Nature's Way

Arts & Crafts Paintings
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Nature's Way

Nature's Way is moody, thick, and full of texture. I created this artwork style, which I call my "Tile-Inspired Series" because of my love for the ceramic art tiles from the early 1900s. Grueby, Rookwood, Teco (among others) were creating beautiful decorative narratives with their landscape tiles. Since my medium is paint, I wanted to stay true to my roots and try to create a new style of painting that evokes a similar feeling to the tiles of yesteryear. I start with an acrylic panel, then add sculptural molding compounds to the surface to create the high relief that's seen in the bronze outlines of the shapes. Once it's dry, I can sand the forms and then I let the acrylic paint pool in the reservoirs I've created to get a glaze-like effect.

This original painting was donated to The Roycrofters-At-Large Association (RALA) in East Aurora, NY for the annual Goodie Box raffle in 2021. Julie is a RALA board member and a Roycroft Renaissance Master Artisan with this organization.

Artwork by Julie Leidel, 2021.