Julie Bender

Born in St. Louis, Missouri and residing in Loveland, Colorado, Julie Bender grew up with a fascination for drawing animals and has remained on that course all her life.  After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1981, her career took off as a computer artist and later as a project manager with web and software development firms until mid-2012.

In 2002, when her beloved Vizsla died at only nine years old, Bender found the only way to ease her pain was to make some deeply personal gesture of gratitude.  Having no previous knowledge of wood-burning, she bought a hobby-shop wood-burner, and using a photograph as a guide, set out to burn her dog’s portrait on a cherry wood urn.  It was then that Bender found her life’s calling and worked earnestly with the goal of pursuing her art as a career.  Self-taught in the art of pyrography, she continually discovers innovative ways to evolve her work and seize opportunities in which to integrate this medium in the competitive world of fine art.  Her career includes international sales, museum acquisitions, top gallery representation, teaching, features in major publications, invitations to major juried international exhibitions, and show and exhibition awards.

Bender's passion for pyrography is matched by her accurate and artful portrayal of her animal subjects.  The Western natural world is her source of continued inspiration.  She frequents Colorado’s high country, prairies, ranches and rodeos for inspiration in her art.  She is especially keyed into that rare moment when subjects display a particular behavior or scene that makes her heart race – and excites her to get started on a new work.

Pyrography is all about applying varying degrees of heat that produce monochromatic, sepia-like hues in subtle values and tones.  Bender often infuses color to enhance her images and is insistent about pushing her boundaries with each work she produces.  Executing with accuracy, style and imagination is key in producing unique and evocative works of art.  Bender has developed and evolved bodies of work that represent the best of who she is.

Julie's narrative on pyrography and her art career

Press
2023 Art and Color magazine Creating Art with Heat
2020 Artsy Shark

2020 Sporting Classics magazine

2020 VoyageDenver

2019 The Difference Makers (coffee table book)

2017 Gray's Sporting Journal

2017 Equestrian Stylist

2017 Art Journey, Animals: A collection of inspiring contemporary masterworks
2016 GSP Chronicle
2015 Birds in Art catalog
2015 Colorado Homes & Lifestyles (feature)
2015 Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (cover)
2014 Gray's Sporting Journal
2014 Southwest Art magazine (feature)
2013 Gray's Sporting Journal
2013 Loveland Reporter-Herald
2012 Sporting Classics magazine

2011 Western Art Collector magazine
2011 Strokes of Genius 3: The Best of Drawing
2010-2013 Birds in Art catalog
2010 Scroll Saw & Woodworking & Crafts magazine
2010 Southwest Art magazine
2008-2010 Annual Art and the Animal catalog
2009 Great Dogs Amazing Artists (book)
2009 Artists for Conservation catalog
2009 Southwest Art magazine
2009 Cowboys & Indians magazine
2009 CreaturesAll magazine (cover)
2008 Wildscape magazine
2008 Art Horse magazine
2007 Andalusian magazine
2007 Horses in Art magazine

Honors & Awards

2022 Loveland Colorado Museum exhibit - Painting with Heat: The Fine Art of Pyrography
2015 Stampede Committee Purchase Award - "Provin' it in 3.2" will be used in the 2016 Greeley Stampede poster and marketing campaign

2015 “Winner Takes All” was selected as a finalist in the Animal/Wildlife category of The Artist's Magazine 32nd Annual Art Competition
2015 Second Place award for "Winner Takes All" at Windows to the West Art Show & Sale, Estes Park, Colorado
2015 Fourth Place award for "Provin' it in 3.2" at Windows to the West Art Show & Sale, Estes Park, Colorado
2014 Artist in Residence, Boulder County Open Space, Caribou Ranch, Colorado
2012 Artist in Residence, Leigh Yawkee Woodson Art Museum, Wisconsin
2011 Purchase for permanent collection, Leigh Yawkee Woodson Art Museum of "Ivy League"

2010 People's Choice Award for "Sentinel of the Marsh" at Waterfowl Festival
2009 Award of Excellence, Society of Animal Artists for "On the Alert"
2009 Leonard J. Meiselman Memorial Award for Realistic Painting Executed in an Academic Manner for "Peruvian Splendor"
2009 President’s Award Ohio Veterinary Medical Assn. for “Unbridled Devotion”

Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1980 University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Bachelor of Science in Art Education, 1981 University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri