Julie Johnson, illustrating fashion

A Julie Johnson sketch for Bloomingdale's

Busy New Yorkers on their daily commutes often pass and page through some great fashion art found in subway banner ads and local newspapers. One of those illustrators is Julie Johnson with her bold graphic visual style. Johnson's work, has been featured in promotions by New York fashion purveyors on both ends of the spectrum, Bloomingdale's and Filene's Basement. Her eye-catching approach, abstracting the figure, expresses the attitude and movement, creating exciting lively layouts.

Before beginning her impressive career in the early '80s, Julie was encouraged by Parsons illustration instructors, Women's Wear Daily icon Steven Stipelman and acclaimed photographer Steven Meisel.

"I already finished art school and moving to New York attended a semester at Parsons," explains Julie, "and both Stipelman and Meisel told me to begin working."

Johnson also earned her commercial production cred as packaging design director for L'Oréal. There, learning an appreciation for the creative process applied to product design, envisions her work selling the message .

Another Julie Johnson sketch for Filene's

After New York, Julie moved to San Francisco while continuing with commercial projects, began teaching illustration at Academy of Art University. In the classroom, Johnson inspired a new generation of fashion artists, most notably, Danny Roberts, who recently was featured in the New York Times. Making a change, Julie has moved to Iowa City with her husband. While keeping up with her accounts long distance, living in Iowa has provided the desired space to set-up a separate artist studio. In a refurbished brick schoolhouse, the 15 ft ceilings are the idyllic setting for Johnson's passion for art to host local drawing groups and create new work.

Julie is the recipient of awards from the Communication Arts Illustration Annual and the New York Society of Illustrators. Last year, her work was included in the Society of Illustrators show in New York for fashion illustration. Visit Julie's site to view her extensive client list and illustration blog, Spirit of Drawing.