Julia Karl is a painter living in London, UK. Julia developed her passion for the arts in her early childhood and attended art classes throughout her school years. After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Arts at Buckinghamshire New University, she relocated to London to work as a graphic designer.
In 2019 she decided to start a second career as a painter. Since then, she exhibited her work in several group shows including Art Catcher, Art from Hear, Doncaster Art Fair and Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters. Julia also became a co-organiser of Leytonstone Arts Trail in 2021.
Her work is inspired by Aubrey Beardsley, Lucian Freud, Alice Neel, Paula Rego, Amy Sherald and Kehinde Wiley, just to name a few.
Julia embraces mainly water-based mediums such as watercolours, gouache or ink. Her body of work reflects her day-to-day observation as well as her experience and relationships with the people around her. Likewise, Julia explores elements of mental health and normalness in her paintings. Experimentation through colour and composition of the subject are significant aspects of Julia’s work. Julia’s work stands out through her use of vibrant colours and her sense of weight and body form.
For me, art is an instrument to explore my emotions and everyday impressions. I like to capture spontaneous and imperfect moments as a contrast to the brushed-up, flawless images we encounter daily in old and new media. Likewise, my self-portraits are primarily an assessment of my internal struggles and an act of self-healing. It also serves as a visual diary documenting my ups and downs.
Usually, I will start a new artwork by taking reference photographs. At times it is a quick snapshot capturing a fleeting moment. I like to take concealed pictures of my subjects without their knowledge that reflect a true-to-life, candid pose or situation. Then again, some artworks are based on long photoshoots that serve as a sketching tool to plan out the composition and subject placement.
Additionally, I like to challenge myself with complex compositions and include a play of lights, shadow and reflection in my work. Likewise, I do experiment with the background elements. For example, I would erase insignificant details and replace them with bright colours and gradients to obtain more focus on the subject.
In my watercolour paintings, I use the slow process of glazing to add depth and richness to my work and emphasise that beauty is everywhere, even in flawed moments. Typically I would start with a quick watercolour study, and then proceed with a detailed sketch on the paper. While painting, I slowly work towards the colour intensity I aspire to achieve.
2023 March to April | Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, Group Show
2022 July to December | The Wild Goose Bakery London, Solo Show
2022 April | Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, Group Show
2021 October | ECOfeminism Festival, Art Pavillion Mile End, London, Group Show
2021 June to July | Doncaster Art Fair, Online Exhibition ‘Mental Health, Longlisted
2021 April to December | Dear Artists, Virtual Exhibition ‘Phases’, Group Show
2021 March to April | Art Number 23, Virtual Exhibition ‘New Era’, Group Show
2021 January | The Hope Art Gallery, Virtual Exhibition ‘Identity’, Group Show
2019 October | The Hale End Bird Sanctuary, Hale End Library, London, Group Show
2019 August | Between the earth and the sky, Art Pavillion Mile End, London, Group Show
2019 July | Leytonstone Art Trails, The Wild Goose Bakery London, Solo Show
Julia Karl is a painter living in London, UK. Julia developed her passion for the arts in her early childhood and attended art classes throughout her school years. After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Arts at Buckinghamshire New University, she relocated to London to work as a graphic designer.
In 2019 she decided to start a second career as a painter. Since then, she exhibited her work in several group shows including Art Catcher, Art from Hear, Doncaster Art Fair and Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters. Julia also became a co-organiser of Leytonstone Arts Trail in 2021.
Her work is inspired by Aubrey Beardsley, Lucian Freud, Alice Neel, Paula Rego, Amy Sherald and Kehinde Wiley, just to name a few.
Julia embraces mainly water-based mediums such as watercolours, gouache or ink. Her body of work reflects her day-to-day observation as well as her experience and relationships with the people around her. Likewise, Julia explores elements of mental health and normalness in her paintings. Experimentation through colour and composition of the subject are significant aspects of Julia’s work. Julia’s work stands out through her use of vibrant colours and her sense of weight and body form.
For me, art is an instrument to explore my emotions and everyday impressions. I like to capture spontaneous and imperfect moments as a contrast to the brushed-up, flawless images we encounter daily in old and new media. Likewise, my self-portraits are primarily an assessment of my internal struggles and an act of self-healing. It also serves as a visual diary documenting my ups and downs.
Usually, I will start a new artwork by taking reference photographs. At times it is a quick snapshot capturing a fleeting moment. I like to take concealed pictures of my subjects without their knowledge that reflect a true-to-life, candid pose or situation. Then again, some artworks are based on long photoshoots that serve as a sketching tool to plan out the composition and subject placement.
Additionally, I like to challenge myself with complex compositions and include a play of lights, shadow and reflection in my work. Likewise, I do experiment with the background elements. For example, I would erase insignificant details and replace them with bright colours and gradients to obtain more focus on the subject.
In my watercolour paintings, I use the slow process of glazing to add depth and richness to my work and emphasise that beauty is everywhere, even in flawed moments. Typically I would start with a quick watercolour study, and then proceed with a detailed sketch on the paper. While painting, I slowly work towards the colour intensity I aspire to achieve.
2023 March to April | Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, Group Show
2022 July to December | The Wild Goose Bakery London, Solo Show
2022 April | Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, Group Show
2021 October | ECOfeminism Festival, Art Pavillion Mile End, London, Group Show
2021 June to July | Doncaster Art Fair, Online Exhibition ‘Mental Health, Longlisted
2021 April to December | Dear Artists, Virtual Exhibition ‘Phases’, Group Show
2021 March to April | Art Number 23, Virtual Exhibition ‘New Era’, Group Show
2021 January | The Hope Art Gallery, Virtual Exhibition ‘Identity’, Group Show
2019 October | The Hale End Bird Sanctuary, Hale End Library, London, Group Show
2019 August | Between the earth and the sky, Art Pavillion Mile End, London, Group Show
2019 July | Leytonstone Art Trails, The Wild Goose Bakery London, Solo Show