Julie Silvers, Artist – Abstract Painter and Ceramic Sculptor
There is a little piece of me in each and every piece of art I create.
I paint and sculpt from a place of love in my heart and gut. I want to share this with everyone.
“I think that if you were to look for a common theme in all of my work – paintings, sculptures, totems, vessels – it would be joy. I love making people happy. My art is bright, colorful, playful and fun! I want the viewer to feel that energy and spirit when they look at my art.”
—
“My art is my contribution to the world in my own special way. Hopefully by bringing people happiness and joy, I give of my self with each piece and that’s really all I have to give.”
TOTEMS
“I started doing totems about 30 years ago in color. They were fun, playful and happy. All different shapes and sizes. They had stripes, polka-dots and the same bright colors I use in my paintings.
“A lot of the same shapes and symbols can be found in my totems that are in my paintings. Circles, squares, spirals, stars, flowers and waves. I always use lots of repetition, pattern and layers. For all of my totems, large and small, I start out with coils, pinch pots, or slabs. I try to be as free and loose as possible. I am drawn to child-like primitive and imperfection. When any of my art becomes too symmetrical, contrived, matchy — I deliberately try to loosen it up. I like seeing the drips, under layers peeking through, and want them to maintain their made-by-hand feel.
“I make hundreds of pieces at a time. I have no pre-conceived image of how anything will turn out. I make tons of base, or bottom pieces, that can support the rest of the totem. I make middle pieces (the balls, squares, boat-like shape, or taco-looking pieces). I make toppers of every shape and size, like finials. I make joiner pieces to connect them all together. Each totem is hand built, fired, painted and constructed by me. I work on maybe 12 at a time in a few different sizes. I fit them together like a puzzle, sliding them on and off the poles until I know it’s just right – it’s intuitive.”
PAINTINGS
“I consider myself a self-taught artist, even though I took a few classes here and there. I was surrounded by art growing up. I would watch my mother, Susan Wittenberg, paint. I would go with her to art openings and art museums on our travels. I have always loved crafts, anything artsy. I doodled naked ladies in all of my textbooks when I was in school. In college I took a painting class, taught by Adrian Deckbar. I have also taken a few classes at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Art. However, I have never like the structure or discipline of the classroom. I learn by doing … I am learning every single day.
“Just recently, I feel I have come into my own as an artist. I have developed my own unique style. I have been incorporating the female figures that I have been drawing forever into my paintings. I am also adding some ceramic features to some of my paintings by having symbols connected by rough-hewn twine dangling from my smaller works.”
