Rising Stars: Meet Julie Fisher

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Fisher.

Hi Julie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I began learning how to paint many years ago with oils. After raising a family, I began to study online with amazing artists and show my work at local events around Chandler, as that is where I lived for 19 years after moving here from Michigan. I spent a few years in the west valley, participated in community exhibits, and local galleries, participated in an art ministry program, and taught at Michaels and Hobby Lobby.

I have always spent a lot of time outdoors, enjoying the lakes, rivers, mountains, and nature in general. I paint from life and from photos, nature, animals, and flowers. After forty years of learning (and still continuing to grow), I have taught acrylic painting, had art in magazines, (including SouthWest Art in the April/May 2023 issue), been invited to gallery exhibits (most recently at a New York Gallery), done many art shows across Arizona and feel that I have had a very satisfying journey in the art field.

Marketing has become something we artists are doing, and I am continuing to learn my way around social media, finding my collectors, and maintaining websites. I take courses in painting with various mediums (water, acrylic, and oil), as well as courses for marketing. I plan to continue to learn, sell and enjoy experimenting with different mediums and styles. My interest lately is wild horses. I visit the areas they frequent, take photographs, and then return with the memories and images captured. I am working on a series of horses at the present time.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Most of my beginning struggles were finding time while working full-time as a paralegal and raising a family. I did not grow a lot during those years. My recent struggles have to do with finding my collectors through marketing. There is so much to learn and it seems as though as soon as I learn something, there are changes and I have to unlearn what I just learned and learn something else.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have a passion for sunsets and skies. I love flowers. I love the way light and shadows play affecting the surrounding areas. I believe my flowers are my strongest paintings. I am constantly being praised for how beautiful they are. I paint in what I call, “painterly realism”. I have tried to be bolder at showing brush marks, paying attention to my edges, values, and warm and cool colors. I prefer oil painting but also work in acrylic and watercolors.

I believe I am being led to be known for painting the Arizona Salt River wild horses. I am really drawn to them, to their history, to their anatomy, and their beauty. After I complete my series of horses which I believe will be this fall, I plan to auction several paintings and donate the money to the groups that care for the wild horses.

I think what sets me apart from other artists is that I paint what I feel attracted to in my spirit. I am being true to myself and painting what I truly enjoy. Some people paint what they think will sell. I believe for a painting to really speak to someone else, it has to first speak to me.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
As a young girl, I enjoyed doing anything that was creative. I remember using my record player, placing paper on it, and dropping paint on it as it twirled. Today, we have “paint pours” which are very similar. I loved to sketch greeting cards and hallmark card bags. I think I have tried almost everything from sewing, macrame, knitting, crocheting, beading, and jewelry making but PAINTING is my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.JulieFisherFineArt.com
• Instagram: @juliefisherfineart
• Facebook: https:/Facebook.com/FishersFineArt