Julie Whitehead

Julie Whitehead is an artist based in Brisbane Australia, who specialises in the creation of original, exquisite and unique floral paintings. Julie was accepted into art school in Melbourne at the young age of 17 and went on to major in painting and drawing for the next four years. She left her 30-year pursuit of a successful chocolate business in the wedding industry to return her attention to a persistent passion for painting. She believes that she has simply transferred the love invested in one medium to another, and now boasts a range of heartfelt paintings. Julie predominantly works on large canvases as the overall impact of the intense floral colour engages the audience. She always works in the highest quality oils & acrylics. The creative process begins with photographing her floral subjects from many different angles & with varying light conditions. More recently Julie has turned to use a resin finish on some of her smaller works that have resulted in an impactful, stunning finish with gold and silver leaf accents. Flowers are also a symbol of love and are frequently given as a gift to express love, gratitude and kindness. Since practicing as a full time artist she has become internationally renowned and her work has appeared in many exhibitions. Her work has also been commissioned by private collectors from Australia and abroad.

“Art has always been an integral part of my life tapestry weaving through life’s journey. My art explores the connecting behaviour of energy, beauty, love, strength, colour, movement & integral to all of it is heart. I adore floral, especially peony’s, cherry blossoms, orchids, roses & more recently water lilies. Painting them gives me great happiness & I get really excited to delve into them on canvas. Peony’s take me back to my childhood days of classical ballet & remind me of sequined tutus. They have multiple layers of petals & intricate centres. Its not only the beauty & complexity that attracts me to these extraordinary florals, it’s a memory. I want my floral work to evoke an uplifting emotion. Peony’s also remind me of us as humans with our multiple layers. Each layer is different & complex. All my floral works have special meaning to me & reflect some of the travels I’ve enjoyed. It’s all about experiences. Like travelling to Japan to photograph cherry blossoms. Such an amazing time & the whole country dedicates festivals to these special blooms. The Chelsea flower show in the UK is where I photographed thousands of roses. Quite overwhelming to see roses cascading everywhere. Heading to Monet’s garden in France to photograph his lily pond was an unforgettable experience. I have always wanted to paint his lilies. I love working on large canvasses as the overall impact is so much more intense & engaging. They take on a life of their own. I love that I can produce beautiful works of art that clients love & purchase to exhibit in their homes; places of work.” – Julie Whitehead