About Me
ARTIST STATEMENT
j u l i e c l e n d e n e n s i m p s o n
Incorporating art and design into woven textiles and painting abstract acrylic canvases fuses my fascination and love for repeated patterns and natural textures.
TEXTILES
I design and hand weave innovative, contemporary textiles on a 10 harness Macomber floor loom. With special attention to trending color palettes, blending different fiber combinations and drafting inventive weave structures, these elaborate accessories have a sculptural quality with multiple layers and unique textures. I gravitate towards utilizing sustainable natural fibers-including cashmere, merino wool, bamboo, silk and certified organic wool. I enjoy weaving luxurious one of a kind textiles that are functional while maintaining art and design aesthetics that pursue elegance, creativity and classic craftsmanship. Contact me for wholesale inquiries and custom orders. julie@juliesimpsonart.com
PAINTINGS
Equally colorful and layered as my textile work, the surfaces of my mixed media paintings are adorned with a combination of multiple layers of acrylic paint, paper collage, litho crayon and nylon thread. I am fond of abstract imagery, which are depicted in these visual narratives. Incorporating concepts of scale, space, rhythm and movement lend to the perspective of each piece. There is a reliance on repeated patterns, gestural lines, and grids. Patterns that exist in nature, intertwine with personal stories to inspire the compositions. I began fiber infusing certain paintings by hand-sewing nylon thread directly into the canvases. This subtle pattern of fiber adds texture and fine detail.
Artist History
EDUCATION
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
BFA - Textile Design, 1991
A BIT OF ME
Born in California, I grew up outside and loved the beach at a young age. Colored pencils and paper went everywhere with me...coloring in the squares of grid paper and making patterns and shapes.
I have a collection of handkerchiefs from my childhood, different textiles with details of designs and stitching which enhanced my appreciation for textiles. Observing small details sparked my interest in drawing which led to sketching and exploring different art mediums. I learned ceramic techniques and different forms of mark making through art and design classes in high school. Pursuing my artistic interests, I earned my degree in Textile Design from the Rhode Island School of Design.
I have been weaving for over 30 years and have a small business where I weave one of a kind textiles and create colorful, abstract mixed media paintings.
I am a lifelong swimmer and the love of water and the colors of nature is reminiscent in my work. I have lived on the West Coast for most of my life and currently reside in Olympia Washington, raising two awesome young adult children who continually inspire me!!