Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julie Swinton Fisher. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Julie, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I am a very creative individual. However, if I am not finding that my creativity is flowing then I will get outside. I am inspired from nature…skies, mountains, lakes, rivers, trees, animals, flowers, sunrises and sunsets, clouds, etc. I admire how the colors change based on the skies. If it is a sunny day, I look to see the light and shadows on objects.
I live surrounded by the Arizona desert and the Santa Anna and Matazel mountains. When the sun comes up the mountains go from brown to orange. If there are a lot of clouds in the sky then there are shadows cast on the mountains and their color changes. At nightfall the sky colors are cast onto the mountains. The mountains can look purple, blue, red, orange, green or brown. Each season changes the terrain on and around the mountains.
If my outside excursion doesn’t get my creative juices going then I will turn on the tv to YouTube and watch an artist paint.
My last resort is to look through the tens of thousands of photos that I have taken until one speaks to me and I just have to paint it.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am an artist. I have been painting since I was 20 (45 years). When I began painting I would oil paint from magazine pictures, greeting cards or others artworks. I worked full time as a paralegal, had a husband and eventually children. My time for painting was very limited. Once my family obligations lessened, I began to paint more frequently. I eventually began to paint my surroundings. I would take photographs of my flowers and vacations and paint from those. People really loved my flower paintings.
I began to show in monthly art walks and juried shows in the East Valley and West Valley. I would show up at holiday boutiques, fine art shows and gallery shows. I also take part in art competitions in art organizations like Oil Painters of America, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society. I have been juried into these organizations which is quite an accomplishment.
I continue to evolve by taking online courses. I tried different mediums and methods. As I have tried to paint looser, I always return to paint in a realism style with thin layers of paint until I get the desired look. My look has changed in that I don’t try to make an exact replica of what I am painting, but rather I get creative with colors and subjects. My paintings are very bright, cheerful and have a painterly appearance. While my skies continue to be a blend of colors, I strive to have the landscapes show lines, brushstrokes and a less blended style.
Since moving to the Tonto Basin valley, my art has become more cohesive. My paintings are of the landscape around me.
When I drive to the east valley I am fortunate that I can visit the areas where the Arizona Salt River wild horses roam. I have always loved horses. When I was a teenager my family purchased a horse. My best friends all had horses and we enjoyed riding them in the rural areas of Michigan.
This past year I started a series of oil paintings of the majestic wild horses. I have painted them enjoying the beautiful super bloom that we experienced last spring. I have also painted them enjoying the lower Salt River. While I am still adding to my wild horse collection, I have also been painting the incredible mountains and skies.
The big skies around me call out to me daily. I have been known to take 75 or more photos of the sun going down. I have so many images of horses and sunsets that I could paint a new painting a day for the rest of my life.
My dilemma is that there are very few places near me to exhibit my paintings. I have been learning social media tactics in hopes of sales. My health doesn’t allow me to drive for hours, put up a tent and set up and tear down my show. I am hopeful with publications such as this, my website (JulieFisherFineArt.com), galleries and social media that collectors can find my art and each piece will find its perfect home.
Art can change lives. It can bring so much beauty to an otherwise generic home. It can remind you of places you love. You can look into a painting and escape into it. While this world tends to buy disposable art for their homes, they are really missing out on the beauty of an original piece of art. Of course money can be an issue so that is why prints can also be made. Prints offer a collector to enjoy a piece when they can’t afford the original.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most important aspect that I have learned is to paint what I love. I don’t try to paint what I think will sell. If I put my heart and soul into a painting, there will be someone who can connect with it.
Another important step to being an artist is to draw. You can sketch your hand while watching television. You can draw a chair while waiting in a lobby for an appointment . Keep improving your skills.
Constantly improving your skills, experimenting with different supplies, and painting as much as you can, even if it’s only an hour a day, find the time.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Last year I closed my website that I had for over 10 years and started a new one. I decided to use a format by FASO. I found that many of the artists I admire used FASO. FASO has training on marketing, tools for newsletters, blogs, a calendar with helpful steps to take and the ability to sell prints. While I have not utilized all of these tools yet, I look forward to using them in the coming year.
Contact Info:
- Website: JulieFisherFineArt.com
- Instagram: Juliefisherfineart
- Facebook: Julie Fishers Fine Art
