About Julien

 

My name is Julien Renwick (b. 1989), I’m a self-taught artist, born in Canada and now living in Australia. Like most kids, I loved to draw and remember the deep joy it created in me. Not to last, this joy was marred by my harsh internal critic and a plethora of other anxiety gremlins, all telling me I wasn’t good enough, that I can’t draw, that I was wasting my time. 

Regrettably, I started to believe these voices. I’d draw less and less, yet wish more and more of being able to draw and paint. 

I moved to New Zealand and then to Australia, putting down my roots in Adelaide. The first 5 years living abroad were among the hardest of my life. I was a mix of anxiety, then-unknown trauma, a handful of undiagnosed health conditions, depression,  and homesickness. I was stressed and unkind, surviving at 4/10 on most days. 

One step at a time, I found my way out, reclaiming those wounds.

But not through drawing. The inner voice saying I couldn’t draw was too loud and I still believed it.

Until one December day, something in me sparked and I was filled with the overwhelming desire to REWRITE. THE. SCRIPT. 

I was going to learn to draw. I was just going to do it.

Enter "The 100 Day Project." On 30 December 2023, I picked up a 2B pencil and completed a sketch. Then another, then another, then … a hundred. Then 200. Each day, adding to my sketchbooks, building trust in myself. 

Those 100 (now 250+) days transformed my world. When I finished the project April 2024, I saw myself at an array of younger ages, being hugged tight as he cried. “you will learn to draw, you can do this, you can do hard things, you will find it in yourself to keep at it each day. You are enough.” And I believed this voice, for the first time, now able to banish the anxiety gremlins. The long-missed joy was back again, and this time, here to stay. 

From the project, I started exploring abstract painting, branching out with fine-liner pen, writing ink, and gouache paint. My current subject focuses on neuroanatomy and fairy tales. 

As I shared my works, I started receiving purchase inquiries. I was absolutely stunned as I sold my first work. Then I sold another, and soon realised, something incredible was happening. 

I’m so grateful I picked up that pencil back in December. I’m so glad you’re here, welcome to my gallery. 

Julien Renwick | August 2024