Juliette Hemingway's Artist Statement

I paint because I have to. There comes a time when you are not being creative long enough, it starts to hurt. As an ultra sensitive being, my environment impacts me. I take it all in, and the only way to expunge things out of my system is to put it down on paper or canvas. This is a daily ritual with me not only as a creative process, but also as a spiritual process.

I strive to recreate every emotion, thought, opinion and idea. Each of my works is a representation of this. Ultimately, my goal is to fulfill my destiny. I believe I was given this gift for a reason, now it’s up to me to find out why. More important is, when I finally do meet my maker I don’t want to be trying to explain why I did not become an artist.

My background is in classical realism, I am self-taught. I study other artist works, both past and current. I studied the techniques used in Ateliers and as I grew older and more comfortable in my own skin, I started developing my own style of work. This style has been dubbed "funky cool". This style evolved from other influences, such as Picasso, Basquiat and yes, comic book art. You can't say this isn't art people! But more important this style is me. It encompasses who I am, this is my truth.

I am still exploring this me, as this is an ongoing and ever developing journey I am finding myself on. I also like the freedom of being able to draw/paint the figure in my own way, not being constrained to what society says or thinks. I love textures and depth. I am trying to capture something on this canvas and the background is just as vital as the central figure.

The human body is already a piece of art in itself. I cannot improve on what God has already created, I can only make it "funky cool".

For more information about Juliette's work please contact Denver Art Gallery:
(303) 525-1301

Juliette is currently showing 15 pieces in the Gallery and is having a solo exhibition that begins on September 4, 2009 (First Friday).