Accolades
Here's the part where I bashfully list my past achievements.
My early work (2000-2003) was featured in two shows at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery and also in Kitchener City Hall's Rotunda Gallery.
In 2018, I designed three 8 x 8 ft colorable panels that stood in the lobby of Lot 42 during Kitchener's 2018 Tech for Good conference.
My parents were the first to sound acclaims when their little squinty-eyed blonde held up her crayon doodles. But since those kindergarten journal entries —which boasted elaborate drawings and very few words— Julie Restrepo (that's me) has come a long way artistically.
A job in the arts was not part of my initial career plan. Out of high school, I chose Dental Assisting as a way to support myself. (I bought into the starving artist myth, and... I like eating.)
While prying open people's mouths and engaging in volunteer work teaching Bible topics — never simulateously, although that may have been comically auspicious — chronic health issues began to rob me of time and energy. So I decided on a change. I started drawing again.
Backstory
Choolee
Freelance Painter, Illustrator, Goofball
Yes, my name's actually spelled Julie. But after a friend's hilarious comic strip featured me as a one-dimensional stick figure named Choolee, the name stuck.
I take client requests to create custom, one-of-a-kind pieces.
Drivers entering Kitchener-Waterloo via Bridgeport Rd can catch a glimpse of the 1,000-sq-ft outdoor mural "Connect, Communicate, Innovate," that I painted for Snugglers Furniture in 2017 — an illustrative work in red, black, and white that highlights the different ways we communicate.
I've also had opportunity to collaborate with local businesses & personalities, including:
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musicians Flowers for Daniel
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seasoned stunt man & director Todd Shroeder
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Microsoft marketing expert Navin Chand
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singer/songwriter Kaleigh Mason
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Nerdvana game programmer / prof, Jason Eckert
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VR software specialists Packet39
...to create logos, profile art for album covers, graphics for websites, murals, and more.
The Now
Happily working from my studio apartment, I take client requests to create custom, one-of-a-kind designs.
See "Services" tab in main menu.
I also sell prints of some personal creations, such as the well-liked Can't Buy Me Love, a commentary on the commercial industry which features a juicy pair of lips depicted by a red barcode.
You can follow the ongoing creative journey on my Art Murmur blog, where I post progress pics, report on points of interest, and cover a variety of Arts & Culture news.
I'm not satisfied to develop only one style of art. I scroll through the work of fellow artists every day. They inspire me to continually push the boundaries of my craft.
I'm a retro enthusiast, grammar nerd, Mandarin speaker, & dilettante Hep Cat hopper (swing dancing in suspenders! ...when I manage to drag my husband onto the dance floor.) I'm also a big fan of running, indie folk-rock, jw.org, Gravity Falls, and The Sound of Music.
What
INSPIRES ME?
We're all 'multi-potentialites'. So step outside your comfort zone & try something new with me.
I communicate with my clients before, during, and after the creative process, to determine likes, dislikes, and overall expectations.
