Julie Houck
Julie Houck, an expressive, journalistic painter, is developing a reputation as an artist to watch. Houck has been recently acknowledged for her significant work by the Florence Biennale, the Nomadas del Arte and has been honored as a Signature painter of Plein Air Painters of Hawaii and International Plein Air Painters. Her works are increasingly being displayed at important galleries in Hawaii and on the US Mainland, and she has been published in International Artist Magazine.
Houck’s art career began in Boston, where she was a professional photographer for 17 years. “I enjoyed photographing on location—especially people.” Her talent for location photography kept her on the road for much for the year photographing in Europe, Asia and across the US.
In 1995, Houck decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a painter. “When I was in college, I loved my art classes the most. I decided to redirect and pursue what I truly loved. My career as a professional photographer taught me about composition and the importance of light. I find these skills come into play and influence my painting.”
Houck studied with contemporary realist painters who based their instruction on the classical principles of directly observing color, light and form relationships in nature. She studied at the Atelier of Classical Realism in San Francisco with David Hardy, the Academy of Fine Art in Seattle with Anthony Ryder and most recently, in France, at the L’Ecole Albert Defois with Ted Seth Jacobs. Houck studied en plein air with Kevin MacPherson, Don Demers and Kim English. She is currently working on her MFA in painting at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Coupling her photographic skills with her painter’s eye, Houck’s most recent series is a series of contemporary landscapes. These images capture light with vibrant color and dynamic brushwork.
An award winner at the National Paint America Competition, Houck has also been a recipient of the David Warren Memorial Scholarship Grant, a Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Acquisition Award as well as exhibition prizes for painting.
Houck’s work is part of the permanent collections of the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the Hawaii State Art Museum. She was one of the featured artists at the commemorative “Artists of Hawaii” exhibit at the Honolulu Academy of Art in 2000 and has been juried into Art Maui nine times. A popular and well-respected instructor, Houck also teaches plein air painting on Maui, Mexico and in France.
In my work, I aspire to capture that “something else” about a place, and to recreate the feeling of “being there.” Atmosphere, emotion and the transmission of light
fascinate me. It goes beyond mere rendering into seeing beyond the outline into a scene’s essence.
It is not enough to merely paint the literal view. One needs to bring out the spirit that lies within. It is this emotionality that I am after.
When I was a professional photographer, my job was to tell the story about a place with imagery. The job was to “get the shot,” one image that would stand alone and tell the story. This legacy is carried into my current work.
The painting must connect you to the place in the way words cannot. If I can make you feel this emotionality, then I have succeeded.
Born: 1953, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Media: Oil
Education:
1975 BS Indiana University
1995 New England School of Photography Honorary Degree
1998 Atelier of Classical Realism
2000 Study with Anthony Ryder
2001 Ecole Albert Defois, with Ted Seth Jacobs
2004 Study with Kevin MacPherson, Don Demers and Kim English
2007 Currently enrolled in MFA Program at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco,
Solo Shows
2009 Images Fine Art, Lahaina, HI
2005 Beach Studies, Maui Hands, Paia, HI
2004 Addi Galleries, Lahaina, HI
2003 “Visions of Grace,” Volcano Art Center, Volcano, HI
Sargent’s Fine Art, Lahaina, HI
1997 “Island Rhythms,” Hui No’eau, Maui, HI
Invitational Shows
2009 Makawao Upcountry Plein Air Invitational, Viewpoints Gallery, Makawao, HI
“Nomades del Artes.” Southwest Gallery, Denver, CO
2008 Chabot Fine Art Gallery, Providence, RI
“Best of Upcountry,” Viewpoints Galllery, Makawao, HI
Link Gallery, Door County, WI
Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park, Estes Park, CO
Terrace Gallery, Orlando, FL
Old School House Art Center, Qualicam Beach, Vancouver BC
2007 Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy
St Augstine Gallery, St. Augustine, FL
2006 Plein Air Painters of Maui, Maui Hands, Paia, HI
Plein Air Painters of Hawaii Signature Members Show, Viewpoints Gallery,
2005 Bidwell Park Centennial, Avenue 9 Gallery, Chico, CA
Estes Park Plein Air , Estes Park, CO
2004 Ano’Ano Gallery, Maui, HI
2001 Mes Illusions Gallery, Les Cerqueux, France
2000 Maui Artists, Honolulu Advertiser Gallery, Honolulu, HI
1999 Bridging Expressions, Schaeffer Gallery, Maui, HI
Juried Shows
2009 American Impressionist Society 10th Annual Exhibition, Saks Gallery, Denver, CO
2008 ArtMaui, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Maui HI
Expressions West, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR
2007 Society of Master Impressionists International, Sunset Gallery, Amarillo, TX
American Impressionist Society 8th Annual Show, Hilligoss Gallery, Chicago, IL
Art Maui, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Maui, HI
The Richeson 75: Still Life, Richeson School of Art & Gallery, Kimberly, WI
2006 Paint America National Juried Exhibition
Bowers Art Museum Plein Air Exhibit, Santa Ana, CA
National Juried Exhibition, Plano Art Association, Plano, Texas
Tucson Plein Air Painters Society Annual Show, Tucson, Arizona
“Best Of Plein Air,” Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna Beach, CA.
