Finally, it’s December, and we can reveal our annual Christmas card, aka Yearly Artist collaboration! This year, we collaborated with the illustrator Julia GR from Montreal, Canada. We have been fangirls of her via Instagram for quite some time. Her way of mixing a naive expression with beauty is so effortlessly pretty, and we are thrilled to share a piece of her world with all of you this Christmas.
For Midnatt, Julia GR shares a limited edition of two fantastic little art pieces, Femmes and Manches bouffantes. Both of them were drawn for fun and inspired by editorial photographs.
Everyone who places an order in December can add the prints Femmes and Manches bouffantes, by Julia GR as a complimentary gift. They are 21×21 cm in size and printed on high quality 324g paper.
We are so intrigued by your art. In short, how do you work?
I like testing different mediums and materials to develop new techniques. Each project inspires a new way of approaching a subject, of working with it and bringing it to life. I like working with both traditional and modern techniques. I explore the themes of femininity and nature through color and the integration of different mediums. I am passionate about small details only visible to those who know how to notice them.
How’s your relationship with the Scandinavian interior in general and Midnatt in particular?
I didn’t know Midnatt before this collaboration, but I was delighted to be approached by the brand because I was able to discover it! I love how the materials and colors are so well selected; it feels very warm and welcoming.
Tell us about the prints you made for us! Who’s the lady?
Sometimes, I just like drawing for fun, and I find myself looking at editorial photographs and inspiring images. So, if I remember correctly, the one with the puffy sleeves was inspired by a Jean-Paul Gaultier dress. But she could be anyone you’d like, really. I think this is the beauty of art and illustration! As long as the image resonates with people, I’ve done my job.
How do you feel about Christmas?
I love to get my Christmas lights out and bake some cookies while watching movies on TV. But to be honest, Christmas can easily become overwhelming. So this holiday has become a time of year when I try to relax, let go of things, and just enjoy and have fun. The rest of the year is just stressful enough.
No Christmas without..?
A Christmas dinner. The real reason I celebrate Christmas is to gather around a table for dinner with my two parents, who got separated a long time ago and no longer live in the same city. I do not see them together often, but we have almost always kept this tradition.
Any New Year’s resolutions?
Next year, I want to continue learning new things. I want my work to always evolve, and I try to constantly explore and learn new things as a person.
Text Josephine Blix
Photo Julia GR
