We were lucky to catch up with Julz Laforest recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Julz, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

How did you learn to do what you do? I started painting about 6 years ago and it was really the desire to try something new that kick-started my journey. My early works were nothing remarkable, they were just simple portrait paintings which were an easy place to start. However, I soon realized that I needed to express myself more fully and these simple, flat images just weren’t enough. I wanted more and that required enhancing my skills leading to me experimenting with new techniques, like shading, which initially intimidated me. I would often think, “I’m going to mess this up, make a mistake, and ruin the painting”, however, I remembered Bob Ross always encouraging people to embrace the philosophy that “There are no mistakes, just happy accidents”. This enabled me to learn from each mishap and grow as an artist. Surprisingly, shading, which once scared me, has become my favorite aspect of painting, and overcoming that fear of the unknown has been incredibly liberating to my mind and my style.

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?
In truth, nothing. I believe in moving at my own pace and that skills are honed through repeated practice over time.

What skills do you think were most essential?
Patience and time are crucial. It’s important to be kind to yourself because a quick mastery of any art form is rare. Continuous practice of your skills seems to be the key to success.

What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Mostly, it was my own self-doubt. At times, fear and irrational doubts crept in, but then I’d reflect on what I had achieved so far as an artist and realize, “Ok, I got this. I can do this.” Belief in myself has been essential.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a Canadian artist based in Austin, Texas, known for my use of bright and bold colors in contemporary realism and abstract portraits. I work with a variety of mediums, including acrylic, spray paint, UV, glow-in-the-dark paints, and chalk. T-shirt and tote design are also part of my repertoire.

Following my divorce five years ago, I turned to painting as an emotional outlet. I had a background based on sketching so painting was a natural progression. Over time, my skills improved, and my style developed. While my artistic side was progressing, I began to face challenges with the business side of art. With persistence and collaboration, I’ve overcome some of these hurdles and recently launched my website, www.julzlaforestart.com, showcasing my art, prints, and apparel. This has significantly expanded my reach, and I’m thrilled about this new chapter.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part is doing what I love. Bringing my visions to life, and seeing the joy they bring to others, especially when they purchase my work, is a wonderful bonus.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I didn’t envision expanding beyond painting and selling original pieces and prints. However, the idea of putting my paintings on T-shirts struck me. I thought, “Why limit myself?” So, I quickly started working on a design and since then, I’ve created two additional designs. I’m really excited to see how much further I can take my brand in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.julzlaforest.com
• Instagram: julzlaforest.art
• Facebook: Julz Laforest

Image Credits
Jonathan Garza