Julie Podstolski
Painter/illustrator , Realist (South Fremantle, WA)

I am New Zealand-born (1959) and moved to Australia in 1982.

I have always been a realist artist and am often referred to as a photorealist. After working exclusively with oil paints for about twenty years, in 2001 I switched to coloured pencils as my medium of choice.

I use coloured pencils to achieve luminosity and a sense of drama. I want my drawings to breathe and to sing. This is made possible by knowing colour relationships and how to mix colours. I am constantly thinking about complementary colours and what the dominant complementary colours are in each composition I work on.

My art reflects what I find interesting in life; one could say – the poetry of life. This includes the urban environment, particular qualities of light, atmospherics, contrast, juxtapositions and people.

For several years my subject matter has been focussed on the geisha who live and work in Kyoto, Japan. I travel to Japan regularly looking (through my camera) for interesting situations to shoot. My photos are the source material for my drawings.

I spent December 2010 in Paris so currently I am building a Paris collection for my next exhibition.

I am always happy to share my knowledge about coloured pencils with people so I encourage you to write with any questions you might have regarding techniques and materials used.

Contact Julie Podstolski
Visit Julie Podstolski's website

Qualifications:
Diploma of Fine Arts (major in Painting) University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand - 1978-1980.

Exhibition History:
2010 “Geisha: The Allure of Mystique” Kingfisher Gallery, West Perth.
2009 “Japonisme” Preston Street Artspace, Como, Perth.
2007 “Spirited Away” The Old Royal George Gallery, East Fremantle.
2005 “Geisha Then and Now” Gallery East, North Fremantle.
2004 “Street Theatre” Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle.
2001 “Poles Apart” exhibition with Max Podstolski at Gadfly Gallery, Dalkeith, Perth.
2000 “Seeing the Light” Gadfly Gallery, Dalkeith, Perth.