Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julie Yeo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Julie, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
It can be difficult to remain grounded amongst your peers, there are so many different layers, flavors, and perspectives to bring to the table. I’ve always tried to look past the competition of it, and see the diversity of talent as confirmation that there is room for me as well. Just as I fell in love with each friend for their own little details that only they bring into our connection, I focus on self-validation to preserve my creative strengths and priorities that aligns me with the audience that will celebrate me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My creative impulses have always stemmed from the mining of my biography and reflecting on my internal visual world. The emotional veil that filters what makes our experiences feel true is what I prioritize within my practice. Coming out of a decade-long, PTSD-induced dissociative amnesia, I find myself in a state of “buffering,” waiting for my body to reconnect with its spirit. To heal my body and make it a welcoming and, potentially, familiar environment to lure my spirit back – I celebrate my creative impulses. In my interdisciplinary practice, I use various mediums to explore the connection between mind and body through the focus of personal, objective, concrete, and fabricated truths.
Currently, I am exploring ceramics to make vessels of various self portraits for my spirit to visit. Similar to how when we go to the closet every morning, we choose the outfit that best represents who we are that day. My intention is for my spirit to familiarize herself with all the different faces that belong to her. This exercise has helped me develop a new body of work that I will be pursuing these year where I will be continuing with ceramics – but also bringing in other materials such as pipes, stained glass, plants, etc.
I’ve also recently began a career in tattooing. It is a new medium for me to explore my creativity, but it has been incredibly enjoyable to work so heavily with my drawings once again.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
– Ritual: Making breakfast is my one non-negotiable constant that allows me to begin my day from a grounded state of mind. It is the opportunity to get into position before I start sprinting towards my goals that day. Sharing breakfast is nice, but I look forward to enjoying my coffee in silence with my thoughts.
– Fun/Joy: Identifying and following that which stimulates joy for me helps me remain true to my artistic priorities.
– Curiosity: As an interdisciplinary artist, curiosity has been integral in allowing me to explore the different branches of my creative impulses. What I enjoy so much about engaging with a new skill, knowledge or perspective is that it slows down time, and prevents me from becoming passive in any level of creating.
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?
My parents raised us to be uncompromising when it had to do with our goals, ambition, and passion. That we don’t need permission so long as it is what we want to do. This nurturing of self-validation took time to develop within me despite their unwavering encouragements, but once it did I began to make work that I feel connected to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.JulieYeo.com
- Instagram: @yayjulieyeo @youaskedforit_tattoo
Image Credits
Julie Yeo (self)
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