Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Kenyon.
Hi Julia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up as a creative kid, but never really considered myself an artist. I actually never took art classes in high school because I thought they were “dumb” (lol!), but was introduced to Photoshop and Premiere Pro in a computer class and LOVED it.
This led me to study graphic design in college, which allowed me to explore a lot of different creative ways of making from book binding, screen printing, painting, drawing, branding, type design, packaging design and more. It was a great time to learn and explore! After graduating with my BFA in graphic design during the middle of a global pandemic, job prospects were not great, so I got a job at a brewery. They asked me to paint a mural in the brewery for an expansion and I said “heck yes!”
I fell in love with painting murals and decided then that I wanted to learn how to be better at this and do this full time! It’s been almost 6 years since I painted that first mural and I’ve learned so much since then and have had the opportunity to paint 40+ murals for local businesses, universities, Airbnbs, large chains, apartment complexes, and more, all across the United States! I absolutely love painting and all my clients and I’m so grateful that I get to do this full time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not! There have been many bumps in the road and I expect there will be more in the future.
Being fully self employed as an artist is scary. Jobs are not guaranteed and projects ebb and flow. Besides the financial insecurity that is inherent to this type of work is my own self doubt and self sabotage that tend to creep in. The thoughts of “there’s no way I can charge that much” or “my work isn’t good enough for this project or client”. But it really is all in my head and it’s a constant battle to work past that and remind myself that I can do anything I set my mind to!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a graphic designer turned muralist, so my work tends to be graphic, bold, abstract, and type-centric. I’m most proud of my clean, crisp lines and attention to detail. I always consider the viewer’s experience, whether it’s a simple sign-painting job or a two-story, 100-foot wall visible from the highway. My background in design lets me see murals as more than just a beautiful wall. They’re a way to bring light, connection, and color into our everyday lives through intentional, site-specific design.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice is to tell everyone you know about what you’re doing and what you want to do! Share your work on Instagram and all the other social media platforms, reach out to businesses you admire and want to work with, go to networking events. I get a majority of my projects from word of mouth and this type of outreach. It’s okay if someone says they’re not interested in hiring you (it’s actually gonna happen a lot, so prepare yourself). But there have been so many times when I’ve reached out to someone and they’ve said that they’re so glad I reached out because they were just thinking about adding a mural to their space.
It’s cheesy af, but you really do miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. So put on your big girl pants and shoot your shot!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juliakenyondesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliakenyon/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliakenyondesign/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-kenyon/
