Julie Keaten-Reed

The inspiration for my work comes from all things artistic beginning in childhood. My grandmother, Carley Craig, was a fashion designer and lifelong artist working in all media. As I grew up I developed an appreciation of form, color and line. That appreciation deepened into a passion as I was exposed to the art and lifestyle of the Japanese. My five-year stay in Nagasaki, Japan, utterly transformed , me, and compelled me to set aside previous career and life goals. I now pour my energies into creating works that don't easily fit genre labels, borrowing from both Western and Asian traditions. I use traditional Asian calligraphy brushes and sumi, ink. Watercolor or oil paints are added for touches of color. I work on canvas or watercolor papers, each surface offering different effects. "A cursory glance at one of Julie's paintings will reveal a simple brushstroke drawing; a second perusal evokes a perception of what has not been drawn, but merely imagined. Herein lies the essence of her achievement. Elegant in its simplicity, subtle in its design, bold in its grace, this art can elicit profound responses." ~ Mary Ruth Curtis

The inspiration for my work comes not from formal schooling in drawing or art, but from a life-long immersion in things artistic. An early appreciation of form, color and line deepened into a fascination and eventually a passion as I was exposed to the aesthetics and lifestyle of the Japanese. A five-year stay in Nagasaki in the 90's transformed me, compelling me to set aside previous career and life goals. I now pour my energies into creating works that defy genre classification, borrowing from both Western and Asian traditions. My early creations were mixed media compositions featuring layered kimono silks and ink line drawings. The work continues to evolve and current pieces are simply ink paintings on paper. I use traditional Asian calligraphy brushes and sumi, a charcoal-based ink. Sometimes watercolors or acrylics are added for touches of color. I work on both rice paper and watercolor paper, each surface demanding different techniques and offering different effects. A quick glance at one of my paintings might reveal a simple brushstroke drawing. A second perusal will hopefully evoke a perception of what has not been drawn, but merely imagined. Elegant simplicity, subtle design, bold grace, this is what I'm striving for.