The AV ArtConvo – featuring art by Julie O’Sullivan.
Presenting Mixed Media Art by Julie O’Sullivan
SATURATION 2.0: The Arts in Conversation project at Antelope Valley Arts is an ongoing, weekly publishing series: Local artists (painters, poets, photographers, fiction writers) have been invited to submit art and partake in a conversation on artistic influence and inspiration as the print arm of Antelope Valley Arts goes digital.
Julie O’Sullivan is our featured artist this week, showcasing a playful and colorful sensibility. O’Sullivan is an active presence on the Antelope Valley arts scene, showing work and winning prizes and hashing out new ideas along the way. This dynamic and sweet-hearted artist brings a little madness to her method and the results, in turn, are dynamic and sweet-hearted, lively and engaging.
Who or what are your major artistic influences?
Miro’, hands down. Love him, though, in high school I was a die-hard Andy Warhol fan. I wanted to be Edie Sedgewick. When I moved to NYC I stalked his factory and tried to breath the same air he breathed. Loved him. Now that I have seen his work not only in museums, but in people’s houses, I feel I have moved on. It will always be there influencing me in the back of my mind but I am so ingrained in abstract art that if I could meet one artist in all time it would be Miro’.
What artist do you currently find yourself talking about most often and why?
Local artists Marthe Aponte and Geoffrey Levitt. I met them when they were starting out and look at where they are now in the matter of a few of years! I love how they have evolved and seek inspiration in their advancement from beginning artists to emerging artist, artists to watch. I think they have greater things ahead for them. I will forever be a fan of Miro’ and Lurcat. I am terribly inspired by them and had the great pleasure of visiting both of their studios.
How does music influence, shape or fit into your work?
It used to influence it greatly, especially during my celestial series. I would pull up Pandora and paint to new adult alternative artists. I will forever be a fan of Parov Steller and Wax Tailor. They always inspire me to paint openly, they seem to open up my third eye. Through Pandora I found a whole new line-up of international artists. I always paint well to Beruit, they are very calming. The lead singer sounds a lot like David Byrne from the Talking Heads. David has a special place in my heart. Chvrches has an entirely different mood and when I am feeling a bit off I pull that Pandora station up for a listen. Then there is Vampire Weekend, Phoenix and Ratatat for when I am in the “designing” mood. These are bands I would have worked to in architecture school and now work to when I paint cityscapes. Bjork is a long time influence. Love her and her daring to be unique. When I listen to her I feel her mood. I love to paint feelings, such is the life of an abstract artist. A song by Wild Belle, called “Keep You” is one I play over and over. That YouTube Video just hits me for some reason. I am haunted by it. I feel it is like the child within a man that you can never keep.
Catch up with Antelope Valley Artist Julie O’Sullivan at her website.
More from the AV Arts Blog Convo
- Poetry by Tino Garcia
- Poetry and Art by Edwin Vasquez
- Poetry by Hollie Martin
Antelope Valley Arts 
I love Julie’s art. I did not know she was a David Byrne fan. I still listen to David and Brian Eno. I am reading a book on Brian now, so funny.