Julie Hansen is a color lover. Her vibrant paintings rarely feature a spot of pure white. She loves mixing colors, reveling in the buttery fragility of pastels and mixing broken pieces onto paper or creating custom shades of acrylic paint with her palette knife.
We talked to the Parkville-based artist about her art, her process and what inspires her.
Where do you find inspiration for your paintings?
For the landscape work, inspiration is found in the beauty of nature. I love the Midwest, with its tall grass prairies, flowers and big sky. I once spent a weekend just painting and sketching alone in the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve in Strong City, KS. It was an experience that enriched my work. I feel it’s important for artists to find what they are passionate about and stay inspired and informed. The changing seasons, especially fall and spring with their colors, has me itching to paint more pastels!
For my abstract boat pieces, inspiration comes from our travels — in particular, our time spent living bayside in Melbourne, Australia. We were lucky to live there for two years. The blues of the bay, the bright color of the vegetation and painted bathing boxes along the ocean were so sublime. I joined a plein air painting group and spent time painting all of it!!
When I came back to the US, my work began changing. It was really hard at first. I didn’t know where I was going with it exactly. I just had to let go of my old ideas in the studio and slowly things started happening. The boat shapes began to emerge, and I was picked up by Serena & Lily based out of Sausalito, CA. I saw that a professor of mine was represented by them, so I sent images of my new body of work, and they loved them. I’ve been so grateful, because it has allowed me to connect with collectors across the country!
Can you describe your creative process?
My creative process tends to be spontaneous. I usually dive right in! There’s just something so exciting about a blank canvas. I will make marks and mix paint until it’s just right — then I sign it. If it’s a commission, that’s another story. I carefully consider all elements of the piece to be sure it’s exactly what the collector is wanting. The process may take a little longer, but it’s so satisfying to have a collector that is absolutely ecstatic with their new artwork.
What is your ideal setting or routine for when you sit down to paint?
My studio that is in our home. We designed it when we moved in. We live in a beautiful part of Parkville, up on the bluffs. So the studio has a nice view with lots of natural light. I worked with a local craftsman to have a custom table made where I do my paintings, and have storage for my paints, pastels, canvases, etc. The table top lifts up, similar to an easel, for working more upright. It’s on coasters, so it can move around the room when I want to take it closer to the windows or to make room for photographing larger paintings. It’s a work of art in itself. The studio also has large flat files to house works on paper. I love the space, and fill it with music while I paint.
What or who inspired you to become an artist?
A nun, Sister Cecilia, at St. Pius X, my high school art teacher. She was a great encouragement to me and pushed me to further develop my artistic talents and pursue a career in the arts.
I also grew up with a very creative mother. She didn’t paint, but she was always making beautiful things by hand. My father was a mail carrier, and he would tell me about art that he saw on his routes and find art competitions for me to enter. They were both very supportive.
Do you have any kind words that someone has said about your work that stick with you?
I hear from collectors that they love the way the paintings make them feel when they walk into their home. They didn’t realize the impact art would make. Soon they start collecting more work. It's fun to be a part of the process. My collectors and galleries become my friends, and I am so grateful for that friendship.
What do you hope people feel or think when they view your art?
I hope it makes them happy. I feel art should lift you up. When they look at the pastels, I hope they speak to their soul. They’re poetic, rich and passionate. I hope the boats bring about a feeling of exploration, discovery, enjoyment as a symbol of a favorite pastime perhaps. They are a statement piece, reflecting the owners' love of the sea, sailing and adventure. The abstract paintings I hope bring joy and energy to a room.
What place are you most proud that your work has been showcased?
A solo show at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Missouri. It was titled, “The Prairie - Enduring and Endearing.” The museum kept one of my pastels for their own collection.
There’s a suite at the Hotel Indigo in the East Crossroads of Kansas City that has my name on it. I worked with the owners in selecting and creating new work exclusively for the boutique hotel. It was a very fun project! Most recently, I am very excited to have painted a commissioned boat painting that is now hanging at the Bay Marina Sands Hotel in Singapore.
Julie is represented by Prairiebrooke Arts in Overland Park, Kansas locally and you can find her work on Serena & Lily. You can also find her work in a new online-exclusive art show this month with Sorelle Gallery in Westport, Connecticut. Find more about her at jhansenart.com or on Instagram at @j.hansenart
"I hope it makes them happy. I feel art should lift you up."