Julie Peterson Shea
Phillipsburg, KS
Julie Peterson Shea is an artist working predominantly in black and white who explores expressing ideas through images.
Message
I earned my BA in Art Education in 1995 and a MFA with an emphasis in Drawing and Ceramics from Fort Hays State University in 2003. In 2004, my family was involved in a serious car accident that resulted in injury to all five of my children. I have learned more about brian injury than any parent would ever want to know as it pertains to their children. My art career took a back seat to the needs of my children and learning how to best help them succeed. In 2019 my youngest child graduated from high school. Since then I have reapplied myself my art production and career.
Inspiration, for me, comes in many forms. The beauty of nature, internal struggles, and my interest in history can all be seen in my works. Most recently, I have been creating illustrations in black and white, which allude to experiences and emotions. From my illustration, I make prints and other goods to sell.
I have lived in the Midwest my entire life. A small rural town is were my husband, Randie, and I have raised our family. Since 1995, I have taught art in the local High School and Middle Schools. I also volunteer with the local Arts Council to teach both adult and children's classes/workshops. When I am not teaching or creating art, I enjoy spending time with my family and my cats, working on the landscaping around my house, and listening to music.
Statement
Things that are dark or morose are not ugly and unsettling. A rose with dry and crumbling petals can either be seen as decay or as a reminder of a beautiful flower that in its life cycle brought happiness to the gardener. Where some see the melancholy, others see fond memories. I create many of my pen and ink drawings from this dark place that is filled with optimism and hope and sometimes even humor. Beauty, to me, is much more than appearance remembering that we all see the world through a lens of experiences, emotions, and attitudes.
My audience finds fascination in the macabre and sees the connection of dark and light, life and death, hard and soft. Their stories are often wrought with hardship. These difficulties provide the ability to draw personal meaning from melancholy but also the capacity for gratefulness, optimism, and humor.
Thank you for visiting my gallery page. For information about purchases or commissions please contact me at [email protected].
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