Freshwater
Julie Williams’ Freshwater works use reflective light, geometric form and the syncopation of a high key palette to forge an idea of landscape that is buoyant in its abstraction. Cleaving into hard contrasts rather than melting forms, Williams’ ‘Pool Series’ presents a sun without shadow tracing a primal terrain of rock and water.
– Anna Johnson December 2024
An empty ocean pool is a portal to another world. This intense and almost daily interaction with a place, documents the artist’s desire to connect deeply to her Sydney environment of Freshwater on the Northern Beaches. This enquiry has allowed her to follow an authentic expression of present moment experience when outside of Hill End. The placement of the flag pole, cliff lines and other key elements continues to explore the tension between worlds which is intrinsic to Julie’s experience. Based on almost daily sketches of the pool, the evolution of which can be seen in the video above, the below work was shown at Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart during Easter 2025.
Storm Clouds, Julie Williams - 385 x 485cm acrylic on canvas, oak frame
Sea Glass, Julie Williams - 460 x 625 x 3cm acrylic and pen on yupo paper, oak frame, non-reflective glass
Tidal Waves, Julie Williams - 385 x 485 x 4cm acrylic on canvas, oak frame
Empty Pool, Freshwater, Julie Williams - 240 x 325 x 4cm acrylic, mixed media, yupo paper on board, oak frame
Cool Water, Empty Pool, Julie Williams - 460 x 625 x 3cm acrylic and posca pen on yupo paper, oak frame, non-reflective glass
Ocean's Edge, Julie Williams - 385 x 485 x 4cm acrylic on canvas, oak frame
Blue Water, Julie Williams - 385 x 485 x 4cm acrylic on canvas, oak frame
Ocean Pool, Julie Williams - 240 x 325 x 4cm acrylic on canvas, oak frame
Purple Rain, Julie Williams - 240 x 325 x 4cm mixed media, yupo paper on board, oak frame