Julie Seddon

A few years ago, Julie Seddon relocated from Toronto to Prince Edward County. After graduating from York University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she painted and exhibited in and around the Toronto Area. For over two decades, her focus was on figurative painting, but over the last decade, her style has moved to non-figurative abstraction.

The leap to this style was brought about while taking a photo of a store window, revealing an instant abstraction combining the interior and exterior of the building, both melting in the glass reflections.

“I paint from my photographs, mostly of shop window reflections,” says Julie. “Capturing the moment and reinterpreting it in paint, for me, connects to the layers of perception and memory.” Main Street Picton primarily serves as her muse now, and sometimes she prints the photos and paints directly onto them. The result brings the viewer right into the moment the photo was taken.

In addition to her own practice, Julie enjoys teaching artists of all levels and ages throughout Prince Edward County, and she has become a prolific instructor here at the County Arts Lab, regularly teaching courses and workshops. This spring, she’s offering several exciting workshops, including a Wild Beasts workshop for kids during March break, and a sold out workshop (you can still join the waitlist!) called Painting Starts, to help artists get unstuck.

Upcoming courses offered by Julie this spring include a 6-week Building a Painting in Acrylics course for adults, and a 5-week Spring into Spring! course for kids aged 5-8 and 9-12, all about creating colourful artwork inspired by the changing of the season and the natural world.

To learn more about these offerings and to sign up, visit our Community Arts Classes page. Read on to learn more about what Julie has coming up this year, what’s left a lasting impact on her lately, and more!

Let us know about your upcoming projects:

I have two upcoming workshops with County Arts. A painting support workshop for adults to ‘unstick the stuck’ for painters that have either lapsed in their practice or are mid-way through a piece and need feedback to continue. For the kids, a ‘Wild Beasts’ workshop to paint a portrait in the style of the Fauvist movement where wild color and expression were prized. Coming in the Spring, I am teaching ‘Building a Painting’ an acrylic painting 6-week class, and a Kids’ Creation Club course for 5 weeks. It is always so rewarding to help artists of all ages experience the joy of art making. I am constantly amazed and inspired by what people create!

What have you worked on recently that has you excited?

I am very excited to be working towards two group exhibitions this year, one in the summer at County Arts Lab with one group of wonderful artist friends and another at Beaver Hall in Toronto with yet another group of wonderful artist friends!

Tell us about another artist’s work you’ve experienced recently that made an impact on you:

The Delhi park pageant still sits with me as one of the most magical events since I moved here. The feeling of it lingers. Such a feast for the senses and so very heartwarming.

Where in the County do you find the most creative inspiration?

I am very inspired by the artists I’ve met here in the County. There is a wealth of talent here. I am wowed by the variety of mediums and people’s dedication to their practice. There is always something wonderful to see here and I am constantly impressed with all forms of creation in this community. I am also heartened by the unparalleled spirit of collaboration and mutual support from artists in the County.