When it comes to art, Julie Van Wezemael is what you'd call a bit of a dabbler – she'll try her hand at anything from drawing to ceramics and wielding a stitchy needle. The difference between her and us, though, is that when she gives a new medium a go, she nails it each and every time.

We tried to find her secret to success with a little bit of a chitchat.

What is your name and how old are you?
 My name is Julie Van Wezemael and I recently turned 27!

Where were you born and where do you live now? 
I was born and raised in Ostend, a city by the sea in Belgium. After high school I went to college in Ghent and ended up staying there. Right now I share a flat with a friend, my two rabbits and about a hundred plants.



How does where you live affect your art? 
I don't think the city I live in has much of an influence on my work, but my house and the actual space I work in do. I love to be surrounded by inspiring books and objects. Sometimes they feature in my work; in one of my latest illustrations I tried to incorporate as many of our houseplants as I could.

How did you get started with this medium? 
I experimented with thread for a school assignment and ended up really liking it. It proved to be a versatile medium and I loved the texture it provided, so it stuck.

Are there any downsides to this medium?
 I need a lot of material so it's kind of hard to do it 'on the go'. I pretty much only draw when I'm at home. I've tried taking a sketchbook with me in the past, but I just don't enjoy sketching that much. I feel like I need a lot of mediums to choose from in order to feel inspired, and a sewing machine and an etching press would be rather heavy to carry around!



Is there a running theme to the work you create, or do you just make whatever comes to mind?
 I make whatever comes to mind, but I tend to draw animals and plants a lot because I think they have interesting shapes and colours. I suppose there are running themes in my work, but it's not a conscious effort. Lately I've also been really inspired by certain colour combinations.

What makes your work unique and truly your own?
 The combination of all the different materials, the themes and inspirations, colours and the specific way in which I use thread.



How has your style changed over time?
 My first illustrations hardly ever had a background. I think I got better at making slightly more complex drawings with better composition. Along the way I also added more colour to my work.

If you were to teach an art appreciation class, what kind of lessons would you try to teach your students? Draw a lot just for the sake of it. When you first start out, don't worry too much about your work not being as good as you expected it to be.

What do you wish you knew about being an artist before you got started?
 That you need to try out lots of different things before you can truly develop an individual style. If you draw enough and keep your eyes open, a unique visual language is bound to come out eventually.



Are there any other mediums that you'd like to experiment with?
 I would love to experiment with ceramics to make 3D pieces. I've made a few small things at home this past year but they were made out of regular air-drying clay. I'd like to make proper baked pieces but I don't have the needed material or knowledge. I also think animation would be a great way to see my drawings come to life, but I'm sure I lack the patience required!

What's the coolest art tip you've ever received? 
Even though it might seem obvious: enjoy yourself and don't be scared.



What other budding artists do you love? I love seeing what my ex-classmates are doing and how everyone has developed their own style even though we all started around the same time. I love the work of Merlijne Marell, Joke Dieleman, Daphné Gerhard or Charlotte Peys (to name just a few) though they all have very different ways of approaching subjects.

What would you be doing if you weren't making art? 
I've asked myself this question a lot, and it's hard to give a definitive answer. I think I'd be totally lost!

Where can we see more of your work?
 On my Flickr account, my facebook page or my blog.