I N T R O D U C T I O N
From the time I was a small girl in East Tennessee, I imagined forms in tree branches, clouds and other natural objects around me. Although I had the spirit of an artist from that early age, opportunities to study art were limited during my childhood. My formal art training began in college, where I was awarded the first Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Sculpture from the University of Tennessee. During the first ten years of my career, I welded art objects, building solid forms from flat sheets of steel. As a diversion from welding one day, I decided to complete a sculpture of Tennessee marble, which I had roughed out using only a hammer and chisel while in college. When I began to polish the stone and the beautiful qualities of coloration, veining and composition were revealed, I never had a desire to return to welding.
Today, I continue the extremely physical, direct-carving process of working stone. I use hand, pneumatic and electric tools, removing the stone and creating various shapes -- some times creating organic “form for form’s sake,” and at other times, producing abstract, figurative pieces. When producing a commissioned work, I respond to the wishes of the client in developing an image or shape. After roughing out the stone, I spend hours grinding, sanding and polishing the flowing open surfaces. Many hours are spent with hand sanding as I push for a highly refined, smooth finish. My inspiration comes from personal relationships, the wonders of nature, and marvelous sculptures from around the world. I admire the entire spectrum of art from the old masters to contemporary artists, as well as many fine ethnic expressions.
The sculptures I create range in size from tabletop pieces, usually placed in private homes, to monumental works for corporate offices and public facilities. Several of my stone works have been cast in bronze. They are produced by a metal foundry through a complex process of making a mold from the original stone form, pouring and refining the sculptural shape, and using a chemical technique to create the desired patina and finish. I use a variety of patinas in giving character and color to the bronzes. With their lustrous patinas, often the bronzes are mistaken for stone.
Prior to my marriage to Dr. Philip Conn in 2001, a book covering my early works entitled, Julie Warren Martin: Sculptor of Stone, was written by Carolyn Boling, the former first lady of the University of Tennessee, and published in 1993. After Philip’s retirement from the presidency of Western Oregon University, we moved to Lexington, Kentucky. Presently, I maintain a studio and showroom in the nearby town of Winchester, Kentucky.
Since the late 1990s, I frequently instruct art classes on ocean cruise ships throughout the world. Experiencing the art treasures of many lands and cultures gives me fresh ideas and renewed motivation for sculpting.
___________________________________
Picasso declared,
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
In that spirit, I wish to create sculptural objects of beauty that bring joy and tranquility to viewers.
Today, I continue the extremely physical, direct-carving process of working stone. I use hand, pneumatic and electric tools, removing the stone and creating various shapes -- some times creating organic “form for form’s sake,” and at other times, producing abstract, figurative pieces. When producing a commissioned work, I respond to the wishes of the client in developing an image or shape. After roughing out the stone, I spend hours grinding, sanding and polishing the flowing open surfaces. Many hours are spent with hand sanding as I push for a highly refined, smooth finish. My inspiration comes from personal relationships, the wonders of nature, and marvelous sculptures from around the world. I admire the entire spectrum of art from the old masters to contemporary artists, as well as many fine ethnic expressions.
The sculptures I create range in size from tabletop pieces, usually placed in private homes, to monumental works for corporate offices and public facilities. Several of my stone works have been cast in bronze. They are produced by a metal foundry through a complex process of making a mold from the original stone form, pouring and refining the sculptural shape, and using a chemical technique to create the desired patina and finish. I use a variety of patinas in giving character and color to the bronzes. With their lustrous patinas, often the bronzes are mistaken for stone.
Prior to my marriage to Dr. Philip Conn in 2001, a book covering my early works entitled, Julie Warren Martin: Sculptor of Stone, was written by Carolyn Boling, the former first lady of the University of Tennessee, and published in 1993. After Philip’s retirement from the presidency of Western Oregon University, we moved to Lexington, Kentucky. Presently, I maintain a studio and showroom in the nearby town of Winchester, Kentucky.
Since the late 1990s, I frequently instruct art classes on ocean cruise ships throughout the world. Experiencing the art treasures of many lands and cultures gives me fresh ideas and renewed motivation for sculpting.
___________________________________
Picasso declared,
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
In that spirit, I wish to create sculptural objects of beauty that bring joy and tranquility to viewers.
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TELEPHONE
859.523.5551
EMAIL ADDRESS
[email protected]
MAILING ADDRESS
930 Village Green Avenue, Lexington, Kentucky 40509 USA
STUDIO ADDRESS (By Appointment Please)
7 Dixie Street, Winchester, KY 40391 USA
TELEPHONE
859.523.5551
EMAIL ADDRESS
[email protected]
MAILING ADDRESS
930 Village Green Avenue, Lexington, Kentucky 40509 USA
STUDIO ADDRESS (By Appointment Please)
7 Dixie Street, Winchester, KY 40391 USA