Interview
Jules Gissler
Jules Gissler has always been interested in art. Her journey began when she was a child, and she took art classes throughout school and into college. She started making hardware jewelry and moved on to sewing her jewelry on hats, gloves and pillows.
After painting a vest for the silent auction for the American Craft Council, Jules began doing hand-painted pillows. She sold her pillows to ABC Carpet & Home in New York City, Barney’s New York, Ballard Designs catalog, and various shops across the United States.
Jules wrote and illustrated a book titled, ‘Getting Your Magic Back’ for people dealing with a divorce. She still sells these books, and among those who buy them, are also people who have an addiction or serious illness, such as cancer.
She also began painting whimsical flowers, and dogs. This has led to Jules getting commissions to paint animals (mainly dogs), wedding bouquets and other flowers, houses, abstracts, desserts, and quirky women. She also writes short stories with no particular subject, but especially enjoys writing about women.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I have loved art since I was a child. After graduating with a graphic design degree from Montana State University, I started working as a manager in a graphic design department. This was not as creative as I would have wished, so I began making hardware and pearl jewelry on the side, and later on sewing them on to various garments. I even gave Elton John one of my embellished berets.
During my divorce, I felt my head was about to explode, and didn’t want to read any heavy-chapter books; just something simple that would make me feel better. That is how I started writing and illustrating my simple, short-read, two-lines-per-page book. It was around this time that I began painting as well.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My art mainly displays humor. I have been told repeatedly that it makes people smile. It doesn’t comment on any political or social issues, it just simply makes people happy.”
Which current art world trends are you following?
“I’m not really a trend person. I just paint, draw, or write what wants to be created.”
“Creating my art has helped me through some very tough times. It is my meditation. You could even say it is my savior.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“Some of my art is planned, but mostly I improvise. I love using different mediums, so I’m always experimenting and deciding what medium would be best to create what I want to do.”
What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?
“The mediums I use to create my art range from acrylic, ink, colored pencils, pastels, watercolor, gauche, sequins, hand-painted, and stamped deli sheets for collage, and a few oils.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“Because I like to use so many different mediums and explore various subjects, it is very tough to choose one piece. I love painting commissioned dogs because I feel like I get to know the dog personally from staring into their eyes while I paint. I also like writing a short story and seeing where it goes. And of course, drawing the image that goes with the story is the icing on the cake.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have 2 permanent paintings in the surgery waiting area at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. My art was placed there to help children, or their parents, forget or make easier the issues that have brought them there.
My painting of Lenny, the dog, with the cat on his head was also at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport for about 8 months. It was selected from a juried show for Arizona Artists Guild.”
