Julie Duell (nee Henderson) is a 6th generation Australian going back to the First Fleet of English convicts to arrive in Sydney cove in 1788. She also has a drop of American Shoshone Indian heritage for good measure! Julie was born in Sydney in 1941 and continued to reside in Sydney environs thereafter. Julie was named after the month of her birth, July.
Over many prolific artistic years, Julie has painted under the names Julie Ferguson and J. Ferguson-Duell before simply signing her works Julie Duell. As a child, she studied art at St. George Technical College, Kogarah and singing with a private teacher in Rockdale, entering numerous Eisteddfods as a soloist with some success.
Adult years saw Julie resume her art studies, once again at St. George Technical College and then numerous short courses on the Central Coast where she has been a prolific practising artist and art teacher since around 1970.
Inspiration: A deep love of nature, children and a fascination for human form, body language and portraiture. Also, the fairy realm.
Mediums of expression: Painting and drawing in charcoal, oils, pastels, inks, watercolour and acrylics with many works executed in mixed media. Her children’s book creations feature Australian fairies in the form of Sprites. Clay modelling and printmaking have been other strings to her bow.
Awards: Among a number of awards over the years, Julie’s Children’s book “Bush Sprites of Australia” attracted a special award from the Riso Educational Foundation of Japan in 1985, along with 3rd prize in an International Postcard Competition that year.
Other awards include FIRST PRIZE in the RECONCILIATION WEEK 2008 ABORIGINAL ARTISTS ART EXHIBITION & COMPETITION, taking out the non-indigenous award of $1000 for this painting, “Dreamscape 1″…
First in the 2010 Rotary of Umina Portrait Prize for her portrait of Tony La Spina:
Teaching: A popular teacher on the Central Coast since 1976, Julie has taught adult evening college for the Dept. of Education, held numerous private classes and interacted with 5 Central Coast Art Societies. She instigated the Central Coast Art Society’s Childrens classes in the 1980s. From 2005 Julie has combined with her partner Tony La Spina in art teaching pursuits for NSW Kincumber Community College and Art Society workshops.
Always keen to experiment and move forward in artistic endeavours, Julie has a non-competitive sharing attitude to art and invites inter-action with other art lovers through this blog. You will find numerous free art lessons listed under various Categories in this Website.
As Julie says “I know what it is like to be in need of support and guidance in a home environment, where for various reasons Artists and Students may not be able to access live classes. I am largely self taught in many areas and it was really hard work finding answers to problems in the days before home computers. Now that this new means of communication is available, I am delighted to provide what support I can through this website and http://www.kidsfuncorner.com (a companion creative site for children).
Hi, loved your blog and very keen to share a multicultural art project with you!Teaching in Spain and also write stories for chidren.
By: julie on April 14, 2008
at 12:26 pm
It was so refreshing to see your Screenprinting on Fabric site. I teach screenprinting workshops in regional Tasmania & have never seen the steps so clearly laid out. Well done Julie!
By: Joanne Wild on November 18, 2009
at 7:01 am
Hello Julie – Lovely to ‘meet’ you. A multicultural art project sounds wonderful. This is exactly what I hoped for in setting up this blog. Let’s share ideas. Are we thinking children or adults? Julie D.
By: Julie Duell on April 15, 2008
at 12:09 am
hi julie,
i am glad your image problems are over.
i am also an artist!
and it’s a pleasure to find another artist right here in wordpress.com!
By: Netty Gritty on April 22, 2008
at 12:38 pm
Reply to Netty Gritty:
I’m so grateful for your kind and prompt assistance re the image to post inserts! I’ve been limping along for a couple of weeks with only thumbnails & slideshows since the new editor was introduced and now, thanks to your advice, I can insert full sized images again.
I’ll be glad to join Bloggers United towards the Human Rights focus also. A pleasure to meet you ! Julie
By: Julie Duell on April 22, 2008
at 2:36 pm
What a great site! I came via the fabric art tag in WordPress, and your screen printing entry caught my eye. My sister is a high school art teacher in Raseda, CA and she’s doing printing this summer on school break. I’m fascinated – she helped me do a simple one while I was out a couple of weeks ago. Then today I saw her overprint on her blog – intriguing:
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-uyIefi01cKs6WtSdlcIKNrsx
Now I’m looking forward to reading the rest of your entries!
