Julie Schumer

For years I ferociously slashed and burned my way across my surfaces with vibrant bursts of color and energy. In 2018, however, my creative path took an unexpected turn. The turbulence in my life reached its peak when my former spouse-a Vietnam veteran- experienced a long and devastating mental health crisis. My cliffs became narrower in vision and all the color literally drained from my work. I was adrift from myself and my work. In response, I embarked on an intimate journey inward, exploring the hidden recesses of my emotional landscape as a means of survival and renewal. My current work reflects this ongoing evolution: luminous layers of acrylics in a primarily neutral palette, though not always, and interwoven with expressive marks-crafted with graphite, crayons, pastel and charcoal-that capture the raw intensity of inner conflict. More recently I have included a focus on shapes in the creation of these contrasts, a nod to the influence of my growing collage practice. These dynamic contrasts between agitation and calm create an atmospheric space where both viewer and artist can find solace and hope. I’m always trying to find the right balance between intensity and quiet spaces.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. As a 5 year-old in kindergarten, I one day covered myself in Kelly green paint, luxuriating in the sensuous feel of it on my skin, thus beginning my infatuation with painting. At that age I had an interest in creating only non-objective work, setting me apart from the other children as an outlier. I painted in this vein through high school. My parents refused to help me with college expenses if I pursued art as a career. Instead, I became a criminal defense lawyer, returning to my art practice in my mid-forties. I relocated to Santa Fe, NM from the Northern California area in 2002 where I have dedicated myself to my painting practice, constantly exploring new ideas, techniques and mediums. Over the past 20 plus years I have shown my work in various Santa Fe galleries as well as galleries and other venues across the nation. My paintings are in numerous private collections as well as the public collection maintained by the Tucson International Airport and have been featured in numerous publications.

Collage/Mixed Media, Painting (all materials)