Daily Inspiration: Meet Jules Elders

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jules Elders.

Hi Jules, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Jules, I live in the foothills of Denver and I am an artist. I teach, create, and live art, big and small.

I became interested in art at a very young age, as my babysitter was basically a stack of paper and a bin full of crayons. I watched my siblings draw and tried to emulate their creativity. I was not as skilled as them but my passion ran deep and I found solace in art. By my high school years I was in 2 art classes each semester and found leadership through my art teachers. I took classes at the Art Institute of Chicago on weekends and painted my first mural at a sub shop in Chicago’s LOOP when I was 17. I got a scholarship to attend Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids Michigan where I got a BFA in painting and a minor in design. I planned on becoming the world’s next Andy Warhol but paying the bills was difficult and waiting tables took its toll. So I fell back on my minor and entered the advertising realm as a graphic designer. I climbed the ladder of Chicago’s biggest ad agencies for 20 years, ending as a Creative Director at Ogilvy & Mather.

There I stayed until age 43 when I was finally blessed to give birth. While watching my infant sleep, I decided to quit my career and do something that would allow me to spend more time with my child and give back to her generation. At that time, art was being minimized in public schools which made me very sad, so I decided to start teaching art and painting murals to make the world a more beautiful place. In 2018 I launched an Enrichment School called “Art’s Cool,” where I went into public schools after school to teach. I had 2 successful years before COVID hit and the world changed as we knew it.

I was out of a job and I missed my students so I decided to see if I could connect with them on Zoom and continue teaching art. Much to my surprise, it worked! Denver News did a story about me and my online school for kids which was such a success that they aired it nationally! Suddenly, my Denver-land student base turned into kids from New York to California and everywhere in between. It was so fun to see kids across the country logging on, becoming friends, and doing art together. It was amazing and I loved it.

Until the world changed again. in 2021 The schools opened back up but on very strict terms, and the need for zoom went away. Enrichment teachers were not allowed in the building, so I had to reinvent my business, again.

The next move was to find a brick and mortar location and have students come to me. I opened a studio in Evergreen, CO. I added 7 mediums, more classes, private lessons and parties. I changed the business name to Evergreen Art School to incorporate all ages – from preschool to adult.

I also upgraded my mural business with a new professional name: Wall of Sound Murals, to keep me busy when classes were low.

In Fall of 2022, schools fully opened up again, inviting enrichment teachers back into the building. I finally got to do the mission I started, bringing enrichment art into schools after school. I like it because it helps working parents add more time to their workday, and kids love it because they don’t have to leave their school. They get to create art with their classmates, siblings and friends in a familiar, easy and safe environment.

I am so grateful that I am finally living my passion while spending more quality time with my daughter and giving back to her generation. My murals are seen by thousands, and a favorite compliment is “I always drive out of my way to go home because your mural puts a smile on my face!”

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, the road has been quite bumpy! Quitting my high-paying job in advertising to teach art was a pay drop of 85%.  I had to make a lot of adjustments and give up a lot financially for the sake of spending more time with my daughter and giving back to her generation.

I was just getting started and successful when Covid hit and I had to start over a second time and find a new way to teach and make money. Zoom classes were successful until the schools opened back up and no one wanted to do Zoom anymore, so I had to start over a third time. I opened a studio but people were still shy about being in public. It was a very slow start but those who came loved it so I knew I just needed to hang on. Then inflation hit and everyone stopped spending money on things that were not a necessity.

Finally now things are picking up again and people are spending money on art and murals. Thank you, Universe!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the owner/founder of 2 small businesses: Wall of Sound Murals, specializing in large-scale hand-painted indoor/outdoor murals, and Evergreen Art School, teaching “art to all ages.” Toddlers, homeschoolers, adults, art club, enrichment, summer camps, and family classes in 7 mediums: graphite, watercolor, charcoal, oil pastel, marker, colored pencil and acrylic. My lessons include step-by-step instruction with music, trivia and a lot of fun!

I am most proud of the compliments I get, “My child had so much fun and can’t stop talking about it, thank you Ms. Jules” and “I learned so much and was so relaxed I forgot all about the stress I had before coming in today!” Seeing the pride and empowerment on the faces of every age student, and knowing I helped make their day better keeps me going.

This fall I will finally get back to doing my own art, mixed media on velvet, and plan to start showing and selling. The dream I had 30 years ago of being the world’s next Andy Warhol is on its way! Stay tuned, watch out world! 🙂

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Keep going, keep trying, keep learning, keep loving!

Contact Info:

• Website: Wallofsoundmurals.com, evergreenartschool.com
• Instagram: @Wallofsoundmurals, @evergreen_art_school
• Facebook: @Wallofsoundmurals, @evergreenartschool