Julie Freeman

Julie is a self taught artist from New Zealand with a passion for realism, who strives to create artwork beyond the photograph. Over the years she has developed her skills in working with pastel, using a combination of soft pastel sticks and pastel pencils. Her subject matter is varied, from coastal and nautical to the natural fauna and flora of NZ. More recently she has been exploring Still life.

“I love every step of the process, from capturing and composing the initial image/s, through to using a raw material to produce a realistic painting. Creating work that is so real has always been a passion. Pastel is a wonderful medium, so versatile, and immediate and with the brilliant colour of almost pure pigment.”

“I have always loved realism since I could hold a pencil, I loved to draw as a child and illustrate school projects. I did not continue my art education after Secondary School but spent the next 10 years enjoying it as more of a hobby. I dabbled in acrylics but was more interested in the control of drawing and the detail I could achieve. I began doing animal commissions with coloured pencils, and continued after my children were born.  When they were in their teens I went to work part time in an art shop and learnt a lot about art materials and framing. I discovered pastel pencils and was introduced to the Pastel Artists of New Zealand in 2009. I have been involved with pastel ever since. I continued to strive and improve, compete and exhibit and started to gain a name for myself. I have 4 galleries that represent me here in NZ and sell my work through them or through social media platforms Instagram and Facebook. I have enjoyed giving back to many emerging artists and helping them on their journeys, through workshops or mentoring.