August Newsletter
Welcome to this August 2025 Newsletter!
Since May, my presence in the studio has been a bit spotty, as the dad of my partner passed away. But here and there I was able to draw, and today I want to share the story behind a recent new painting: ‘The Keeper of Memories’.
Amid the work of clearing a life lived, making long drives with my love, and tending to what cannot be rushed, I found moments with nature and flowers during our breaks, created art with my heart, and have finally prepared the next (special) shop update.
but first: photo dump of the last weeks
shop update: early november!
A series of original works will be available on the e-shop by early November, along with four unique stretched patchworks and four limited-edition stickers.
Please note: no prints will be made of the artworks in this series, so these paintings are true exclusives!
Newsletter Subscribers will be the first to know the launch date and when everything goes online, with two days of early access just for them. A .pdf catalog will also be available for collectors worldwide.
This shop update is very special to me: the money raised during this sale will help me offer prints and make art more accessible to everyone, a goal I deeply care about. To achieve it, I need to invest in a good camera and/or hire a professional art photographer for the next series I create.
Sketchbook Tour!
focus on an august piece: ‘the keeper of memories’
This month I was again at my father-in-law’s house, where his small garden holds a great number of fruit trees. Left untended since the loss of the one who cared for them so tenderly, the branches, despite absence and drought are still heavy with the fruits Christian loved so much.
In this liminal time where summer and fall intertwine, something special happened in the presence of the apple trees’ beauty. The interaction of colors was vibrant: the red of the ripe apples makes the foliage glow with a warm, almost luminous green.
‘The Keeper of Memories’ is born in this little orchard garden. And sometimes, when creating, we don’t know why certain elements insist on being there. At first, I only wanted to honor the powerful beauty of this apple tree. Yet, while painting I didn’t understand why the chair appeared, so present. Only later the significance become clear: this artwork reflects the grief and kinship shared between plants and humans.
The meaning of certain paintings sometimes arrives like a murmur, from memory or from the heart, brought into light through the ritual of writing. That was the case here, and I still get goosebumps when I think of the moment I wrote about this piece. I love when paintings keep within them a mystery that speaks directly to the soul of the viewer. Perhaps this artwork will speak to others as well. Grief is universal, and apple trees are often beloved by our elders.
For September, I want to focus on my innate palette of colors after exploring some new shades for a while. Since the waxing moon at the beginning of the month, cosmic and energetic currents have been intense for many of us, and I am currently experiencing a kind of soul epiphany, a deep reconnection with my true spirit, which is reflected in the way I use color. It’s a profound coming back to the sacred and mystical parts of myself.
For those who don’t know, I have a background in naturopathy and holistic medicine. And it feels as if the pieces of the puzzle have finally fallen into place, connecting the old version of myself, with the recent one from 2021 after a deep undiagnosed autistic burnout (read my ‘Artist Story’). And even though my time as a therapist is over, I finally crave some of the practices and rituals I rooted in my care and support work with others.
Currently I feel deeply inspired by this chapter of my life, and I want to explore new ways to express it on canvas.
A quick flashback for you:
Studio Letters: I wrote a poem, & shared my artist story
It’s such a relief to finally turn off the fan after these weeks of heatwave. May the transition into mid-fall be gentle and calm.
See you in September for the next Studio Letter! I can’t wait to share more with you. Until then, thank you for being here and for walking this journey with me.
With Warmth,
Julie
All words and images © Julie Austin, unless otherwise noted.
Please do not copy, or use them without permission.
If you'd like to share, kindly link back to this page and credit my work.
Not subscribed yet? Join the newsletter to get updates straight to your inbox, enjoy early e-shop access, and receive exclusive subscriber-only offers.