Plein Air Painters of Hawaii Signature Members Show, Viewpoints Gallery, Maui, HI
2005 Hui No’Eau Annual Members Show, Makawao, HI
Viewpoints Gallery, Makawao, HI
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Annual Members Show, Laguna Beach, CA
Best of Plein Air, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna Beach, CA
Art Maui, Schaeffer Gallery, Maui, HI
2004 Art Maui, Schaeffer Gallery, Maui, HI
2001 Plein Air Painters of Hawaii, Annual Show Maui, HI
2000 Artists of Hawaii, Honolulu Academy of Art, Honolulu, HI
Hui No’eau Members Show, Maui, HI
1999 Art Maui, Schaeffer Gallery, Maui, HI
Island Images of this Century, Honolulu, HI
Hui No’eau Members Show, Maui, HI
Aloha Festival Exhibit, City Hall, Honolulu, H
1998 Art Maui, Schaeffer Gallery, Maui
Japanese Chamber of Commerce Annual Show, Honolulu, HI
Hui No’eau Members Show, Maui, HI
1997 Art Maui, Schaeffer Gallery, Maui, HI
Hui No’eau Members Show, Maui, HI
Awards
2007 Award of Merit, Richeson Landscapes and Exteriors Annual Exhibit
2006 Juror’s Award. Paint America National Juried Exhibition
First Honorable Mention, Viewpoints Gallery Plein Air Exhibit, Makawao, HI
Honorable Mention, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association Annual Show
Third Place, Oil Painting, Plano Art Association National Exhibition
2005 Juror’s Award, Hui No’eau Annual Members Show, Makawao, HI
2000 David Warren Memorial Grant Maui, HI
1998 Honorable Mention, Island Images of This Century, Honolulu, HI
First Place, Aloha Show, Honolulu, HI
Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Acquisition Award, Art Maui,
Schaeffer Gallery, Maui HI
Collections
Hawaii State Art Museum, Honolulu, HI
State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Honolulu, HI
Publications
“Contemporary Landscape Painters,” Southwest Art May 2009
“Vues and Values,” Southwest Art, February 2009
American Artist, “Far and Near Horizons,” April 2008
International Artist, “Aloha from the Plein Air Painters of Hawaii,” August 2005
Trail Plus, “Colorful Perspectives, Estes Park Plein Air,” August 2005
Associations
Oil Painters of America, Artist Member
Plein Air Painters of Hawaii, Signature Member
Tucson Plein Air Painters Society, Associate Member
American Impressionist Society
California Art Club, Painting Patron
Society of Master Impressionists, Charter Member
Into Red 12 X 12 Oil on Canvas
The Tempest
38 X 48 Åcrylic on Canvas
Fire Cane - 11" x 14" oil on panel
Storm Break 20 X 60 Oil on Canvas
Solitary 12 XC 12 Oil on Canvas
Breath 12 X 12 Oil on Canvas
Julie Houck
Morning Meditation 18 X 18 Oil
