Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Orr.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a visual artist (originally from New England) and moved to LA fourteen years ago to pursue a career in the arts. I’ve had various creative jobs since I came to LA, including my first one working as an assistant and Graphic Designer for the late TV personality, Ed McMahon, and his wife. Then, I changed course and started Set Decorating and Art Directing for productions with Warner Brothers, ABC, MTV, Bravo, BET and more. I continued this work for about five years until I decided to go back to school to pursue my true passion of fine arts and earned my MFA from Claremont Graduate University. After graduating, I was an art teacher and built my own art class business, called Art Lessons LA (formerly L.A. Art Lessons & Events), on the side. My business grew and eventually became a full-time job with regular clients shared between myself another teacher I hired. Art Lessons LA has evolved from mainly drawing and painting to DIY classes/parties that include resin sculpture, soap making, and apparel design. Whether teaching a realistic painting lesson or making scented candles with guests at a party, I love sharing my passion for creating with others.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I love the artistic part of my job like exploring new project ideas but struggle to keep up with the marketing aspect. Building my Instagram page and promoting my work feels tedious. I don’t like to feel like I’m bothering people with ads, posts, and that kind of stuff. It’s a necessary part of the job though to promote my business. Also, making time for my own studio practice can be difficult. With Art Lessons LA work, the financial reward is immediate, so it feels safer to focus on that work over my own art right now. However, during quarantine, I made a point to change that and completed “The Artist’s Way.” If you’re unfamiliar, “The Artist’s Way” is a renowned course in a book that helps creatives overcome limiting beliefs and mental blocks with reading and assignments. The book inspired me to move to a new home in Venice with an extra bedroom for an art studio. In my new studio, I have been finding my creative voice again. I have been having fun making cartoon drawings and colorful paintings that have a Pop Art influence.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an Artist and the owner of Art Lessons LA a luxury art lessons and event company. The focus is on self-expression and the exploration of materials and techniques. I encourage clients to create unique pieces of work that channel their individual styles and voice. I have worked with artists of all levels and can provide training in both traditional and more contemporary forms of art. While recognizing the importance of honing technical skills and teaching principles of art, I also leave room for experimentation.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
The Sun, a British tabloid, wrote a critical story about a performance I did in 2012 where I buried myself in trash. A friend of mine who worked for a media company passed along photos and information about of the performance to various publications who were interested in writing articles about it. Unfortunately, The Sun bought the photographs and wrote a “trashy” article about my performance. It was ironic because the performance work had to do with cultural addictions such as consuming disposable products, media, and information.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.artlessonsla.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artlessonsla/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2s_W7nJ2_VKW9R5Yax-VoA/videos
- Other: www.julieorrart.com
Image Credits:
Portrait photography by Tyler Coll
