Artist Bio

Born in Tallahasse, FL, the daughter of two prominent architects, Julie K. Ross has been interested from a very young age in art and theatre.

At the age of 6, her parents took her to a production of Hansel and Gretel in the newly renovated Ruby Diamond Auditorium (on which her father worked) where Julie discovered her love for the world which theatre created. After the production her dad gave her a backstage tour where she was able to gaze first hand at the "real live" candy house which was no more than foam, paint, and fabric. Right then, Julie fell in love with scenic art, she just hadn't realized it yet. Fascinated with the fantastical and realistic illusions created through the crafting of foam, fabrics, paints and glue, theatre created a lasting impression that has guided her career.

Following high school, Julie attended Florida State University where she began her study in Studio Art. There she learned under great teachers, such as Mark Messersmith, and fine tuned her oil painting technique. While in school, she also started helping out with the theatre department in her spare time. She volunteered many hours in the FSU scene shop and developed her love for the theatre's quick pace and stunning effects. She then decided to further pursue scenic artistry and added on a Technical Theatre major to her degree. Studying under Gerry Leahy, she eagerly picked up scenic painting techniques which have greatly influenced her current work.

After graduation Julie went on to hone her skills working for Centerstage in Baltimore, MD; Flatrock Playhouse in Flat Rock, NC; Capital Playhouse in Olympia, WA; Asheville Lyric Opera in Asheville, NC; Blue Ridge Motion Pictures in Asheville, NC; Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, TN; Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre in Conway, AR; in addition to scenic design and painting for universities in the southeast such as: Furman University in Greenville, SC and William Peace University in Raleigh, NC. In 2016, Julie even worked as a scenic artist on Oscar Award nominated film: 3 Billboards over Ebbing, Missouri. Julie also does a great deal of commercial scenic painting and murals for amusement parks, restaurants and stores including: Universal Studios Volcano Bay, Silver Dollar City, Dollywood, Bass Pro Shops and Tupelo Honey Cafe, utilizing art in every capacity she can find.

Julie does commissioned paintings, murals, faux finishes, logo design, illustrations and is always open to trying something new; feel free to give her a fresh challenge.

Currently Julie lives in Asheville, NC, where she spends her free time remodeling her house and adventuring in the North Carolina wilderness with her family.

If you would like to contact the artist, please send her an email at: painting@juliekross.com