**[Julia Noble](https://www.cohart.com/julianoble/profile)** is a British artist based in San Francisco, dedicated to creating joyous, uplifting artworks that bring happiness and contentment into the world. Through vibrant colors and dynamic compositions, her pieces captivate and inspire, offering a visual experience that changes upon closer inspection. 

Inspired to pursue art after the tragic loss of her sister, Julia’s work reflects her commitment to positivity and energy, using her art as a response to the challenges in her life. Her mixed-media creations involve a unique process that combines handmade paper, machine stitching, water-soluble crayons, and resin.

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##### What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you start your journey?

I used to work as a banking and finance lawyer for a Magic Circle International Law firm, and then as an in-house for an investment bank. Sadly, I lost a sister, and it made me think that life is too short to do things that you no longer enjoy, so I left the law. I had 3 young children at the time so I got to spend quality time with them, but in my spare time I started to take art classes, having never done art at school. I had a wonderful art tutor; after attending her class a few times, she suggested that I enroll in a Foundation Course in Art as access to higher Art education. I did this, then decided to go back to University and complete a degree. I finished my degree in 2014 and have been working as an artist ever since.

##### What is your favorite medium to work with, and why does it resonate with you?
 
My practice is very mixed media. I have always been experimental in my making. I used to paint but even then, I sought to explore different ways of applying the paint. I then went to an exhibition at the Tate Modern in London of Matisse’s cutouts. I was blown away by paper and what you could do with it, and have been working predominantly on paper ever since. I love the challenge of how to push materials and use them in different ways. 

I usually use a sewing machine in my work, I like the way the stitch disrupts the surface. It is very nostalgic for me as well, since my Grandmother was a seamstress for Burberry, and my childhood was filled with sewing or crafting projects with her. The use of the machine involved experimenting with different types of paper to see which would hold the stitch and not rip. This resulted in me using Lotka paper, which is delicate but at the same time strong and comes in wonderful colours. 

I use water-soluble crayons because I love the range of colours they offer. Moreover, they function like premixed pigments, allowing me to create different effects depending on the color combinations I choose.  Finally, I use resin—this reacts beautifully with the water-soluble crayons, it fixes them but also provides depth and makes the colours pop.

##### What role does research play in your artistic process? Do you have a specific method for gathering inspiration?
 
My research usually involves going to art exhibitions, taking in what other artists are doing or have done, looking at how they worked with their colour combinations. I travel a lot—the experiences I have had, the nature I have seen, the cities I have visited on my travels feed into the colours or subject matter of my art.

##### How has your artistic vision evolved over time, and where do you see it heading in the future?
 
If I look back over the body of work that I have created over the last decade, my style has certainly evolved. After creating a piece of work, I think about the aspects that I like and what works, and I consider how I can try things differently, what elements I can move forward with. This led the progression from stitching and painting on canvas, to stitching paper, to stitching paper and using crayons and resin. 

I have now got the point that I have a unique process that has evolved over time, and now what I tend to do is work in series. Sometimes my works are very geometric, and then I will do a series inspired by my travels, such as the series of flora and fauna after a trip to Costa Rica, or the series of Cacti after a trip to Palm Springs. Going forward, I will continue to work in that way, but at the same time I’m always open to experimentation if I see something that appeals to me.

##### How do you stay motivated and inspired during creative blocks or challenging times?

I stay motivated by planning ahead and ensuring that there is always something that I am aiming towards. I think the former lawyer in me loves a deadline. Before moving from London to San Francisco, I signed up to two Superfine Art Fairs so that I had a purpose, particularly in a new country where I had no audience for my art. I often take a few weeks off over the summer, and I am always itching to get my art materials out when I get back.
 
##### How do you balance commercial aspects of being an artist with your creative vision?
 
As a former lawyer, I am pretty organised, but if truth be told, I much prefer the creating to the administrative side of things. Sometimes I tell myself that I am not allowed to sit down and make anything until I have ticked off a few things on my administrative list. In the US, I tend to participate in art fairs as they provide an audience for my work and a framework for the tasks that need to be done in advance, but the downside of them is the costs that they involve. Having a tool like Cohart, I think, will be invaluable in assisting with the management side of my art practise. As an artist, you have to be everything from PR, to accounting, to the person hanging the work, invitations, sales, and shipping-so having a product like Cohart will really help with the commercial aspect of the art business.

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##### Does technology play a role in your art-making process?
 
Other than occasionally working from photos I have taken as inspiration, or photographing my work with my phone, I do not use technology in my art-making. I have previously created a number of what I call “art products,” where I use websites to print my work onto fabric homeware to create dresses.
 
##### Are there any upcoming projects that you're particularly excited about (ex. a new artwork, a show, a creative project)?
 
I have a few art fairs coming up. First is the [Startup Art Fair](https://www.startupartfair.com/) in the Hotel Del Sol in San Francisco, where each artist takes over one of the motel rooms to install their art. The spaces are quite funky, so this is going to be a challenge in terms of how and where to hang work. No nails or screws are allowed, and the rooms are crammed with furniture, so there is a lot to think about, including how to light the artworks. I am also joining an art fair called [Clio](https://www.clioartfair.com/) in New York. I’m very much looking forward to showing in New York, it has always been a dream of mine.

##### How do you approach the concept of success or failure in your art practice?

Ohh this is a great question but hard to answer as I go up and down on this. First, I think that it is a brave thing to do: to show your art - you are literally putting yourself out there, bearing your soul, waiting for people to respond to it. I used to think that I had failed if I joined an art fair or exhibition and did not make many sales, but I have come to see exhibitions and fairs as marketing opportunities, as I have been contacted some considerable time later by someone who is then in a position to buy an artwork. In terms of failure, in the creation process, I do not use a sketch book as I work on paper. If I create something that I think does not work, I just screw up the paper and put it in the bin and start again.

##### What advice would you give to emerging artists or other artist peers trying to find their voice in the art world?

Be bold and fearless and believe in yourself. Art is so subjective that there is a place for everyone, but not if you aren’t prepared to put yourself out there. And you can’t rely on others offering you exhibiting opportunities, you have to create those for yourself. Also, be prepared for unwanted opinions, but be prepared to talk about your work, don’t shy away from this. Be as organised and professional as you can be.

Good things can come from accidents whilst working. I started using resin because once, I made something that I hated, so as a last resort, I threw resin at it. That proved to be transformative to the work and the processes that I use.

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Julia Noble, a former lawyer turned artist, creates mixed-media art with paper, stitch, and resin, inspired by travel and life experiences.



Spotlight: Julia Noble’s Bold Approach to Mixed-Media Art

Julia Noble at Superfine

Julia Noble at Superfine

Julia Noble at Superfine

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