Julie Greig - Artist Bio/Resume’
Julie Greig was encouraged by her late father, George Greig, to begin drawing from an early age with charcoal and soft pastels. She had her first ‘solo' exhibition while attending intermediate school in Christchurch, showing a range of styles, subjects and media. Julie enjoys exploring pastel technique, rendering fine details, texture and atmosphere and finds the infinite possibilities of art enthralling. The artist experiments with other media and texture under soft pastel and the resulting delight of serendipity. She also paints in oil on canvas or panel, which she sometimes textures beforehand, and enjoys creating oil mono prints, painting in acrylic and drawing expressive works in charcoal.
The unique and varied New Zealand landscape, stockmen and women, still life, horses and portraits are her inspiration. Born in Raetihi, near Mount Ruapehu, then living in Canterbury and the Wairarapa, she developed a love of mountains and wide-open spaces. Julie states "I endeavour to paint the sense of quiet and vastness we are so lucky to have in our light filled dramatic land. I always travel with sketch book and camera, and if I could just live until I'm 150 I might get all the paintings out which drive me every day in front of my easel. As I grow older I have a sense of urgency in my painting - so I work on simplifying my life, reducing interruptions and distractions so I'm able to maintain focus and concentration and just paint in my quiet studio.”
During the 1990's Julie Greig worked as an illustrator on a number of children's books, stories and novel covers, along with postage stamps and First Day Covers for NZ Post. During those years she continued to work as a children's book designer (International Distribution) for educational publishers in the Wellington region.
In 2004, Julie was recognised as an Associate of Pastel Artists of NZ (APANZ), in recognition of excellence in technique and the work she had achieved to date. Her pastels are usually signed with APANZ to indicate this honour.
With local glass artist, Greg Hall, the artist has completed 19 of 32 stained glass windows, the ‘Whanganui Story’, an historical project for Council Chambers illustrating Whanganui’s history, Wanganui District Council, Wanganui.
Julie’s original paintings are exhibited in selected galleries throughout New Zealand:
The House of Art, Wanganui, Quay Gallery - Ahuriri, Napier; Art South - Gore; The Artists Room - Dunedin.
A range of rural subjects have been published as art prints and greeting cards, available from various print galleries and framers within NZ and Australia, with a new edition of five published mid 2010. The artist paints in her home studio in the historic and attractive river city of Wanganui where she also holds classes, and occasionally travels to teach painting workshops.
email julie@juliegreig.co.nz
blog: juliegreig.blogspot.com
Julie Greig – Artist Statement
The subjects I paint are real and often commonplace, I chose these subjects based on my personal response to them in order to share a moment or a pose - to remind us that in our busy lives that there is simple beauty to be found when we take the time to really see. Painting is all about learning to see.
I am most inspired by a blank canvas or pastel board, the possibilities are infinite and often challenging. The solitude and revelation found when working on a painting creates its own momentum.
I use archival painting materials in whichever medium I working in, to guarantee longevity of the finished piece. I enjoy creating transparent glazes in oil, in pastel, the visual blending and texture of colours is compelling, the tones almost vibrate and I love to draw at any opportunity.
Awards
2010
* Open Award winner, Waimarino Art Awards, Raetihi, NZ (pastel)
2009
* Second Prize, Wanganui Arts Society annual exhibition, Wanganui, NZ (oil)
* Overall Winner, Southern Pastel Artists Annual Positively Pastel Exhibition, Invercargill, NZ
* First Prize, & ‘Honourable Mention’ Animal & Wildlife Category, 11th Annual Pastel 100 Competition, USA
* Second & Eighth place in the drawing section (for pastel), Ex Arte Equinnus Annual Competition, USA
2007
* Premier Award Winner, (Best in Show) Waimarino Art Awards, Raetihi, NZ (oil)
* Winner, Public Choice, Pastel Artists of NZ Annual National Exhibition, Christchurch, NZ
* Overall Winner, Southern Pastel Artists Annual Positively Pastel Exhibition, Invercargill, NZ
* Winner, Turf Monthly Gold Edition Equine Art Awards, Toowoomba, Australia (pastel)
2006
* Winner, Best Animal Study & Peoples Choice Awards, Southern Pastel Artists Exhibition, Invercargill, NZ
*Winner, Open Class Award, Waimarino Art Awards, Raetihi, NZ (oil)
* Merit Award, 5th Drawing Exhibition, Whanganui UCOL, Wanganui, NZ (charcoal)
* Winner, Annual National Award, Pastel Artists of NZ Exhibition, Nelson, NZ
2005
* Winner, Best Animal Study & Peoples Choice Awards, Southern Pastel Artists Exhibition, Invercargill, NZ
* Winner, Paint Award & Peoples Choice Award, Women’s Work Nationals Exhibition, Gisborne, NZ (oil)
* Merit Award, Pastel Artists of NZ National Exhibition, ‘Purely Pastel’, Upper Hutt, NZ
* Diploma of Art & Creativity (Honours), The Learning Connexion, Wellington, NZ
2004
* People’s Choice Award, Archibald’s Art Awards, Upper Hutt, NZ (pastel)
* Associate Award, Pastel Artists of NZ, (in recognition of high standard of work submitted)
2003
* Popular Choice Award, Southern Pastel Artists Exhibition, Invercargill, NZ
* Popular Vote Award, Wanganui Artists Review, Sarjeant Gallery, Wanganui, NZ (pastel)
2002
* Winner, Pastel Artists of NZ National Exhibition, Blenheim, NZ
* Highly Commended, Equitana Art Awards, Brisbane, Australia (pastel)
2001
* Highly Commended, Equitana Art Awards, Melbourne, Australia (pastel)
