I grew up in rural Pennsylvania with a family that instilled in me a passion for the arts and a deep connection to nature. As a child I loved the outdoors and any activity that allowed me to express my creativity. My father played a fundamental role in my development as an artist. He is a professional artist and received classical training from École Boulle in Paris, France.

 

From an early age I was dedicated to following in my father's footsteps. I spent summers in the local ceramics studio painting ceramic figurines and pottery. I packed my schedule with as many art courses as my school would allow and participated in art competitions throughout the years. I attended an intensive summer art program with local painters in my community to study technique and learn how to paint en plein air (plein air painting is defined as painting from real life instead of a photograph).

 

In the midst of applying to art institutions for a fine arts degree,  I was inspired to choose a slightly different path. I decided to pursue the pastry arts after growing up watching the amazing creations showcased on cake competition shows. I thought this would be a perfect fit as I enjoyed sculpting, baking, painting and the possibility of making a living doing something creative with my hands. I also feared becoming a "starving artist" if I chose to become a painter. I had no idea that my passion would find a way back into my life years later. 

 

I went on to earn a Bachelors degree in Baking and Pastry from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI. During my time at college I interned at three Michelin star restaurant Le Bernardin in NYC and attended Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie in Yssingeaux, France.  After exploring the industry, I found my niche designing wedding cakes as the lead designer at a high-end cake studio in West Palm Beach, FL. I applied sculpting, painting, and many other techniques to create art out of edible materials. It was through this experience I came across live wedding painting. 

​

I was blown away by the possibility of painting a moment in a person's life so significant, in a scene so beautifully composed. I knew right away this was something special and seemed incredibly fulfilling, particularly the element of having others interact with my art in progress. After exploring my style, I decided to pursue live painting professionally and have been loving every second of it for the past four years. My husband and I have recently moved from Florida to New Jersey to live closer to our families and I look forward to continuing painting love stories in the beautiful Northeast. 

​

I would describe my painting style as detail-oriented, vibrant, refined, and leaning toward realism. I try to represent the scene in a romanticized way that captures all of the elements that are important to the couple. My main priority is to always showcase the newlyweds and capture their emotion in the moment. 

​

Thank you so much for taking the time to learn about my story. I would love nothing more than to get to know you and possibly capture your special moment in a painting. 

​

xo, Julie 

​

​