| About the Artist
Julie Zahn is an intuitive painter and printmaker who translates the raw energy of nature into a variety of media. As a plein air painter, her paintings of coastal Maine are as vibrant and spontaneous as the subject itself. Her woodcuts are no less free, emphasizing the beauty of lines, marks and patterns. An avid gardener, Zahn derives great inspiration from plants and uses garden imagery in her woodcuts and other prints.
Zahn was raised in the Washington, D.C. area where her mother, artist Ann Zahn, was influential in her development as an artist, with myriad trips to museums and much time spent learning monoprinting and etching in her printmaking studio. After graduating from college, Zahn moved to Japan. Captivated by the beauty of the surrounding rural countryside, she drew and painted constantly. A pivotal moment in her stay was seeing the woodcuts of Shiko Munakata.
Returning to the U.S. to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, she pursued this medium. However, every summer she was drawn to Maine to paint. Realizing that watercolor was the best medium for this subject matter, she was further inspired by the work of John Marin and Winslow Homer. Upon graduation Zahn was awarded the prestigious J. Henry Schiedt Travel Scholarship and returned to Japan to study Japanese woodblock and antique screen restoration in Kyoto. She also studied Japanese stencil dyeing which form the basis for many of her large multi-media works.
Zahn has exhibited extensively in the Philadelphia region, as well as in New York and Maryland. She is an alumni of Creative Artist's Network, shows her work at Gustafson Gallery in Philadelphia, and participates in the annual Philadelphia Open Studio Tours. A group of her woodcuts will be shown at the Cosmopolitan Club in Philadelphia this September.
Education
Pa. Academy of the Fine Arts, 4 year certificate program. Completed in 1990.
Earlham College, Richmond, IN. B.A. in French and in English Literature.
Related Work Experence
Art teacher, Manayunk Art Center, 1998-2001
Art workshops, Southern Home Services, sponsored by CAN, 1995-96.
Restoration work, Japanese House & Garden, Phila., PA. 7/93.
Apprentice to Japanese antique screen restorer, Kyoto, Japan, 1/91-12/91.
Art teacher, Cape May County Arts League, Cape May, NJ Summer 1990.
Affiliations
Creative Artists Network (CAN), Philadelphia, PA (8/94-8/96)
Gustafson Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Awards and Honors
1998 Chester County Art Center, Watercolor show. 3rd prize.
1994 Dream Images show, Manayunk Arts Center, 3rd prize.
1993 Joseph S. Wohl Memorial Award (Main Line Center for the Arts)
1990 The J. Henry Schiedt Memorial Traveling Scholarship (PAFA)
Cape May County Arts league Teaching Internship (PAFA)
ARCO Chemical Company Purchase Prize (PAFA)
Jeanne Culver Prize (PAFA)
Woodcut Purchase Prize, Special Notice (PAFA)
1989 The Franklin C. Watkins Memorial Grant (PAFA)
Louis and Estelle Pearson Memorial prize (PAFA)
Woodmere Art Museum Prize, 2nd prize for student work.
1988 Traditional Media Print Prize (PAFA)
1987 Winsor Newton Painting Award (Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Annual) See shows/exhibitions/collections
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