Julia Chandler Lawing
About Julia Chandler Lawing
Julia Chandler Lawing's artistic journey is a testament to her lifelong love affair with nature and the expressive power of visual storytelling. Raised on the serene shores of Georgia’s Golden Isles, Julia's early interactions with the island's lush wetlands and the ever-changing light profoundly shaped her artistic sensibility. This innate connection to the natural world is a recurring theme in her work, where she seeks to capture the elusive essence of moments and evoke emotion through her vibrant palette and dynamic compositions.
Julia's academic path began with a BA in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, complemented by a minor in art history and drawing. As a mother to four daughters, Julia dedicated herself to nurturing creativity in others, teaching art at their school and instilling a love for artistic expression in the next generation. Although her creative explorations spanned a diverse array of mediums, it was not until she discovered oil painting at the age of 45 that she truly found her artistic voice. Under the mentorship of renowned artist Andrew Braitman and through participation in numerous workshops, Julia honed her craft, developing a distinctive style that blends contemporary impressionism with abstract expressionism.
Her creative process is as layered as her works, often beginning with acrylics and transitioning to oils, augmented by tools such as palette knives and spatulas. Recently, Julia has expanded her repertoire to include stencils, infusing her pieces with a heightened sense of abstraction. Her inspiration draws deeply from personal experiences, such as family vacations, and spiritual reflections, often titling her pieces after Psalms that speak to the beauty of creation, like Where My Help Comes From (Psalm 121).
Julia's artwork has garnered significant attention, gracing private collections across North America and featuring in corporate environments such as Towne Bank and Georgia State University College of Law. Her pieces have also been selected for public display through initiatives like the ArtPop billboard program. Currently based in Concord, North Carolina, Julia continues to evolve her practice, embracing new adventures and plein air painting as she and her husband explore the world as empty nesters. Her dedication to growth and exploration is unwavering, as she strives to refine her technique and expand the emotional and thematic depth of her work.