art portfolio

My primary mediums are watercolor and gouache, but I can and do create with just about anything. My tools are Procreate, Illustrator, and Affinity, and yes, that does mean that everything you see in this gallery is digital art! My art lives at the intersection of the natural world and the decorative traditions that have always celebrated it — Art Nouveau, Arts & Crafts, the kind of illustration that makes you want to slow down and look closely. Botanicals are my obsession: leaves, blossoms, insects, the quiet geometry of a magnolia flower or a trailing vine.

My primary mediums are watercolor and gouache, and while everything in this gallery is created digitally, I work hard to bring to life the texture and hand painted nature that goes beyond digital art and brings the story I’m telling to life. The goal is always something that is organic, layered, and lush. I hope something you see here inspires you to go out and enjoy the natural world!

Gouache luna moth painting in front of a full moon and stars with cream flowers in an Art Nouveau style.
Digital watercolor painting of teal leaves by Procreate artist Julie McMillan.
Art Nouveau style teal and gold peacock painting in front of a full moon with stars by illustrator Julie McMillan.
Gouache botanical painting of trailing arbutus flowers and leaves by Procreate painter Julie McMillan.
Procreate watercolor painting of pink, peach, and coral spring flowers and leaves by artist Julie McMillan.
Hot pink Australian bottle brush flowers and foliage painting by Julie McMillan.
Arts and Crafts style framed watercolor flowering vine by Procreate artist Julie McMillan.
Julie McMillan digital watercolor painting of red, pink, and peach tulips.
Gouache illustration of pink, red, brown butterfly and flowers by designer Julie McMillan.
Blue, cream, and brown flower bouquet by Procreate gouache painter Julie McMillan.
Julie McMillan gouache painting of butterflies and flowers.
Pink calla lilies painted in digital gouache by artist Julie McMillan.
Pink magnolia blossoms painted in Procreate by Julie McMillan.
Field of pink flowers watercolor painting by Julie McMillan.
Art Nouveau inspired poppy flowers and buds in shades of pink and red by illustrator Julie McMillan.
Pink anemone flower painted in Procreate by artist Julie McMillan.
Illustration of leafy branches in soft muted colors created in Procreate by artist Julie McMillan.
Digital painting of dahlias, one pink and one coral, by artist Julie McMillan, lead designer of Silver Birch Studio.
Sepia toned Procreate watercolor painting of brown leaves on a textured background by artist Julie McMillan.

Insta

If you’re not following @octopusconnection you should be, and Chris is doing a watercolor painting challenge at the moment. She’s a great teacher, and started with creating color palettes, then challenged us to do some watercolor letter

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