Conversations with Julie Bender

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Bender

Hi Julie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2002, when my beloved vizsla died at the relatively young age of nine, I found that the only way to ease my pain was by making some deeply personal gesture of gratitude. Having a Fine Art degree but no previous knowledge of wood-burning, I bought a cheap wood-burner, and using a photograph as a guide, set out to burn my dog’s portrait on a cherry wood urn. It was then that I found my life’s calling, taught myself various pyrographic techniques, practicing tirelessly at nights and weekends for several years to develop a body of work for displaying at regional, state and national shows and exhibitions. Then, in 2012, with my work widely recognized, I dropped my 9 to 5 job and relocated to northern Colorado to pursue my art full time and be near the animals I now represent in my art.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The fine art market is sometimes quite unpredictable; one does not receive a steady paycheck. So, financially, it can sometimes be a hardship. And with any art form there are always new discoveries. I am one to constantly challenge myself, explore new techniques and media that compliment my burnings. So while pyrography has been a constant, the addition of color and various techniques have helped my art to grow and evolve.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Abstract realism now describes my style. Abstraction invites viewers to engage with the artwork on a level that transcends the literal, encouraging interpretations that are as varied and unique as the pieces themselves. Through subtly-applied abstraction, I can express ideas, emotions and visions that cannot be captured through representational art alone, making it a continually evolving and dynamic force in the art world.

I have come to accept the somewhat unforgiving nature of pyrography; once a mark is burned, it’s permanent. But painting allows me the freedom I crave after the tedium of burning. The blending of media is what excites me the most: mixing colorless and color, literal and loose, is my distinguishing thumbprint in my art. Seeing beyond reality and into my imagination is most inspiring to me.

My art now consists of a combination of media, tools, skills and style that sets itself apart from the traditional media and styles found at most art shows and galleries. Exclusively based on personal observations of wild animals native to the Rocky Mountain region as well as ranch life, rodeos and sporting animals, my art stands apart in the world of fine art.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
As a wildlife artist, I admit that I spend more time in the field watching wild animals than in the studio producing art. Indeed, observing animals is my greatest joy. Although photographs cannot communicate exactly what the eye sees, they serve to document my experiences and play an important role in building my visual stories.
The more time I spend observing these animals, the better I understand and can predict their behavior. All my works are based on firsthand observations. Each outing teaches me greater respect and responsibility for animals and the land they inhabit. My art is a strong reflection of these experiences and I am humbled to represent them.

Pricing:

• $1,400-$10,000

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juliebender.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie_bender_art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieBenderArt