Daily Inspiration: Meet Julia Foxworth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Foxworth.

Hi Julia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always loved being creative. I cannot remember a time where I was not adding sparkle to something in my life. I grew up in a small town in the central valley of California. Living in a two-mile town means there is not a whole lot to do, which leads to art becoming my outlet. If I was not painting I was sculpting, if I was not doodling I was beading, and if I was not doing any of the above, I was finding some chaotic way to make a mess in my family’s living room; most likely with glitter once again. My life was a constant exploration of creative mediums. I was allowed to be expressive and free as a child. My parents never complained about the paint stains or the spilled glitter. They never made me feel like I had to fit in a box, rather encouraged my “odd ideas” and “chaotic concepts” This blessing will be what comes to shape the entire identity of my creative career. In high school, I knew art was meant to be more than a hobby for me. I began to explore the entrepreneurial side of myself. I commissioned water bottle designs, painted motifs on floors, and even attached a collection of bracelets to my backpack to sell at school. I went into college at Biola University as a painting major. I kept that title for two years, up until my first photo class. I had grown up taking photos here and there.

However, I had never realized what the photo medium could be. In this course, I was pushed to approach photography in a way that challenged my perception of the medium. I began to experiment editorial style photos, fell in love with the practice, and switched my major to focus on both the art of photography and design. My entire life began to revolve around photos. Over my years at college, I worked in a local photography studio during the summers and interned with a Creative Agency in OC, both which molded my technicality and skill significantly. [Leonard Photography, Marika Creative] I was enthralled with my work and things truly began to take off for me my last year of school. Once I had gained all of the technical knowledge I needed, it was time to find my creative voice. What was going to set me apart as a creator? What made my work MY work? I felt stuck. I had been making for so long I had forgot what had placed me in that passion in the first place. I took time and reflected over all of my years of creative exploration. Where did it all begin? That is when I thought about the glitter on the floor. The freedom my parents had always encouraged me to embrace. I decided to let my inner child completely take over my work.

I had the camera knowledge and the work experience, I just need to let young Julia be absolutely and utterly chaotically creative again. That is when things began to take off for me. I created and curated my entire senior exhibition based on moments of childhood creativity. [All of which can be viewed on my website under Shimmer Colored Glasses]. I began to work with smaller companies for product shoots, style and create multiple EP covers, and brands began to notice me. I stopped limiting myself to still photos and began to integrate video, graphics, and all forms of creative expression. I started creating content for anything for a variety of products based in lifestyle, fashion, etc. I built a platform not only based on my creative work but who I was as a creative person! Since then I have worked with brands such as Amazon, Bindle, Freestyle Watches, Get Back Necklaces, Papier, Pennylane Jewelry, Pura Vida Bracelets, Solara Suncare, The Social Party, The Wander Club, You + Pio, and various other companies. Currently, I do not hold a specific title other than creative. There are many other mediums and routes of business I want to pursue in the years to come. For now, I am content being boldly creative and authentically me.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There have definitely been struggles. Becoming a creative in our society is not easy by any means. Our world tends to be condescending to those who pursue arts as a career. I have heard all of the classic comments. “That isn’t a real job.”, “You are majoring in your hobby?”, “How will you provide for yourself?”, “So you weren’t smart enough to major in something else.” Yeah, those are literally direct quotes. Most creatives I know have heard some version of these offensive questions at some point in their careers. I will admit it does make it a lot more fun when you prove them wrong. However, taking the risk is definitely more difficult when you are being bombarded with doubt and disapproval. In addition, creative burnout is a real thing. You must constantly be seeking out inspiration and experimenting with new practices.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love creating visual languages. Whether that is telling a story through an editorial series, creating videos for a fashion brand, designing an EP cover that feels like the songs on the album, or creating silly little Tik Toks for branding products; I want people’s passions to be visually communicated in a creative and fun manner. I specialize in anything focusing on shimmer and light. Companies that tend to approach me create products that are specifically colorful, focused in travel, vibrant, beachy, and joyful. The work I make tends to not take itself very seriously, it leans more playful and fun. I think businesses are starting to realize that specific approach reads as more authentic to their audiences. I am the most proud of my exhibition show, Shimmer Colored Glasses. I think it was a pivotal point in my career where I switched from photographing through the camera lens to photographing through the “Julia lens”. I truly found my creative voice.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I do not believe in luck. I worked to get where I am today. I think people often wait for their “big break”. The truth is you have to make the first step. I have folders upon folders of mediocre images and photoshoots that never even made it past editing. I have a list of unanswered emails to big companies I wanted to work with. I have piles of failed business ideas that did not quite take off. Some people decide to look at those as failures and give up. However, I see them as stepping stones to get where I am today. You learn something from every failure you encounter. Fun fact: we are not perfect. I know, crazy concept. That is why you keep striving to do what you love. I remember in high school, I shot my first wedding. I bought that camera with quarters I had been saving from selling bracelets made out of recycled fabric. In addition, due to my financial circumstance, I could not afford any editing software. So I downloaded a janky editing app and edited each wedding image individually on my phone. If you have EVER shot a wedding, you understand how absolutely crazy that is, but that is how determined I was to create. Now do not get me wrong, I was extremely blessed to have people that supported me and encouraged me. However, I do not think any of that was luck. God intentionally created me to be creative. I know that in my heart. He gave me the passion, I just needed to put in the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juliafoxworthart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliafoxworthart/, https://www.instagram.com/juliaaafox/
• Other: http://www.tiktok.com/juliakfoxworth

Image Credits
Intro Image (me holding the camera) taken by Megumi Nakazawa, all other Images rights of Julia Foxworth