Julie-Ann Brown

With grass roots in the West Australian wheatbelt, Julie-Ann’s interest in painting began after a move to Perth to take up tertiary studies in Art and Design. Two decades later, following a career in graphic design and advertising, she began her painting practice in Contemporary Realism.

With every piece her ultimate goal is to capture the ‘essence of a moment’ which can often be fleeting but resonating; an intrinsic appropriation of her subject matter. Julie-Ann aspires to provoke an emotional connection with her audience.

A fascination for the effects of light on her subject forms the inspiration of her work setting in motion the concept that begins her creative process. In the case of portraiture, she is motivated to convey expression and feeling; a sense of the subjects’ state of mind at the time in order to create curiosity and engagement with the paintings’ audience. Similarly with painting nature, she attempts to embrace her audience by creating an impression; evoking a feeling of contentment and desire.

Enchanted by the rich, buttery texture of oil paint meant she had found at her chosen medium although this does not limit her willingness to express herself through alternative mediums according to what application is most appropriate to each artwork. A love of charcoal allows a brief whimsical prelude to oil paint forming the paintings base.

Each piece is crafted over a significant amount of time, often many sessions, necessary to achieve fine detail and allowing her to review progress and consider alternate ways forward, evolving her original concept. Her style is interpretive; contemporary realism permeated by the subtle use of texture and softened brushstoke though not so real as to be mistaken for photography.

Julie-Ann painted out of Pakenham Street Artist Studios (PSAS) in Fremantle for two years which lead to a second successful solo exhibition. She exhibits widely in group shows where she has received a number of awards and commendations, more notably a finalist in the Lester Prize (WA), Kilgour Prize (NSW) and the Kennedy Prize (SA).

Julie-Ann has now settled on a beautiful, forested property near Margaret River where she has recently built her new studio.