Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julia Prajza. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Julia, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I strongly believe that I found my purpose completely by accident. I didn’t actually go looking for it, it just happened. You see I spent 7 years of my career as a Graphic Designer and Art Director, which I thought was my forever career, until I lost my job in 2020 due to the pandemic. Now I can happily say that this was a blessing in disguise.
Instead of rushing into applying for another job, I paused. I took the time to do creative projects just for fun, I started painting more, I rediscovered the mural scene in Toronto and explored various art mediums. I met interesting people, asked questions and followed my diverse curiosities at the time. I didn’t have the pressure to find my purpose and I think that was really important for me. My purpose found me so naturally, I didn’t even notice. An important part of this journey was the moment I reconnected with Bareket Kezwer, an artist I had admired for years. I had originally bumped into this muralist back in 2018 in a laneway downtown where she was concluding “Women Paint”, a project with numerous muralists. This serendipitous meeting sparked an enduring artistic collaboration that continues to this day. After assisting Bareket on various public art projects and forming an artist collective called Neighbourhood Love together in October 2020, she became my mentor and friend. I discovered a passion for mural making and community art I didn’t know existed within me. I learnt so much about myself as a person and artist in the past few years since then, slowly finding my purpose. Everything just seemed to make sense. I found it so rewarding to create art that could be accessible and enjoyed by everyone. I found out that I loved creating designs that had the ability to inspire and uplift people. And this is I believe is how I eventually found my purpose: to bring joy and colour into our everyday lives. In a world that is full of such terrible tragedies and sadness, I believe we need more joyful and beautiful art now more than ever.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Hi there, my name is Julia Prajza (prize-uh) and I’m a Muralist, Lettering Artist, and Designer based in Toronto. My work is quite diverse and ranges from custom painted mailboxes to large scale murals, wedding calligraphy and event signage to digital hoarding exhibit artwork, teaching workshops and more. As I’m constantly exploring new mediums and expanding my creative skills, my goal is constant; to bring more joy and colour into our everyday lives. With a background in Graphic Design and Art Direction (OCAD University BDes) I’m currently passionate about public and community-engaged art. I’ve been a professional working artist for the past 4.5 years now, working with arts organizations, local governments, BIAs, businesses, private clients, etc. in order to bring unique projects to life.
My signature style is vibrant and playful with a whimsical charm. As a proud maximalist, I believe that “more is more” and gravitate towards nature themes, decorative patterns and text-based imagery. Inspired by Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts Movement, I love to blend organic shapes with a bold, graphic approach. My unique “modern-meets-traditional” designs can especially be seen in my Stained Glass Series, a homage to Toronto’s historical homes and their timeless stained glass windows. Constantly finding inspiration in the world around me, I invite the viewer to observe our surroundings more closely, uncovering magic in the details, and embracing the wonder of the little moments that surround us.
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?
1. Dedication 2. Being proactive
3. Patience
I would have to say these three qualities/skills were extremely impactful on my journey and continue to be. If you are dedicated to your goals, then you will work hard and that is key. You won’t get anywhere the easy way, without putting in the work. No one will hand you your dream job on a silver platter, you have to show up, be proactive, find resources, ask questions. Go and get it yourself. Don’t expect anything less. Being proactive has helped me time and time again to get the job or to make the connections that make all the difference. People won’t wait around for you to make things happen. You must do that yourself. And finally be patient. I am constantly struggling with this one. However I am starting to see the benefits of the past four years of hard work and dedication pay off. Rome was not built in a day and therefore your business or journey won’t be either. Good things take time to build and that’s okay. Embrace the journey and enjoy the process! It’s such an adventure, this rollercoaster of freelancing, but it is SOOOOO worth it. You are only human so also be patient with yourself and practice self-care. Keep going my friends! I still pinch myself knowing that I am painting flowers for a living. And it makes me very happy to say that little Julia would be extremely proud of me!
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I loved reading this book: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. It has been a few years now, however this book’s wisdom still resonates with me. Definitely a must read for any creative person. I loved how the author is so down to earth and writes in such a personal, yet universal way. She broke things down so well, everything was so relatable to me that I felt truly seen and heard. I had never thought of creativity the way Elizabeth describes it: as magic that is living amongst us and we just have to be open enough to receive it – a very unique and refreshing perspective. This book sparked a much needed flame within me when I wasn’t feeling myself so it helped me start creating again!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juliaprajza.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliaprajza/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliaprajzacreates/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaprajza/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo8JnyaTxbo&t=1s
Image Credits
Motto Hoarding by: Steve Kearns Jopling Hoarding photos by: The Social Good Creative House Stouffville mural photos by: Jason Montplaisir Railpath mural photos by: Vuk Dragojevic
