Focusing on the lush details of flora and fauna, the art of Julie Gil celebrates the natural world.

Words Jewel Chuaunsu
Photo Jovel Lorenzo
October 30, 2024

Julie Gil’s artistic journey began in childhood with a love for the arts, including singing and sketching. Her formal education in Fine Arts at the College of the Holy Spirit laid the base for her current art practice. After getting married and having kids, Julie worked on floral design and finished her second degree in Interior Design from the Philippine School of Interior Design. Five years ago, she reignited her passion for painting through taking watercolor courses and workshops taught by local and international masters.

While she learned the rudiments of painting in college, Julie honed her skills through practice and experimentation. She chose watercolor for its challenges, believing it would further her artistic development: “Being a harder medium than oil, watercolor—I believed—would hasten my skills development due to its many time-sensitive constraints: when to work fast, when to slow down. There’s so much trial and error, but there seems to be no other path to being good at it.”

Julie’s art frequently depicts flora and fauna, allowing her to render the natural world through a vibrant interplay of watercolor, acrylic, and gilding. Her artistic craft seamlessly integrates her background in floral and interior design with a newfound passion for mixed media. With her foundation being rooted in the elegance and intricacy of floral design, Julie brings remarkable realism to key details in her work, emphasizing the delicate beauty of flowers, insects and birds. Lately, she has been designing her own frames to complement her art pieces.

She delights in reinterpreting natural elements, infusing her works with life lessons that reflect her own experiences: “It gives me a great time experiencing nature as I paint it. At the same time, it is so emotionally satisfying to modify nature at will, at least on my cold-pressed paper. The whole exercise is a lesson: while life might have many givens like limitations, there are aspects of it that can be tweaked by adjusting our attitudes, in a way that makes the effort of painting—and living—enjoyable.”

Julie is inspired by the idea that her painting might send a message to viewers for their benefit. She adds, “I believe people are here to serve one another, in ways and means we’ve been gifted. Since my gift is visual art, it is my part to convey a meaningful message through my works.”

In “Bluebird of Happiness,” she encourages viewers to spread happiness and keep a song in their heart while “The Fragrance of Gratitude I” offers the sweet-smelling fragrance of praise, honor, and gratitude to God. In “Repurposed,” a rusty old bicycle is transformed with a basket of fresh tulips, illustrating that God loves the lost, broken, and discarded and sees the potential in them.

Julie’s art showcases how creativity can convey profound messages and inspire others. She is excited to hold her first one-woman show, titled Palette of Allegory, at Art Lounge Manila – Molito from November 19 to December 3, 2024. Previously, her works have been featured in Art Lounge Manila’s exhibits such as Plantitos y Plantitas, Her Wild Garden, Fete des Fleurs, Hues of Hope, the Balesin Art Fair, Art in Aura, and more.

When asked to give advice to aspiring artists, Julie says: “I’m an old-fashioned, traditional artist whose works depend on the physical brush and colors, my outer and inner eyes, and my soul. If you’re like me, expect and accept that works and styles take time to master, to complete, to bloom into something meaningful. Be true to yourself. Be authentic.”