Born in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Julie Hanson is a current resident of Sarasota, Florida and Burnsville, North Carolina.  She has also lived in Alaska and Massachusetts.  She earned her BFA from the Ringling School of Art & Design, then went on to study at length with renowned sculptor Leslie T. Posey (Who's Who in American Art).  Her relief sculpture, "Morning", won the prestigious Salmagundi Club award from the Pen & Brush in New York City.  After extensive study of the human figure (in sculpture), Julie's strong interest in color led her to the Cape Cod School of Art.  Her artistic expression has been influenced by the plein air painters' magnificent use of color.

Julie's strong background in the study of the human figure both in sculpture and in painting, her knowledge of color and her enthusiasm for these subjects led her to teaching.  She is a well respected teacher with a large following and has taught for many years privately, at Adult and Community Education Center (Sarasota), Art Center Sarasota, and workshops.

Julie has been a practicing artist in many mediums and has beem exhibited and awarded for her work.  She is accomplished in a variety of artistic fields including commissioned figure drawings and sculpture, commissioned portraiture, landscape design, garden sculpture, relief sculpture, specialty painting, murals, wood carving, illustration, graphic design, as well as designing original porcelain pieces for her company "Spirit".

Julie has been exhibited by galleries in Florida and Massachusetts and is currently exhibiting at Art Uptown Gallery, Sarasota Florida's oldest gallery; a co-op of local artists.  In addition to several solo exhibitions, Julie's commissioned work is in many private collections and has been exhibited locally, nationally, and abroad.  Julie continues to accept commissions, particularly portraits and is a member of Womens Contemporary Artists, Sarasota Portrait Society, Art Center Sarasota, the Venice Art Center and Plein Air Painters of America.

Julie's original oil paintings are now available in high quality limited edition Giclee prints.