influences of the images of social media and Artificial Intelligence to come into the work. Previously my investigations would be through direct experience, filtered through drawing, writing and oil sketches. The current work takes my own writings through an AI program to deliver a different type of sketch altogether, based on the definitions of my words in a database. I’m looking at others images of places I’m exploring. I’m letting it all come into my view to influence my own visual experience alongside the previously mentioned modalities of documentation. It feels like an honest reflection of how we are all processing information both directly and indirectly.

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

I am a contemporary landscape painter living in Toronto Canada. I have a Diploma of Fine Arts from Langara College in Vancouver, a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from York University in Toronto, and a Graduate Diploma from Toronto School of Art. My creative journey has been life long.

I have been showing my work commercially for 25 years. I am currently represented by Foster/White Gallery in Seattle Washington, Stremmel Gallery in Reno Nevada, Oeno Gallery in Bloomfield Ontario, and Ian Tan Gallery in Vancouver British Columbia.

I make paintings in a wide range of scale, from 5 x 5 inches to 6 x 6 feet. My landscape paintings are known for straddling the line between abstract and representational. Gestural and textural application of paint and bold use of colour offer a physical surface as an object, while the depth of painted picture plane attempt to envelope the viewer in the experience.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

My concern for the environment drives my ongoing exploration of it. Ultimately it is my hope that my work triggers a deeper connection to nature and sense of responsibility for its preservation.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

It takes many years to develop a visual language that matches and clearly communicates your authentic voice. It takes many rejections, failed paintings, detours, trials and errors. It takes a determination and commitment to do the work even when the support isn’t there. I’ve certainly been through all of this, and have not swayed. I’ve kept my head down and kept working knowing I’m in it for the long game. Through all of this, in the past 12 years I’ve been through 7 surgeries and a brain injury. It’s been a constant cycle of ground zero to recovery and back again. Learning to show up with whatever strength I’ve had in the moment, and keeping my eye on my own path has kept me mobilized.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.juliehimel.com
• Instagram: @juliehimel
• Facebook: Julie Himel Fine Art
• Linkedin: Julie Himel