I encourage you to check out her blog, which can be found by clicking here, or taking a further look at some of her art, which is posted on her Deviant Art page. Julie considers herself a mixed media collage artist, and says, “I use whatever I can get my hands on.” (That’s the spirit…)

Julie says she’s passionate about so many things, but her art is focused on depression, suicide, self injury, and eating disorders. She’s got a great heart, and shared this story on her art with me:

“I probably got my start from my mom. She’s got a big heart. Definitely a giver. We’ve done a good deal of things together. Everything from working at homeless shelters to doing work in Africa. She definitely fostered this desire in me to give. My passions lie with using art as a solution.

I think I was 15 when someone handed me my first sketchbook. And at first, I tried desperately to use it as I thought a sketchbook should be used: to write and sketch out ideas and then make bigger full pieces of art from that. But after a while, I just kind of gave in. I hated leaving any page unfinished. I wanted them all to be pretty. And once I get started…it just kept going. Things I never knew I even had inside of me came pouring out. It became my healthy outlet when I was dealing with things that were bigger than me. It’s now nearly ten years later and I’m still doing art journals as a form of self therapy. Truth is, I can’t stop. I’d love for them to be able to help others. Anything from just reading and knowing that there’s someone else out there that feels the same, to inspiring them to pick up their own journal. (I guess we’ll see how that goes.)

I really love what To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) and Heart Support are doing, as well as Art is the Cure. I like the idea using art therapy to heal hurts. I came across videos on YouTube of National Geographic Photographers doing art therapy with people in war-torn countries, places that have already received the basic assistance of food, water and shelter. I think people neglect love sometimes as one of those basic needs, and I think art therapy can help with that. I would love to get to that point. But there’s a good deal of hurt here in the United States that can be helped, as well (and it’s where I am currently). Hopefully, I’ll find an organization that feels like home soon.”

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