Julia Miner

PAINTER AND ILLUSTRATOR

With a background in architecture, Julia Miner strives to express the unique light and evocative essence of a place in her paintings and illustrations.

After graduating with honors in Visual Studies from Dartmouth and receiving a Master of Architecture from Yale, Julia worked for firms in Connecticut, New York, and Boston.  On a solo bike trip through Europe to sketch and photograph inspiring places, she felt as drawn to the way the light hit the landscape and buildings as to the architecture itself.  Soon she opened her own office to have the flexibility to attend The Vermont Studio Center, DeCordova Museum School, and painting workshops. After traveling to Greece and Turkey, gathering ideas for The Shepherd's Song book, she moved to Arizona for a decade.  From a studio in a historic adobe house with desert views, she completed art and architecture projects while starting a family. 

Illustrations for four picture books include The Unbreakable Code, by Sara Hunter, which won honors including the Smithsonian Book Award, the Spur Award, and The Arizona Governor’s Literacy Award.  Sales from paintings have benefited the Food Project and Water.org. 

Julia loves sharing with students of all ages the process of making art, a book, or a place we inhabit.  She has taught at Arizona State University and Principia College, and adult classes in painting and illustration at Creative Arts Week in Harrison, ME and at the Umbrella.  She also conducts art workshops for younger students during her book talks.

The New England outdoors, travel and storytelling continue to inspire her art, and she enjoys working on location in pastel, oil and watercolor.