Welcome to the Final part of my interview with Designer, Illustrator, Artist and Instructor - Julie Ann Silverman. This multi-faceted creative woman, has shared so much with our community with all her insights and lifetime experience. I hope she inspires you as much as she’s inspired me. Read on for more nuggets!

Jennifer - Where do you find most of your inspiration?

Most of my inspiration is found in the 20th century. The following is a list of my favorite artists in no particular order who are endlessly inspiring to me:

George Hurrell, Richard Avedon, Edouard Steichen, Cecil Beaton, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Poiret, Rene Gruau, Toulouse Lautrec, George Barbier, J.C. Leyendecker, Erte, Josephine Baker, Ava Gardner, Lucille Ball, Betty Davis, Hedy Lamarr, Myrna Loy, Marilyn Monroe, Bob Fosse, Judy Garland, Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelley, The Ziegfeld Follies, Busby Berkeley films.

and a few modern ones:

David Downton, Cecilia Lundgren, Ruben Toledo, Donald Robertson, Mert and Marcus, Tim Walker, Ellen Von Unwerth, Isabel Toledo, Dita Von Teese, Violet Chachki, Johanna Ortiz.

Most of my research these days is done on Pinterest and Instagram. However, I still have file folders full of magazine tears from years past that will always be my favorites.

Jennifer - Your Burlesque art is delightful. What was the impetus to start working in that realm?

My friend Moxie Gold was starting a monthly Burlesque show in the arts district of Santa Ana. She wanted to feature a different artist every month to showcase their art and posted an open call. I said yes before my brain could say no. I didn’t actually have any art to show, but strangely found the confidence that I could come up with something within the one month timeline. I have always loved to paint women and I used this project as an impetus to create some personal work.

I challenged myself to get reacquainted with watercolors and painted a series of dancers for the event. Then I scanned them and worked them further in the computer as digital art. Because of this process, I call it hybrid art. Ultimately, I had giclee prints made that I sold that night. This was the very first time that I sold my art to the public. Ever.

Originally I wanted to paint a backdrop for her show, because Cecil Beaton painted backdrops, but that became way too complicated. Ultimately, I made two 5 foot tall acrylic paintings on canvas that hung on the front of the stage. I also painted a round vintage style moon face on masonite that looked out on the dancers from the stage. I’m so glad that I said yes to this because it really pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and create some new work. There are still some prints available in my etsy shop: The Goody Closet.

You can read more about Julie Ann’s in her Bio on our Instructors page, visit her WEBSITE or buy her artwork from her Etsy Shop.