Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Catona.
Julie, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Growing up in the Hudson Valley I have always identified myself as an “Artist”. With both my parents and older brother being Romanian immigrants, it gave me a unique perspective on art, culture & language. Embracing creativity in its many forms, I grew up with the given ability to draw from life & imagination and continued my education in Fine Art & Graphic Design at SUNY Ulster in Upstate NY.
In 2003, I started my own Digital Design company- Future Illustrations and in 2017 launched LuCreativ, a Web design & Graphic design studio. Combining futuristic aesthetics with nostalgia, my artwork reflects the past, present & future Scapes. Influences are drawn from Astronomy, The Simpsons, 90’s Cartoons and contemporary artists such as:
Manzel Bowman: Collage & exotic landscape influences
Kristen Liu-Wong: Tropical Neon Illustrations, 80’s atmosphere
Tara McPherson: Cosmic themed portraits
Moving to South Florida in 2010, my passion for animation led me to pursue a degree in 3D Animation & VFX at the Academy of Art in San Francisco where I was able to experiment and create in all new mediums. Combining my love for digital art, charcoal renderings, sculpture & stop-motion animation- I entered a new realm of artistry.
“I have forced myself to contradict myself in order to avoid conforming to my own taste.”
-Marcel Duchamp
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I lean towards using bright, neon, prismatic colors in most of my works- in mediums ranging from digital collages, illustrations, pop art, sculptures, and drawings.
I want people to get a sense of time in suspension, limitlessness, and the past/present/future all culminating into one moment. For use as color therapy, I use elements of color theory to evoke certain emotions and sensations. Take what serves you, and leave the rest behind.
What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
One mantra I’ve always held on to as an artist is, find what you’re good at and nourish it. Vivify that ONE thing that calls to you as your “gift”. Life is too short, and emotional/time resources can be wasted trying to cultivate a talent that you feel may make you more “successful” as an artist, but you’re just not that good at it. By the time you learn to be “mediocre” in a certain spectrum, you could’ve turned that real artistic ability, no matter how small, or humble, into something infinitely greater.
Success as an artist? Have at least 2 people that believe in you and are a patron of your works. That’s is. That’s all you need to plant the seed. Water it with self-honest reflection & conviction, weed out the withering sprouts of doubt, and see how it grows. “If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
In a most recent project, I’ve designed and launched an Oracle Card deck- Cosmic Cards, that is available for purchase in my shop. I also am an amateur astronomer and use my astrophotography as inspiration for my exploratory artworks.
Many of my works that are available for purchase can be found online at
ello.co/juliecatona
Contact Info:
- Website: www.futureillustrations.com | www.lucreativ.com | www.juliecatona.com
- Phone: 8456166308
- Email: Julie@futureillustrations.com
- Instagram: @futureillustrations @lucreativ @juliecat19
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FutureIllustrations/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/lucreativstudio/
Image Credit:
Artist Julie Catona
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
