When you look at her artwork – you wonder what inspires her to paint. Her images are so exquisite that they can keep you in a daze, waiting to see what is next. As she pours her soul onto the canvas, it seems to capture a certain infatuation as you see things through her eyes.
Name: Julie Zarate
Hometown: Houston
, Tx
How do you feel about your art?
I feel it is continuously evolving. When I hit on something new, whether a style, a medium or an execution, I tend to get really excited and run it into the ground until I’m tired of it … then move on to the next thing. But I love revisiting those old friends, and creating with the new things I’ve discovered along the way, I wind up with something of a fusion that I really like. I guess you could say it’s rather incestuous.
What kind of mediums do you work in?
Pretty much anything, really, except watercolors — I never could get the hang of those. I started out in ink, moved into colors by way of tempera [poster paint], and ultimately acrylic. At the time, I was so afraid of oils. Seeing as I am self-taught, I knew there were many rules that came with working with oil, so it was daunting. But when I found myself trying to replicate the look of oil with acrylics, it was tedious. I took the plunge then, reading as much as I 
could, experimenting, etc., and now oil is my favorite medium. When I discovered what it does with wax [encaustic], it opened up a whole new world for me. At some point, I would like to try my hand at watercolors again, though.
What inspired you to become an artist?
I don’t really know the answer to that. It’s something that I’ve always had in me since before I could even write my name. It’s a primitive thing that I’ve tapped into and have appreciated all of my life. You may as well ask me what inspired me to be human. 
What is your background training in art?
Apart from the mandatory public school classes and an Art Appreciation class in college, I have no formal training. What I learned, I learned from studying other artists. The public library was a great tool for me growing up, and I was always drawn to picture books. Ultimately, those picture books became art books. I have a pretty good collection of books of my own now, to which I refer to time an again. When I actually began painting, I used to do reproductions of other artist’s works. Some of my early influences were Diego Rivera, Patrick Nagel and Paul Gaugin. I used to believe that the closest I could get to it looking like the original, I was successful. Then I realized that success lied in doing my own thing. But I learned a lot in those reproductions; things that are difficult to explain in a classroom.
What do you feel motivates you to paint?
Several things: being aware of my own mortality and knowing my time here is short; the sheer desire to feel the weight of a brush in my hand and create something new; having a good excuse not to do housework.
Do you support any organizations in Houston?
The local art and music scene 
What is your favorite place to grab a bite to eat any day of the week?
Van Loc Vietnamese Restaurant serves up some of the best food in town; Brother’s Tacos, though, is the bomb. If I could get there easily, I’d ha
ve to say Treebeard’s is my favorite restaurant in Houston, hands down.
When is your next exhibit?
I have a few, actually! ARTOPIA 2010 by Houston Press on January 30th at 2101 Winter Street; EL CORAZON 2010 at the Bath House Culture Center in Dallas; WORLD OF IMAGINATION V.3 at the APW Gallery in New York; BEAUTIFUL GRIM [to be announced] in San Francisco. I also have some work up at GALLERY CHIMMAYA in Los Angeles and BETZ GALLERY in Houston at the moment.
Where can people find your artwork and you?
I’ve just signed with BETZ GALLERY, so you can find a good portion of my work there. As for me, I’m usually in my studio cranking it out.
Have you ever traveled overseas? Or where would you go and why?
I’ve never traveled abroad, unless you count Oahu. I have a mental list of places I would love to visit: Cuba, Spain, Vienna, Japan, Turkey … but I would want to come back home. [It’s a Texas thing ]
Any words to the upcoming artists?
Just keep on keepin’ on. Don’t be daunted by perceived failures, because everything you do is a step toward success. Also, if you’re in it for the money, hang up your beret. You have to LOVE what you do. And when you do, it shows.
What is your favorite drink?
Ginger Ale
What is your favorite quote?
“We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.”
- Bill Hicks
You can find Julie Zarate’s amazing art at http://www.six06.com or become a fan on Facebook @ Julie Zarate
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Great art. I dig her stuff. Cool interview.
[...] out this interview on the new Spanglish Chick [...]
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