Josie is a watercolor artist and design enthusiast. She grew up in Baltimore, Maryland where she first started her artistic journey as a young student at the Mitchell School of Fine Art where she took classes after school and sports. Josie completed her undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University, and then moved to Washington, DC where she continued her watercolor education at the Washington Studio School in the evenings. A few years later, Josie relocated to Colorado and lived in Denver and Frisco before settling into Telluride.
Art has been a passion and a hobby that she always came back to in some form or another whether it was making a personal birthday card for a friend, illustrating a wedding venue, or designing her family's Christmas card. Over the years, Josie says that art has presented in various ways to ground her in a particular moment or experience. Since moving to Colorado, those moments have become even more frequent as she finds inspiration by getting out into the landscape and enjoying the dramatic seasonal changes. Josie finds art all around her and decided to start a studio to help others find art around them, too.
We asked Josie a few questions…
What is your chosen artistic medium?
Watercolor, and I'm just starting to explore into gouache.
What are you currently working on?
Currently working on several venue illustrations for wedding invitations and a few home portraits. I'm also very excited about a project to create a map of my grade school in Maryland for an upcoming alumni event.
If you could have a conversation with one artist, alive or deceased, who would it be and why?
I am a big fan of Jill Richie, a watercolor artist in Alaska who paints her environmental observations in plein air for conservation efforts. I also love Jenny Bloomfield's whimsical dog sketches.
What is your favorite quote or saying?
"Paint what you see" - I always try to remember this because our instincts tell us to paint what we want to see, rather than what is actually there. For example, you would expect that snow should be white, and shadows should be gray, and dogs should have two ears. In reality, painting all the colors we see creates a more complete experience, and leaving out the ear that is tucked away will evoke a truer representation of the moment. I try to remember this when I get stuck.
Tell us about any upcoming events, releases, or anticipated projects?
My artwork is printed on greeting cards at Bruno/Between the Covers, Crossbow, and Flowers by Ella & Lollie. Check out my website josiegeorgedesigns.com or my Instagram (@josiegeorgedesigns) for any upcoming events!