Cathy Tyler in Virginia
cathytyler.wordpress.com
By: cathytyler on August 6, 2008
at 5:49 pm
Thank you Cathy! I’m glad you are finding the blog of interest. It’s all about sharing and I am thrilled we can reach out across the world in this way to connect. Screen printing can be a really interesting form of art. My post on this is very simplistic for easy beginnings but it can be quite sophisticated with overlays and design, as you know. You may like to look at Nina Angelo’s work on post 28. Cheers! Julie
By: Julie Duell on August 6, 2008
at 11:23 pm
HI julie i am base in narrandera nsw and have strted teaching some art classes here 6 months ago.. I am also an artist.
By: elizabeth on February 16, 2009
at 4:48 am
I love your site. Keep it up !
By: knowledgetoday on March 30, 2009
at 7:33 am
Hi Julie,
Your work is just outstanding. Quite a talent! I am a mother of 2 and i find peace only when i am painting. I’ve been looking to take mixed media classes in new york city and i don’t know where to go. Maybe you can help me. There are alot out there but i don’t which are the best. Thank you Inji
By: inji on May 29, 2009
at 1:42 pm
Hi there!
Thanks so much for making contact. I understand completely your sense of
peace found in painting, particularly while you are
parenting (are they pre-school?). I used to really enjoy my little
time-window of peace when they were asleep.
I’m sorry, but I don’t know what is available in New York city in the way of
classes, but I suggest you join an Art Society if
there is one in your area. That way you will meet up with others with the
same interest and be able to gain insight into art
happenings through their meetings and newsletters.
Any local gallery should be able to direct you to an Art Society contact.
In Australia these Societies provide
a number of activities such as guest demonstraters, hands-on workshops,
paint-outs together on location and exhibitions
for members. That would be a way of assessing available tutors and classes
before commiting to a course.
If home responsibilities don’t allow you to attend functions away from home,
perhaps there is a friend you can invite
to experiment with you at home – mixed media can be a lot about play, using
collage and applying paint with many things
as well as brushes to get effects. If possible, you need to have an area
where you can be a bit messy, leave things set up and
call it your art corner/room.
A basic rule for mixed media is that you can add oil based paint over water
based – but not the other way around.
PVA glue comes under water based and is used for collage in harmony with
acrylic paint. Good luck, enjoy and many
thanks for your appreciation of the art website! Julie
Dear Julie,
I was still looking at your work and i am in love with everything you do. Simply beautiful. Thank you so much for getting back to me.
I have a 5 years-old little girl who has special needs so i use art as my escape…a kind of therapy for myself.
I am not very good but i really want to be able to do some good work in the future so i am holding there.
Thank you very much for you advises. And thank you for sharing your talent with the world.
Inji
By: Julie Duell on May 29, 2009
at 10:20 pm
Hi Julie
really nice website. I love your art.
I happen to have a seascape original by Barbara Duggan. This was transported the USA some years ago. I would love to write to barbara about the work. Do you please have an email address for her.
Thank you so much
By: mike dauria on June 5, 2009
at 9:35 pm
Nice to be a catalyst Mike. See separate email for details. Julie
By: Julie Duell on June 8, 2009
at 8:14 am
Hi Julie
I am helping to organise an Enchanted Rainforest themed Spring Fair for our community
I cam across your site while looking for enchanted rainforest themes on the net.
Would love to utilise your work in some way, any ideas?
absolutely beautiful!
Diana
By: Diana on September 2, 2009
at 9:31 am
Nice to meet you Julie! Your art lessons are fantastic – even an artist-to-be understands it. Thank you so much.
Your drawing of a wattle tree amazed me because I have painted something almost exactly like yours a few weeks ago with acrylic paint. The background is grey but the painting looks depressing and the grey does not look good with the appearance of the tree. Can you give me some advice please?
By: Rina on April 9, 2010
at 11:00 am
Hello Rina – Thank you for your comment. Re the wattle tree study, it sounds as if the grey background is deadening it. Maybe it needs some colour in the background or stronger tonal contrast to lift it. Generally we need to accent a feature (like your wattle tree) by light against dark – if a medium tone is set against another medium tone, the drama is lost. The complementary colour to yellow is purple, which really makes the purple “sing”. Perhaps you could work muted purply tones into the shadows or sky. Anyway – food for thought! Julie
By: Julie Duell on April 12, 2010
at 2:09 am
Hello Julie – I have followed your advice from the example as per e-mail and what a difference it has made! Thank you once again.
