Meet Julia Mulligan | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julia Mulligan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julia, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
$$$ = Success

Most artists do not enter the field with our eye on the dollar. It’s nice when it comes, but that isn’t usually what compels us. If money is primarily what you seek, I suspect that your art may not be very interesting.

In my experience, this is also true for recognition. The art world is fickle. So if recognition (fame) is your foremost pursuit, you’ll likely be chasing the “next big thing” for a long time. Or, you might have a rather short career.

Here is a simple truth: Artists create because they can’t NOT create. Creating isn’t a choice, it’s a compulsion.

Really, I think most artists are just hoping that, in sharing their voice, they might be heard and hopefully acknowledged in some meaningful way.

There are so many great artists that will not be well known in their own time, or perhaps ever. So if we, as artists, can strive to share something meaningful, something about our human experience, maybe this will resonate in a way that can furnish a living for the artist, and offer the viewer a new way of seeing the world.

That right there just might be worth a few bucks.

What makes you unusual as an artist, and what have you learned along the way?

I guess one of the things that makes me a bit unusual as an artist is that I work in many mediums.

Seems to me that everything feeds everything else. So when I am looking at, say, a building or an animal, I am thinking about how this shape might be relevant perhaps to a sculpture. And when I am creating a sculpture or painting or linocut, I am thinking about how these might augment one another in some way. Can I use this technique in a different medium? Can I paint or print on clay? How can I portray something in a different way than what I’ve done before?

What have I learned along the way? Mostly, I have learned about letting go, which  is not passive. Letting go requires dedicated physical and mental effort. It can be painful, true, but – here is the paradox – also freeing.

At this age, I have had to let go of more than a few things. Among these, as an artist, age related vision changes were particularly painful. It may not sound like much to most people, but for me it was devastating to lose a lifetime of visual clarity. This adaptation has forced me into new ways of thinking and working. I have had to actively temper perfectionist tendencies and slowly learn a new way of seeing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend is interested in art and craft, my favorite museum is the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Arts located at 1201 Bannock Street in Denver.

The Kirkland is perfect for a trip through the art and craft of early, mid-century, and modern day Colorado, and beyond. It houses a massive collection of ceramic and glassware as well as sculpture, paintings and furniture. Vance Kirkland’s studio was moved from its original site on Pearl Street to the current site – exactly as it was when he was painting. If you have grown up in Colorado, you may recognize many of the artists shown here. If you haven’t, then lucky you! You will get to know them!

Of course the DAM is on the list. Of course.

RINO. That’s a must for the street art scene and the food scene. Barcelona Wine Bar or SuperMegaBien for dinner. And maybe a show at Nocturn?

Union Station would be on the list. We’d grab a bite and a sip at one of the numerous eateries there. And maybe take the Light Rail to Arvada and walk Old Town. They have a great farmers market weekends in the summer and autumn, and lots of places to grab a bite.

On one of the days, we would have to swing through the Highlands and grab a bottle (or three) of fine wine from Mondo Vino. Duey Kratzer, the owner, is a great guy! He will never steer you wrong with wine. And they offer tastings most Fridays and Saturdays. Yum!

A drive (or a hike) up Lookout Mountain might be in order. It’s a lovely hike with stunning vistas and just the right amount of cardio to work up an appetite.

Then, on to Golden! It is the most delightful small city. We like to call it “The Better Boulder”. The walk along the creek is lovely, and the trail goes for miles. One can stroll the town and find delightful small shops that are well worth the visit. We would have to have a healthful lunch or (maybe not so healthful – but yummy) pastry, and a coffee or tea at Windy Saddle on Washington Street.

On the way home, we would stop into Parfait Company Fine Patisserie (www.parfaitco.com). It’s a perfect little gem of a bakery. The very best in town, in my opinion. The pastries are works of art. Not just beautiful, they are all supremely delicious! The owner and pâtissier, Yeva, is a delight and a master of her art.

Lastly, we would relax at my home – and open a bottle of that lovely wine.

Yes, that would about do it.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people have contributed to my growth as both a human and an artist.

Everyone and everything is my teacher. And even the worst events in my life have led me to some important understanding that I wasn’t aware of before. I am grateful for that. Not for everything, of course! But grateful in each moment.

It is terribly important as an artist to have support from others. Initially my parents were most supportive of my choice, and in fact, fostered it. That allowed me to pursue art as a degree and a career. Beyond that, so many people have had an impact. I cannot name them all here, but somehow, in the flow, I happened to find beautiful, generous people who felt that I deserved a chance.

The support and love of my husband and children is critical. Additionally, I am grateful to have my “family” at Peter Durst Studio who are supportive, loving and nurturing. And I so appreciate the collectors of my work, because they make my work possible.

The Art Students League of Denver has been a marvelous resource, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking to learn new methods or to hone existing ones.

Website: juliamulliganart.com

Linkedin: Julia Mulligan, Artist

Image Credits
Cher Cruz, Kiki Lavine, Stephen Hume