Meet Júlia Godoy | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Júlia Godoy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Júlia, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
My earliest memories are of smelling white roses in my great grandmother’s garden under the hot sun in Goiania, Brazil. The breeze would bring with it a sweet scent of erva cidreira, Portuguese for lemongrass, which was planted along the edge of her property line. The long lineage of women in my family used this to brew tea to sip on while discussing life at the patio table. While my grandmothers spoke of generations before them, I sat on my mothers lap drawing on the white tablecloth with the bright red juices of the acerola cherry gathered from the tall tree in the backyard. The acerola stained my skin, and even after washing, the tart scent remained. These were smells and colors I was comfortable with and were reminiscent of my home.

A few years after this memory, my immediate family immigrated to the Midwestern United States. I thought we moved from a different planet. The colors and smells were different, there were days without a glimpse of the sun, and the snow was so cold it burned. But with the first Spring came new growth, and so continued my interest in organic colors. Growing up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, yellow ochre peaked through the dirt while I waited at my bus stop. Red oxide lined the creek behind my house which I used to mark the trees during hikes so as to not get lost. I collected the rocks that spoke to me and kept them in a box under my bed, they gave me glimpses of my distant home. As I aged, I forgot about this box. Years passed until I found it again. By then, so much had changed I threw them outside and moved on.

Ironically, I found myself creating a new box of rocks once I moved to Philadelphia to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Facing a period during the pandemic when I struggled to afford art supplies, my nature walks revealed themselves to be a new way of sourcing materials. I became fascinated with old bits of buried brick, known is Philadelphia Salmon Brick, peeking out between the tree roots. Even in the most isolated areas, I would find traces of human touch. I began hand grinding these bricks and other found minerals into powder and incorporated them into my artwork. What started as a substitute for store-bought art materials during a period of scarcity has now completely taken over every aspect of my life. I realized through the many rhythms of life, pigment and color has been a perpetual thread linking me through one chapter into the next. Now, I use natural pigment in my artwork as a link to connect my intangible memories to the physical land I reside on. I believe the earth I work with holds a memory of its own, and through the process of pigment making I can echo its recollection to try to understand my own experiences.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I only work with handmade paints I make from foraged natural materials. I begin my journey hiking in the Los Angeles Mountains where I collect minerals, insects, plants, and bones and then bring them back to my art studio in DTLA to be processed into paint. I grind all the materials by hand using a mortar and pestle and process the powder in a specific way in order to be refined to an artist-grade quality pigment. Once my pigment is made, I can create any type of paint I would like by adding specific mediums. While predominately working in oil in my professional practice, I have recently began creating handmade watercolor paint to sell at local markets like the Arts District Market. I create my own watercolor medium using local honey, and I have become obsessed with sourcing as locally as possible as a way to further support my community.

When I first started creating paint, the main problem I faced was a mental one. I entered each painting with a certain expectation and was often frustrated with the outcome because handmade paint behaves in ways store-bought paints do not. The pigment making process is a highly calculated one and it requires extremely specific steps in order to be left with a highly refined product. I think when I first started making paint, I carried that sense of restraint into my painting practice only for it to backfire on me. I have since learned to be at peace with releasing my sense of control, and allow room for intuitive yet unexpected forms to appear on their own.

Through burying layers of paint, color, and texture, I have created a type of visual language of my experiences. No two marks are the same, yet they seem to tell my story in a cohesive way. Each person has a touch of their own, and that is why I believe everyone can paint. I fell in love with the magic of natural paints and have been determined to share it with my community by hosting painting events and paint making workshops in my studio. While hiking to collect pigments, what oftentimes seems like just an ordinary stone can reveal itself to be a mesmerizing yellow hue. Allowing myself to take the time to slow down and notice the little things in life has shifted my perspective of the world in indescribable ways, and I enjoy inviting others to partake in this magic with me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first place I would take them is to the Santa Monica Mountains. There are numerous hiking trails with fantastic views of the ocean and natural waterfalls. (I would, of course, take advantage of the fact that I would have an extra set of hands and have them carry some pigment for me. Thank you, friend!) Spending the afternoon at the beach in Malibu is a must, followed by a drive home through the Topanga Canyon. I always like to plan an art museum adventure with the Museum of Contemporary Art on the list as well as the Getty- for some perspective of the city. Spending time in the Arts District is a wonderful way to spend the weekend and casual stroll through art galleries and coffee shops. I would say no visit to LA is complete without a shopping day in the bustling Santee Alley Fashion District, but be prepared to be eating non stop and overcome with the desire to adopt a puppy.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my mom, Cristiane. I have become the woman I am today thanks to her unwavering love and support for me and my art throughout all the tribulations in life. My mom is the best artist I know, and her unshakeable positivity has been the single greatest point of inspiration in my life. Obrigada por ser uma mulher tão forte, incrível, e inteligente. Eu olho para você com tanta admiração. Eu amo você, Tutu!

Website: www.juliagodoystudio.com

Instagram: @juliagodoystudio