JulieAnn Derby | Artist

Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do?

Before I could verbalize my ideas, I was drawing and trying to create.  I am far better at expressing my thoughts through painting than with words.

How long have you been painting?

I have been painting since I was a child, professionally I started focus on painting and selling my work publicly in 2014.

What are you trying to communicate with your art?

Connection.  I believe it is my responsibility to connect with others through my paintings.  I thrive on expressing a dimension of life that is beyond the five senses.  I strive to capture the extraordinary nature of life.  The more I paint, the more important there is a narrative, or message, behind the work that I am trying to communicate with my painting.  

Why do you paint horses?

I am called to paint horses.  Horses’ expressions are pure and uninhibited. I want to translate how they mesmerize me onto the canvas. 

How much does a commission cost and what is the process?

Please click on the following text for JulieAnn's commission process

What is your background?

I always wanted to be an artist. It has been a winding path to get here.  I have my M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering and have worked as an engineer and technology executive. 


I had a successful career, yet I never gave up my dream.  After I saved enough money, I found the courage to pursue painting full-time.  I left corporate America four years ago to focus on my painting.  While commuting for an apprenticeship under a master portrait artist in NY, I drove by horses and horse farms.  I became so intrigued by the horses that I actually pulled my car over and found their owners and asked if I could paint them.

Everything I was learning about painting the human figure transitioned over to the horse from the anatomy of movement to color theory.  My engineering background also came into play bringing my knowledge of dynamics and physics into my sketches.  That is when it all came together.  

I have learned so much about equestrian life from friends and clients.  They have let me observe and interact with their beautiful horses.  Each horse, like each person, has a unique spirit and physical presence.

Have you won any awards for your artwork?

Yes.  My awards started in elementary school when the local CO news featured my drawings.  In high school, another form of recognition was my acceptance into the New York Academy of Art.  More recently, I was asked to paint an iTunes album cover, and I continue to win commission opportunities.

What is your preferred medium?
Oil.  It is more organic and flexible.  You can play with the viscosity and chroma easily once you learn how to master the medium.   With help, patience, and practice oil will allow you to create any color you desire.  Oil paint can render seamless details and also make bold strokes.  The more I paint I want to see the strokes and let the paint express itself.  

How do I determine the best size painting for a wall*?

The following steps will give you a range of measurements for wall art that covers between 4/7 and 3/4 of your wall (the sweet spot, so to speak).

• Measure the length and width of your available wall space. Available wall space refers to the blank area you want to fill, not covered by furniture, molding, and so on.
• Multiply the width by .57 and .75.
• Multiply the length by .57 and .75.

The width and length of the artwork you choose should measure within the range of these calculations.

Another thing to consider when selecting artwork is how high it will hang, whether on a blank wall or above a piece of furniture.

If you plan to hang artwork above a sofa, dresser, or headboard, the bottom of the piece should hang 6 to 12 inches from the top of the furniture. 

If you’re hanging above a fireplace, 3 to 6 inches above the mantle will suffice. Select an artwork with a width larger than the fireplace opening, but smaller than the mantle

When in doubt, use post-it notes to mark the corners of where you want your artwork.

*Reference:  Tips for Choosing the Right Size Art for Your Wall (by Kalee Olson)