Pete Morris Art blogger www.sunlive.co.nz

Julie Allen worked in advertising and marketing in Auckland and Europe for 20 years.

She lived in the Bay of Plenty in the 1990s and ran a very successful product design business.

Julie became a full time artist in 2001 and painted in Tauranga and Auckland before returning to live at Mount Maunganui earlier this year.

Julie at home in her Mount Maunganui studio.

She paints nudes and portraits in what she describes as her 'dynamic style', as seen in this photo, or in her 'beautiful style'.

Examples of both styles can be seen on her Facebook page.

Julie says she doesn't analyse or intellectualise too much about her art and likes to allow her striking paintings to speak for themselves.

'My current themes are still-life, nudes, portraits and painting nearby Mauao in an expressive contemporary way,” she says.

"The paintings are flowing, loose, moving and spontaneous.

"It's visual expression and storytelling.

"My paintings make living spaces alive and cheerful through vibrant colour and eye-catching forms.”

Beautiful complimentary colours by Julie in this painting.

Apart from painting, Julie tutors workshops from a programme she created called 'Get it off your chest and on to a canvas!'.

It teaches painting techniques while exploring the life of the creative. A book about the programme will be available soon.

She is available to paint nudes or portraits in either dynamic or beautiful style as commissions.

See her Facebook page www.facebook.com/artistjulieallen and make an appointment to see Julie's paintings by emailing her at julie.allen@xtra.co.nz

Julie's studio will be open as an Art Stop at 43A Campbell Road, Mount Maunganui 8-11 November as part of the Garden and Art Festival.

Pete Morris is an occasional painter and an art lover. He is a freelance writer with a particular interest in promoting the visual arts in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.