“Art without provocation does not exist.” ~ Gilbert & George

If you like the Arts & Crafts movement, you’ll love the work of Julie Leidel who in her artist statement states that she attributes discovering the work of artists such as Mucha, Toulouse-Lautrec, Wright, Morris and Stickley for awakening her art direction and stylistic preferences.

It was a pleasure to meet this talented woman at Arts in the Park in Steamboat Springs, Colorado last weekend. I was immediately drawn to her work after first seeing some images from her motto series, which she says “is about paying homage to the great leaders and founders of the Art & Crafts movement.”

As I wandered further into her display space, I saw her Colorado and National Poster series which appears to be at the heart of The Bungalow Craft, her business. Her art posters of places worthy of distinction, she says, “were inspired by the WPA National Parks posters of the 1930s.” They are wonderful! Characteristics of the art nouveau and art deco genre are so apparent in her work. Julie Leidel’s work would beautifully compliment homes of people who wish to unite interior and exterior elements that are reflective of the mission style.

My only regret is that I didn’t have more time to spend with this artist to speak with her about her love of an art style that she says has been “like a muse on her shoulder for the past seven years.”

For more information on the art work of Julie Leidel, please visit thebungalowcraft.com.

There were many very talented artists at Arts in the Park again this year. For some, it was their debut in this Colorado venue. Over the next couple of days I will be sharing images and information about a few more artists that struck a chord in my heart for their creative ingenuity.

This blog is brought to you by the author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and short stories Lessons of Heart and Soul.