Deeply rooted in the arts at a very young age and having remained actively involved all her life, Julie is an accomplished fine artist who is passionate about pyrography. Having worked in many mediums over the years, from clay to metal, painting to computer, she finds her personality is best suited for the extreme level of detail and patience wood burning requires.

Upon graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Julie found her way into the world of computer graphics, web development and finally project management. Nearly 25 years later, her passion for fine arts was revived in the way of pyrography and she has never looked back.

Julie's discovery of pyrography was purely accidental when she wanted to try her hand at burning her dog's portrait on an urn. Pleased with the results, Julie's life has never been the same and she continues to pay homage to her dog with each work of art she creates.

Stunning photographs and gorgeous wood are the biggest inspirations for Julie's pyrography. She especially loves interesting visual compositions and in-the-moment candidness that yield unique, thought-provoking works of art. One of her favorite challenges before she heats up her pens is in matching just the right wood with a photograph. Her biggest thrill is watching surface textures, grains and inherent natural tones, subtly and gradually reveal themselves with each layer of darkness as the story unfolds.

"My love of pyrography and animals go hand-in-hand. Everything I love and care about converges and literally ‘ignites!’ My art is a combination of left and right brain, heat and wood, a reconnection of past and present, finding passion and purpose in life everyday. It's about appreciating beauty and celebrating life; it is an outlet for my creativity and a tribute to living in the moment, while cherishing the fond memories of the past."