Julie England shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Julie, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Are you walking a path—or wandering?
This is a great question. Yes, I am walking a path in my painting practice; however, I am also wandering to the extent that I allow time when I have a question for both my subconscious to work on it and to allow the answer to come to me from an external reference. Visiting art museums to look at masterful artworks is some of the wandering that is beneficial indirectly to our own path or practice. Whether I am working to solve a problem in color or composition, some wandering is needed. Time is required to allow ideas to bubble up to the surface and come out onto the canvas. Stop along the way of your path and wander a bit; learn from life experiences.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Julie England and I am a contemporary oil painter living in Flower Mound, TX and working at an art studio in Dallas, TX. My artwork is currently represented by Jack Meier Gallery in Houston, TX. My work has been recognized in notable juried exhibitions, including New Texas Talent XXVII (2020) and the Texas National Art Competition & Exhibition (2018). In 2018, I was awarded the Mary Vernon Painting Prize by the faculty of Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts. My art was exhibited in a solo exhibition at Strata Gallery in Santa Fe, NM in 2022 and completed a residency at the Vermont Studio Center in 2023. My art studio is open to the public periodically and I have participated in many juried art exhibitions each year.
I earned a BFA from Southern Methodist University (2018), an AA from Brookhaven College (2015), and a BS in Chemical Engineering from Texas Tech University. Before dedicating myself full-time to painting, I built a successful career in the semiconductor industry, where I held senior leadership positions. This unique trajectory informs both the discipline and conceptual depth of my art practice. I maintain a daily art studio practice, focused primarily on oil painting. My work often engages themes of landscape, transformation, and systems—concepts shaped by observing Nature.
My oil paintings explore the intersection of memory and landscape, where painterly realism merges with abstract passages. Drawing from the Earth’s varied environments, both near and far, I create spatial compositions that evoke the energy and mood of specific ecological settings. Each work is an invitation to connect with place—through color, atmosphere, and organic form.
Having grown up in the rural landscapes of Wisconsin, Florida, and Texas, I developed an early sensitivity to regional differences in light, flora, and terrain. This formative exposure to nature’s diversity continues to inform my practice. Whether depicting a vivid floral focal point or an atmospheric field of color, my paintings reflect both the physical environment and a deeper meditative awareness of our shared ecological system.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Many people ask me how I made the leap from engineering to art. The answer in part is due to my natural curiosity of how things are made. I collected art intently for ten years. Among this modest collection was a theme of contemporary and abstract landscape painting. My engineering and analytical mind asked the question: “How do they do this?”; which in turn led to pondering: “Perhaps I could try to do this?”. Then in 2011, I decided to take my first drawing and painting class as an adult. I fell for it … loving the process and experiences of drawing and oil painting. I was absorbed so much that time flew by as if in a flow. That first step led to more studio art education.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
The best advice I have when you want to give up is to be persistent. Everyone has an inner dialogue at that fork in the road. Be true to yourself and confident in who you are. I learned to persist by trying at least three times in the face of a “no” or an obstacle. I do not give up easily. Tenacity is my friend. Go along life’s journey. Things happen in their own time, not necessarily on your timeline. Allow for obstacles, resistance and mistakes and then embrace them for they are learning opportunities that make us stronger.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, I would have to say that the public version of me is characteristic of the real me. Outwardly, people would probably notice that I am analytical, logical and observant. What they probably don’t know is that there are more complex emotions and attributes that have come through life’s lessons. I am observant and visually take in information. It is both a gift and burden of being an painter who finds a visual expression easier than finding the right words to communicate an idea..
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
What’s left is the core of who we are, heart, soul and the relationships we have nurtured. Here’s what I have learned about brain health: “Connectedness is incredibly valuable as we age,acting as a buffer against loneliness and boosting mental health, cognitive function, and physical well-being by reducing stress. Strong social ties have even been linked to longer life. Meaningful relationships provide essential emotional support, stimulate the brain, and help navigate major life changes like retirement or loss, making it key to successful aging.” Nurture the friendships you have with your time and attention.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.julieenglandart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julieengland.art/, https://www.instagram.com/julieenglandart_botanical/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieengland
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Julie.S.England
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@julieenglandart
Image Credits
Portrait Photos by Teresa Rafidi
