JULIE-ANNE GILBURT
COLOURS BY THE SEA
by Vera Brozzoni
Brighton Marina: Julie-Anne’s studio overlooks the sea and the turbulent sky, and when you see her paintings you understand why she has chosen this place.
Trained in Illustration, the painter counts Klimt, Monet and Lempicka as her influences; after them, she has developed a number of styles, from portrait to abstract to landscape, all with a distinctive, feminine stamp; the joy of painting and dedication to art leaps out at every stroke of brush.
 Julie-Anne’s foremost moment of fame arrived in 2006, when musician Fatboy Slim asked her to paint the famous cover of his album Greatest Hits: the image of Fatboy Slim with angel wings is now her trademark. But Julie-Anne is not new to celebrity portraits: she has painted the likes of Michelle Gayle, Patrick Bergin and even Mike Tyson.
nuts4chic How did it feel to paint such a controversial celebrity like Mike Tyson?
Julie-Anne Gilburt Actually many women’s organisations criticised me, but I think I was just doing my job: when I have a commission for a portrait, I don’t ask to the commissioner whether he beats his wife or not! Moreover, the Tyson portrait was auctioned and the money went to Whoopsadaisy, a local charity that helps disabled children. He was a really nice person anyway, but his American entourage was hideous. It was clear that they buzz around him only to make money out of him. Even cricketer Phil Tufnell, who is reputed to be a womaniser, was really nice to me when we had a joint exhibition in 2005. This proves that you can’t tell people from their reputation.
n4c How do you work on your portraits?
J-AG Celebrities don’t have time to stay and sit as models for me, therefore I direct a photo shoot with them, and then paint from the photographs we selected together. I usually do three different paintings from one subject, so that the commissioners can choose their favourite, and the other two stay in my studio for sale. All portraits are made for a commercial purpose, so I must always make sure that the commissioner’s face looks beautiful.
n4c So, portraits represent the commercial side of your activity. What about your abstract art and landscapes?
J-AG Abstract painting reflects what goes on inside me much more than portrait, it’s more spontaneous. Although I also have commissions for abstracts, it seems to me that the commercial side of my art is still far different from the conceptual side, which not necessarily is enjoyable by the big public. But in terms of where art is going, I think abstract is going down and figurative is coming back like in the past; art has gone through the full circle. That’s why, even in my abstract landscapes and seascapes, now I give more definition to details such as the line of the horizon.
n4c So most part of your work is made on commission; how do you relate to this?
 J-AG Commission is usually seen as prostitution of one’s artistic integrity, but I disagree. First of all, commission is what makes it possible for me to go on with my studio and my art; secondly, every commissioned painting is a way to expand my consciousness as artist and experiment styles I’ve never done before. That’s why I never said no to any commission.
n4c Besides being a successful artist, you are a family girl: your husband Jonathan looks after the business, your cat Marmalade looks after the rats, and you have two lovely daughters!
J-AG Yes, and it’s hard to pull all the strings! I wish I had more time to spend with my daughters but I’m an artist and I ought to be busy. When you’re an artist you can’t win, because art is an integral part of your life, you spend the whole day in art. Recently we went to Venice for a holiday, but I spent the day taking sketches and photos, so it was no holiday at all! Yet my situation has changed for the better: two years ago I had a studio at home, on the other side of Brighton, I used to work 12 hours a day, then my agent came and took the pictures away. I felt isolated. Now I finally enjoy people’s company, entire families come to my studio and I keep painting while they watch!
nuts4facts
Real Name: |
Julie-Anne Gilburt |
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Birthdate: |
December 6th, 1972 |
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Significant
Other: |
Business partner/Lover/Father of my children and husband, Jon |
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Career High: |
Selling my first painting |
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Career Low: |
Not being paid for a commission that took me several weeks to accomplish |
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Famous For : |
My stickabilaty |
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Words of Wisdom: |
“Never give up, stay focused on your goal and always pick your self up when knocked down” |
For more information visit www.julieannegilburt.com
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