Visit with Julie Brown of Wabi Brook Studio + Free Print Giveaway

Hey, Wanna Play? ACEO by Julie Brown

Hey there! How have you been? We've got a new visitor today, Julie Brown of Wabi Brook Studio. Julie works in a variety of mediums, from paint & pencil to metal & fire. Her fine art and jewelry is often inspired by nature. Julie's creations "reflects (her) love of the land and the creatures that live on it."

Soaking Up The Sun by Julie Brown

Julie has Wabi Brook Studio shops online at both Etsy and icraft. Just click the links to visit. Also check out her website & blog for more great pieces. Plus throughout this post you can click on an image for more info.

Hi, Julie. Thanks for stopping by today. What would you like to share about yourself and your art?

JB: "I am a mostly self-taught artist, wife, mother, (mostly) retired equestrian trainer/coach, menagerie manager, metal worker, paint pusher, chief cook and bottle washer, earth child, student of life, photographer. "

Tangle Bangle - copper wire bracelet by Julie Brown

How long have you been making art & jewelry?

JB: "I began drawing, painting and making jewelery about 6 years ago. I was recovering from a serious health issue, wasn't able to continue my career as a self-employed horse and rider trainer, and was looking for something to do to keep busy. What started as a form of therapy, soon evolved into a business, and now I am a full time artist."

Piccolo - Original Pastel Horse by Julie Brown

What inspires you?

JB: "I live on a working horse and sheep farm in rural northern Ontario. I can look out any window in my house and see fields and forests, water and wildlife - including bear and wolves! So my work is very much inspired by nature - and fueled by tea and chocolate! The darker the chocolate the better. Milk chocolate just doesn't cut it when I need some creative energy!"

Sunset On Pasture Hill by Julie Brown

Can you tell us a little about your creative process?

JB: "I create intuitively, beginning with the end in mind, but never knowing the route I will take, or even if I will end up where originally planned. My creative process is often tortuous, sometimes free flowing, always interesting."

Dewdrops - freshwater peral & sterling ring by Julie Brown

JB: "I am mostly self-taught, but I do try to get away to take weekend and week-long art and metal-working courses whenever I can. A couple of years ago, At the ripe young age of 49 I went back to college and took a Drawing and Painting Studio Certificate at the Haliburton School of the Arts. I wasn't sure about leaving my family for 4 months, but my husband pushed me into going, and my teenage daughter thought it was very cool! So, I did it, and it was an exhausting, humbling, amazing experience that made me feel for the first time that I could truly call myself an artist ."

Jazz The Border Collie by Julie Brown

What is the best thing about being an artist?

JB: "I love what I do. I play with fire, hit things really hard, throw paint around - and no-one tells me to stop! It doesn’t get any better than this."

Gotta Dance by Julie Brown

Thanks for stopping by today, Julie!

And thank you, readers, for stopping by too. Now I've got a little something to share with you. Julie is this week's Thursday Giveaway sponsor. She has generously donated 1 of her fine art prints, Yellow Coneflowers for next Thursday's random drawing. To Enter, just leave a comment on this blog before 1 a.m. on 10/12. 1 winner will be randomly picked & posted sometime Thursday morning (10/12). I'll be out of town that day so the usual noontime draw is inconvenient. Contest is open to USA & Canada - prize ships free.

Yellow Cone Flowers by Julie Brown

JB: "Coneflowers are one of my favorite flowers. Not only are they lovely to look at, they have many healing qualities. We always have some growing in our gardens. They are also about the only flower that I have been successful at painting!

This open edition giclee reproduction is professionally printed with archival inks on fine art paper. It is signed on the front. The image size is slightly smaller than 10" x 8" leaving a small white border to allow for matting and framing. Note: the copyright information will not be on your print."

Want to see more of Julie's art? How about her studio? CLICK HERE for a grand tour of this talented artist's creative space. You can also visit her links:

Website: http://www.wabibrookstudio.com
ICraft Shop: http://www.Icraft.ca/wabibrookstudio
Etsy Shop: http://www.WabiBrookStudio.etsy.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/wabibrookstudio
Facebook: http://artist.to/wabibrookstudio
Blog: http://www.wabibrookstudio.com/wordpress

You can also find her art at Soul Sister Creations in North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Thanks again for popping today. Hope the rest of your day is fabulous!