My painting was originally meant to be a tree at the beginning of autumn but in the end I was not sure if the yellow spots were flowers or fruit!
Now it is a wattle tree!
By: Rina on April 18, 2010
at 10:40 am
Thank you Rina – glad to be able to help. Julie
By: Julie Duell on April 18, 2010
at 1:57 pm
Hi Julie,
I fell upon you site just checking on perspective lessons. Do you have any easy ways to teach mutliple perspective drawing to students? I love your examples and the easy to understand instructions.
sara
By: Sara on July 2, 2010
at 4:24 pm
Hi Sara, I’m afraid I can’t suggest any easy methods to teaching multiple perspective. All I can suggest is imagining each object in its own invisible cube or box and treating each separately by drawing these boxes lightly and erasing later. Rather than perspective formulas, careful observation of shapes through a viewfinder may be more useful, as well as being aware of overlapping as things become closer to the artist’s viewpoint. By drawing lots of simpler perspective studies, one develops an inner sense of what looks “right” or “wrong” and sketches can be overlaid on a light table for correction. Good luck…Julie
By: Julie Duell on July 8, 2010
at 1:20 pm
again, love your site. glad I kept your name. Only wish I was as talented.
By: joan on July 19, 2010
at 10:58 pm
Hi Joan – Thanks for commenting. At the moment I think talent has less to do with success than patience and tenacity! e.g. I am presently struggling with learning animation and it is really hard work, often frustrating…so with everything that doesn’t work, I have to say “Well I can’t do that YET” (Always add YET). It’s time to listen to my own advice and realise there are no mistakes, only lessons. Good luck and happy arting…Julie
By: Julie Duell on July 19, 2010
at 11:19 pm
Finally, an issue that I am passionate about. I have looked for information of this caliber for the last several hours. Your site is greatly appreciated.
By: Real Estate on November 15, 2010
at 8:57 pm
Julie –
I found your site when looking for some advise related to drawing perspective. I am venturing out late in life to follow a dream, writing children’s bedtime stories and books as well as trying to illustrate them. I am not classically trained in either, so it is challenging, but I am being given an opportunity because someone influential the industry saw a raw ability worth developing. The first story is done, and now I am trying to illustrate it so it can be published on the web. It is a children’s story –
Thank you so much for your wealth of information. I love your work, and perhaps as I walk down this road our paths will cross. I was inspired when I saw your art.
Rich
By: richokun on January 28, 2012
at 5:07 pm
Thank you Rich. Glad to be of help. Good luck with your children’s book venture. I would love to know how you get on so do keep in touch. Julie
By: Julie Duell on January 28, 2012
at 9:53 pm
Thank you so much for your wealth of information. I love your work, i am working as a drawing master.i am expecting your suggestions regards
By: p.kathamuthu.drawing teacher on February 15, 2012
at 3:13 pm
Hi Julie,I’ve been reading your advice on “Misting”in oils with great interest.I can now give it a go on a painting I’m trying to finish. Thankyou.
By: Joseph Faust on April 13, 2012
at 10:50 am
Hi Julie, You might remeber me! My name is Tracy I actually stayed with you for New Years in 1983 with a guy named David LeSage. You gave me a stunning chalk drawing of a captains head. Personally signed for me. Just letting you know it has been my pride and joy since you gave it to me. I had it especially framed in protective glass, It has hung in every house I ever lived in. Nobody was allowed to get to close. It looks as good as the day you gave it to me. Thank you so much for the pleasure it has given me. Tracy xoxo.
By: Tracy Perry on April 16, 2012
at 7:00 am
Hi Tracy, Lovely to hear from you…a real “blast from the past” as it were. Thanks for the feedback re the pastel of the Captain. I did 2 of ship’s Captains – One 3/4 view with a pipe and the other a profile
wearing a peaked cap. I have a feeling it was the profile one you have. Anyway I am so glad it has given you pleasure and thank you for contacting me. I will email you personally. Julie
By: Julie Duell on April 16, 2012
at 1:34 pm