JULIA KWON

Sketchbook on Art, Inspiration, and Creative Process
Julia Kwon, Cement of a Water Fountain, 2012, oil on canvas, 24 in. by 30 in. © Kwon Here’s a painting that I recently made. Although it was directly inspired by a photo of a water fountain with fall foliage, the color pallet was inspired by the warm weather. I can see the painting being read as a summer oceanscape! To see more of my paintings, feel free to visit  http://www.facebook.com/artistjuliakwon.

Julia Kwon, Cement of a Water Fountain, 2012, oil on canvas, 24 in. by 30 in. © Kwon

Here’s a painting that I recently made. Although it was directly inspired by a photo of a water fountain with fall foliage, the color pallet was inspired by the warm weather. I can see the painting being read as a summer oceanscape! To see more of my paintings, feel free to visit  http://www.facebook.com/artistjuliakwon.

I’ve recently stripped off bunch of old canvases to stretch new paintings. Although stretching and prepping for canvases are basic steps in painting, there’s something very therapeutic about actively building a clean, new canvas!

I’ve recently stripped off bunch of old canvases to stretch new paintings. Although stretching and prepping for canvases are basic steps in painting, there’s something very therapeutic about actively building a clean, new canvas!

In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all.

—Mahatma Gandhi

Norman Lewis, Evening Rendezvous, 1962, oil on linen, 50 1/4 in. x 64 1/4 in., © Smithsonian American Art Museum, DC Exhibition Recommendation : African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond I recently visited the American Art Museum with one of my artist friends. I was impressed to see the exhibit for its wide range and extensive collection of artworks. Although there were some great photography, this was my favorite piece from the exhibit - I love this painting for both its poignant vision and meaning behind the work!

Norman Lewis, Evening Rendezvous, 1962, oil on linen, 50 1/4 in. x 64 1/4 in., © Smithsonian American Art Museum, DC

Exhibition Recommendation : African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond

I recently visited the American Art Museum with one of my artist friends. I was impressed to see the exhibit for its wide range and extensive collection of artworks. Although there were some great photography, this was my favorite piece from the exhibit - I love this painting for both its poignant vision and meaning behind the work!

Julia Kwon, RegularJOE, 2012, ink on paper, 7 in. by 5 in. Here’s a drawing of Joe that I did the other day. Although I used to feel uneasy about drawing with pen, I now embrace the permanence of pen. I love building up an image with mistakes and imperfections. Whether it’s painting, drawing, or doing arts and crafts, I’m planning to do something creative everyday!

Julia Kwon, RegularJOE, 2012, ink on paper, 7 in. by 5 in.

Here’s a drawing of Joe that I did the other day. Although I used to feel uneasy about drawing with pen, I now embrace the permanence of pen. I love building up an image with mistakes and imperfections. Whether it’s painting, drawing, or doing arts and crafts, I’m planning to do something creative everyday!

Cover the canvas at the first go, and then work until you see nothing more to add. Don’t proceed according to rules and principles, but paint what you observe and feel. Paint generously and unhesitatingly, for it is best not to lose the first impression.

—Camille Pissarro

When my friends visited me last week, we went to the Library of Congress.  Although my usual go-to place while living in DC was the National Gallery of Art, the Library of Congress was so interesting not only for scholarly, but also artistic reasons.  As an artist, I had a pleasant time discovering Art beautifully represented all throughout the building!  As a student, I would absolutely love to be able to read and study in the exclusive reading room! 

When my friends visited me last week, we went to the Library of Congress.  Although my usual go-to place while living in DC was the National Gallery of Art, the Library of Congress was so interesting not only for scholarly, but also artistic reasons.  As an artist, I had a pleasant time discovering Art beautifully represented all throughout the building!  As a student, I would absolutely love to be able to read and study in the exclusive reading room! 

In order to make art for a living, you have to be willing to sometimes hate art as much as you love art.

—Melanie Kehoss, from a conversation on being a professional artist

The artists’ process is extremely interesting to me. For this reason, it’s an absolute pleasure for me to be able to listen to the Beatles practice and jam. No matter what the medium is, I love to picture the artists passionately and diligently making art. I love to get a glimpse of how artists resolve creative challenges. I love to see the imperfections and rawness that come before the perfected final product not only because the process itself is intriguing on its own, but also because it gives me hope and confirmation that greatness can be achieved with persistent dedication.

(Source: youtube.com)

Julia Kwon, Let It Bloom (WAL 292), 2012 © Julia Kwon As my college years gradually come to an end, I’m starting to think about the things that I’ll miss the most and one of them is making art in Walsh! Other than my apartment room, Walsh is definitely the place I spent most of my time in Georgetown. In the studio, I was thoroughly challenged, satisfied, frustrated and enlightened. I discovered myself both as a person and as an artist and had some of the best, artistically and intellectually stimulating conversations.  Creating art with wonderful friends and artists as well as interacting with great professors helped my creativity to bloom. Although my time here as a student is coming to an end, I will definitely take with me the lessons that I’ve learned both inside and outside of class to continue to “LET IT BLOOM.”

Julia Kwon, Let It Bloom (WAL 292), 2012 © Julia Kwon

As my college years gradually come to an end, I’m starting to think about the things that I’ll miss the most and one of them is making art in Walsh! Other than my apartment room, Walsh is definitely the place I spent most of my time in Georgetown. In the studio, I was thoroughly challenged, satisfied, frustrated and enlightened. I discovered myself both as a person and as an artist and had some of the best, artistically and intellectually stimulating conversations. 

Creating art with wonderful friends and artists as well as interacting with great professors helped my creativity to bloom. Although my time here as a student is coming to an end, I will definitely take with me the lessons that I’ve learned both inside and outside of class to continue to “LET IT BLOOM.”