In September of 2020, I was approached on social media by Ashley Wagnac of Heya&Co to do an interview about my art practice. Here is the article:
Who are you? I am a heart that tries to love. I am eyes that try to see. I am a mouth that tries to speak out.
Where do you come from? Originally, I was born and raised in Bloomfield, NJ. But, then my family and I moved to Raleigh, NC.
Favorite Person in the Bible? I have always identified with Moses a lot. Moses struggled with his identity his whole life and doubted his voice, yet God used him to do amazing things. I feel the same way all the time. I’ve struggled with my identity all throughout my journey. I doubt my voice A LOT. I have made things that I felt were truly inspired, but, with our Instagram culture, I’ve cared too much about how many likes it gets to tell me how successful it is. Don’t do that. Don’t doubt what God has given you.
Julius and Art - His Art
Since when do you do art? I have been making art for as long as I can remember. I have always been drawing or making things since I was very young. I can say that painting became a huge motivation of mine my freshman year of High School. I got more into Graphic Design around my sophomore year of High School because I was trying to help out the small church my family was attending at the time.
How did you find out you were gifted? I would start by saying that I don’t believe God gives us gifts like that. I believe God gives us a desire and we find ways of expressing that. The way that I have expressed that is through creating things (drawing, painting, graphic design) but that could easily change if there is another outlet that expresses my desire better. I guess, I came to the expression I am at now by observing spaces where I was told God was. I grew up around a lot of different churches. Many of these spaces were covered in art, stained glass, and paintings. They always inspired me and as a child I would stare at them for hours trying to copy them in my coloring pad or out of play doh.
What are you looking for in art? What do you want to share through art? It has taken me a long time to try and answer that question. I think I’m still currently trying. In High School, I would have said that the job of my art was to present Jesus to the world. That resulted in many Jesus paintings that were cool but didn’t express how I saw God personally or what it meant for me. In my first two years of college, I would have said the goal of my art is to correct false images of Jesus and inspire action. That resulted in paintings that hid Jesus’s face and were straining for historical accuracy but lacking inner intimacy. I was trying very hard to say the most impressive thing that I think sometimes I couldn’t relate to the work myself. I watched others become moved by what I had made but I struggled to understand it myself. Now, I would probably say the goal of my creations is to examine the mystery of God, my own incarnation, and the incarnation of others.
How/ where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration everywhere. (I’m trying so hard not to make that cliche so let me explain). I think I have trained myself to see metaphors and symbols in my everyday life. I could be driving and see billions of photographs that could be taken passing me on the street. Each of those hypothetical photos could function as a parable or a self reflection. I could come home and see the light casting a shadow on a wall and think of a clever meditation to write or painting to make. What draws me to what actually gets made is the level of relevance that message has. If that image speaks to something deep within me and my God-experience then that is something that I am attempting to start creating.
Any Favorite Artists? I have so many favorite artists and creatives. If you want a couple historical picks then Duccio, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Gordon Parks, and Edward Hopper. Some more contemporary artists would be Scott Erickson, Corey Mason, and Mark Bryan. I could go on and on. I am kind’ve an art nerd.
Favorite Person in the Bible? I have always identified with Moses a lot. Moses struggled with his identity his whole life and doubted his voice, yet God used him to do amazing things. I feel the same way all the time. I’ve struggled with my identity all throughout my journey. I doubt my voice A LOT. I have made things that I felt were truly inspired, but, with our Instagram culture, I’ve cared too much about how many likes it gets to tell me how successful it is. Don’t do that. Don’t doubt what God has given you.
How will you define your art? Art is the current outlet for describing and understanding this God-experience called reality. In this reality, it can oftentimes appear absurd or unfair. These are the gaps my art is trying to fill and explain. This isn’t to say that there are gaps in God. This is to say that we are all created in the image of God, yet there are those who fail to see this holiness in all things. These people choose not to act in the likeness of that image and my art is made as a mirror for them and for the failures to see that are within all of us.
Art= Full Time Job or Just Hobby? I don’t think there is ever a time when I am not creating. I always try to describe my experiences in some way. You should see the notes on my phone. Or listen to the voice memos. They are full of parables, lessons, and recounted experiences to be used later or just to exist as they are. I know that Art is something I would love to turn into a career, hopefully at Elevation but wherever is fine. I would love to work everyday to inspire others to see, speak, and love.
Art and Faith / Art without Faith = Is there a real difference? I would say that you need a certain amount of faith to do anything, especially create something. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. So, as with the start of the creative process, your idea hasn’t been made yet; however you see it. Faith is the intangible map that guides you into manifesting the tangible. Seeing is the opposite of faith. Once your idea exists you no longer need faith to create it because it is in front of you. Your faith then has to shift from creative-driven to purpose-driven. As in, how do I want this thing to impact its surroundings? This is not just limited to art about Jesus, the Bible, religion. This applies to bringing anything into the world. Whether it be art, music, business ideas, or a person. We have to see faith as something human, not just something religious.
What would you say to an artist? In this moment I would say, the greatest inspiration you can have is your experience of reality. If you want to create something real, you need something real to do it. Don’t try and make something that tries to be clever; make art that expresses where you are. If you are angry, make angry art. If you are hurt, make art that hurts. If you are happy, then share that joy. A painting of Jesus on the cross is both beautiful and horrifying. It liberates and confronts. That was God’s portrait of what we do to others. That was art. Keep that as your standard; something that liberates and confronts.
A quick warning would be to be aware of the likes and algorithms of what people like about your work but don’t let it define your vision. You must work in the tension of appeal and authenticity, but you will know when one is needed more than the other. Sometimes something that’s trendy and has a deeper meaning and good information is helpful to get the word out. Sometimes your unique take on the world is needed to stir the pot. Again, trust your experience.
Here is a link to the original article here.