Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julie Devine. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Julie, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
For the most part, each day feels like a fresh start to tackle challenges and pursue the life I want. I’m not saying that setbacks don’t affect me. But somewhere deep inside me, I believe in myself, my intelligence, and my persistence. This has always been there. It must have been instilled in me by my family and early childhood experiences. My parents are optimists, and I was always a successful student.
When times are extremely challenging, I have an inner monologue where I coach myself. “You can do this.” “You’re doing great.” “Keep going.” Sometimes I catch myself saying these things aloud. I have become my own best friend and cheering section.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a visual artist and run my own business, Julie Devine Studio. In addition to painting bodies of work to further my artistic career, I work directly with individual collectors and interior designers to create commissioned oil paintings that bring interior spaces to life. I think of my large paintings much like windows into the outdoors. When hung, they bring a sense of light and landscape, connecting people to nature and places they love. These might be tree canopies, where a viewer feels like they are lying down, looking up through tree leaves as they dance with light and movement. Or it may be an open, rolling landscape, where a viewer can breathe deeply and feel the continuity of land. It may be an alpine scene, rugged and pristine, where a viewer might feel spiritual renewal and peace.
To view my work, visit https://www.julie-devine.com. I also teach classes and workshops as my schedule allows.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
If I were to advise others considering a career in the arts, I would say to learn your craft deeply, work hard to master your skills, and learn what you can about running a small business. These days, most professional artists are entrepreneurs and need to wear many hats. It’s also so important to be authentic and not attempt shortcuts by copying the works and styles of other artists. It takes time, commitment, hard work, creativity, and resilience.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The number one challenge I have faced is the unpredictability of sales. Art sales ebb and flow, and while these ups and downs are often tied to the health of the economy, they also correspond to rhythms in people’s lives, the seasons, significant events, and mysterious factors. Having plans to survive the inevitable lean times is important.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.julie-devine.com
- Instagram: juliedevinestudio
