Julie Purdie is a self-taught artist living and working in the Hunter Valley. She is also a practising clinical optometrist and uses her knowledge of vision science to inform her creative process.
“I am interested in creating work that references the various stages of human visual perception that occur as we interpret the world around us. After creating digital and paper sketches I use these drawings to inspire abstract photography with long-exposures and camera movement or to become acrylic or oil paintings, often using sgraffito or masking techniques to reveal layers of visual processing. I attempt to reflect the interactions that occur between vision, memory and consciousness. This often results in fragmented, distorted and simplified images that convey the emotion of a moment more than the details. By using methods to highlight various elements of visual perception I hope to reveal unique viewpoints and meaning.”
Established in 2021, the National Emerging Art Prize was created to provide an annual, highly visible national platform to identify, promote and support the most promising emerging visual and ceramic artists in Australia.