Today we’d like to introduce you to Margaret Juul.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
With a background in Fine Art and Interior Design, I have dedicated my career to the visual arts, including interior design, painting, custom commissions, and textile design. In 2014, after years of working in the corporate art and interior design world, I made the bold decision to pursue my creative passions independently, full time.
My fascination with water began early, growing up in the NYC Metro area, where I was surrounded by the ever-changing, glistening moods of water. My family also spent considerable time at the beach, and one particularly impactful moment occurred during a vacation to Miami Beach. At just four years old, I was caught in a rip tide and pulled under. The memory of waves pulling me down, coupled with the reflections of light through the surf, has stayed with me throughout my life—etched into my memory as a profound, formative experience.
After college, I struggled to support myself as an artist while working with an environmental remediation company, specializing in toxic waste cleanup for government contracts. This exposure, during the early 1990s, was my introduction to the extent of human impact on the environment. It was a sobering, but educational, period that heightened my awareness of the global environmental crisis. This experience inspired me to reevaluate my lifestyle and shift my artistic focus toward themes that could help raise awareness and inspire change. It was also during this time that I began studying under the ‘Self-Realization Fellowship’ founded by Paramahansa Yogananda, which contributed to my intellectual, spiritual, and creative growth.
Throughout the years, I explored various art styles and themes. In the late 1990s, I began incorporating emotion and personal memories into my work, allowing these experiences to guide the direction of my art.
By the early 2000s, while working as an art buyer, I noticed a growing demand from clients for contemporary waterscapes—works of art that simply weren’t available in the market. This sparked the idea to create pieces specifically to meet this demand and showcase them to our clientele.
My artistic journey then led me to explore coastal landscapes, striving to develop a unique voice that could help viewers connect with a sense of tranquility and relaxation. I discovered that painting water became a deeply cathartic experience for me, and, more importantly, my work resonated with others. In a world often filled with chaos, both in society and the art market, I believe my role as an artist is to remind others of the beauty and peace that still exists, offering a moment of calm through my work.
This was the period during which I was first published and began collaborating with Art.com. I was one of the first thousand artists selected internationally in the website launch.
The result of this journey was my Organic Coastal Waterscape Series, a collection of works that blends oil, ink, oil pastel, and acrylic on various surfaces. This series has become one of my most widely recognized and respected collections, with people worldwide using it to invest in and enhance their interior spaces—whether in homes, offices, or public areas.
In 2011, a workplace accident left me with crushed hands and wrists, and doctors told me I would never be able to paint again. However, after multiple surgeries, months of therapy, and a great deal of determination, I was able to return to my artistic practice. I’m proud of my perseverance through that challenging period and grateful for the chance to continue pursuing my artistic ambitions.
As I reflect on my journey, I am deeply thankful for the support and encouragement I have received from others.
While my work is commercially successful, it carries a deeper, more significant purpose. As an artist, my goal is to bridge visual art and education, using my work to promote awareness of the critical environmental challenges we face, particularly regarding fresh water and living oceans.
We are on the brink of a major turning point in human history, and through my abstract water paintings, I hope to inspire others. I want viewers to be moved—to respect the environment, our precious natural resources, and to think creatively and beyond the conventional.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been an easy journey. I’ve had no family support in my career, and I don’t come from wealth—nor did I marry into it. Everything I’ve built has been through my own effort.
I worked to put myself through college, and from that point on, it’s been sheer determination that has brought me to where I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Nature, particularly the element of Water, is my profound muse. I approach the world with the perspective of a shimmering prism, seeing endless potentiality in every facet.
I am known for incorporating irregular shapes which move around the canvas, reminiscent of the brilliant marine hues that convey water in 19th-century Japanese woodblock prints. Close inspection of my work reveals rough, textured surfaces from the thick application of medium on linen- including oil, acrylic, ink, sand, pigments and oil pastel, reiterating the earthly and organic nature of my subject.
As both an artist and a Level II Reiki Practitioner, my objective is to create art that establishes connection, inspires, soothes, and heals. I am a multifaceted artist, with a portfolio encompassing painting, illustration, interior design, and textile design.
Over the past two decades, I have cultivated an extensive network of devoted supporters. My work is prominently displayed in diverse settings, ranging from celebrity homes and corporate lobbies to international commercial and hospitality venues. I have been fortunate to exhibit my art internationally in locations between San Diego to Boston and London to Beijing.
From 2008 to 2011, I was honored to be selected as the American Artist Representative for an exhibition in Baghdad, Iraq. Prior to that, I was one of only a thousand artists globally chosen for the launch of Art.com, which significantly elevated my profile. My career has experienced substantial growth ever since.
In 2019 and 2020, I was invited to participate in a collaborative exhibition with Yoko Ono in Canada and Iceland. I am grateful to be represented by reputable galleries, and my prints and textiles are marketed and sold by vendors internationally.
I am very proud of my accomplishments noted above. What sets me apart is consistency and a strong sense of professionalism and gratitude.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I wanted to share some thoughts on the current landscape of creative industries and the online marketplace for art. It’s truly inspiring to see talent shine through from individuals who have dedicated their lives to honing their craft, and I firmly believe that creativity serves as a powerful form of expression and healing.
However, I’ve also observed a challenging trend. While the accessibility of online platforms has opened doors for many, the prevailing narrative that everyone should post and sell their work online, unfortunately, has had a significant impact on the industry. It sometimes feels as though this has diluted the overall quality of available work, leading to a situation where many people are growing up without a full appreciation for, or inspiration from, art due to the sheer volume of unskilled work they encounter.
I believe it’s important to reflect on how we can encourage and support genuine artistic development while also fostering an environment where quality and skill are recognized and celebrated.
All in all, my greatest fear will be censorship in all creative and intellectual forms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://margaretjuulpaintings.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretjuul_artanddesign/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaretjuulfineart/
- LinkedIn: https://margaretjuulpaintings.com/#/resumemargaretjuul/
- Other: https://mcgawgraphics.com/artists/margaret-juul
