Julia Trops

Being an artist is my second career, but first love. At 17, I tried the university route without success due to lack of self discipline, I left Calgary at the age of 22 to join the military. That seemed to be a drastic ticket out of Calgary, since, well, Calgary really isn't all that bad. I spent 12 years in the Canadian Air Force and living across Canada, including serving a peacekeeping mission in the Middle East, in the Sinai Desert, and earned three military medals. After my retirement in 1997, I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Great Distinction in 2001 from the University of Lethbridge, with a focus on Studio Arts.

In 2002, I was chosen to be one of 6 resident artists in the Rotary Centre for the Arts. Throughout my time in Kelowna, I have taught, trained life drawing models for Instructional and non instructional classes and I started the Life Drawing sessions at the RCA, which progressed to the formation of the non profit Livessence Society of Figurative Artists and Models.

Currently I am a Director, Kelowna Museums Society, and the Director for the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan Artscape Program as well as a core member of the Okanagan Arts Awards Planning Committee, also with the Arts Council.

I am very ambitious. My work is in public and private collections across Canada, the US and Europe. I am a contributing artist in Harold Stone's book "Exploring Life Drawing", and am also working on articles for publication based on art subjects. I believe the way of the future is through cooperative ventures for the benefit for all.

Upwards and onwards.... As Wayne Gretzky said, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take".

Thank you for your interest in my work!

Sincerely,

Julia Trops