About

My passion for the arts has been fueled by fine art portraiture & illustration from a very young age. By the age of 12, enthusiasm for learning prompted seeking out instruction from artists in the community & participating in gallery shows with community art organizations.
I’ve spent the last 15 years studying portraiture in oil paint from artists from around the country and have brought this knowledge to my illustrative work. I have been attending the Portrait Society of America Conference, as well as other portrait painting workshops since the age of 12. I attended on a full scholarship and graduated with a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2018 with a major in Illustration in hopes of incorporating the narratives I loved into my paintings. As well as taking on a minor in Biomedical Illustration to improve the anatomy of the figures and portraits in my work. However, my technical and portrait abilities were imparted to me from the artists and mentors in my life before college. Some of them that had the largest impact on the earliest part of my career were artists Sari Gaby, Steve Carpenter, Chris Kolupski, Scott Burdick, Susan Lyons, Robert Liberace, David Kassan, Michelle Dunaway, Jeff Hein, Richard Schmid, and Nancy Guzik.
I was featured in South African Artists Magazine as an International Artist in 2019, recognized in Southwest Artists Magazine as “21 Under 31 Artists to Watch” in 2014. Received recognition from the Portrait Society of America in their Members Only Competition in 2019 and 2020, and in 2022 with a recognition in the “Select 50” category of the International Competition, among many other recognitions and awards.
In addition to traveling the United States giving lectures, classes, and demonstrations on drawing with General Pencil Company, I’m working on a mix of fine art commissions, freelance illustration work, gallery show pieces, and creating educational content.
Since the pandemic, I’ve found myself working with numerous charities such as Worldbuilders, Jasper’s Game Day, The Hispanic Federation, the Pablove Foundation, and Project HOPE, using my work to further support their causes whenever I am able to.
I aim to keep inspiring young artists and telling great narratives through the medium of portraiture.
Currently, I'm represented by IX Gallery, you can find my page with them here: Artist - Julia Maddalina - IX Gallery
More about me and the things I've created over the years:
"Portraits of the Frontline" project
In addition to my work with charities, I started the project “Portraits of the Frontline” to raise the voices and stories of healthcare workers on the frontline of the pandemic in 2020.
Initially the goal was showing the healthcare workers that they are seen and appreciated, but then I was able to raise money to make a more direct positive impact. Through selling an art print of all 100 portraits, I’ve been able to fund Project HOPE and their efforts to provide training and PPE to those individuals. As of August 2022, the art prints have raised over $1500 in profits, all going to Project HOPE. In May of 2022 all 100 portraits were on display on the terrace of the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C. for Project HOPE’s Annual Gala, before being returned to the healthcare workers.
You can see the full body of work, and read the stories of the healthcare workers here. 
General Pencil
- Over the years, I've had my art on a number of packages with General Pencil Company, here are a few of them you may have seen in an art store before! 
2013 - present.
Worldbuilders
-You can find a collection of products I've created in collaboration with Patrick Rothfuss and the Worldbuilders Market over here: Worldbuilders Market
Some of these include - a print of my painting "Beautiful and Broken", the 2024 Calendar I created that launched along side the novella "The Narrow Road Between Desires", the "Anker's" mug I developed with Pat, and a drawing kit I developed back in 2020 with a booklet of lessons and a link to 6 hours of instructional videos! 
Jason Kelce Painting
Painted Jason Kelce at the Bills vs. Chiefs game in January of 2024. After the video went viral of the painting process, the painting was mentioned on the Kelce Brother's Podcast "New Heights".
The art was also featured in the Philidelphia Inquirer: Where to find Jason Kelce-inspired fan art (inquirer.com)
California Arts Club at the Ebell Theater
Portrait drawing demonstration I gave though the California Art Club at the historic EBell theater in Los Angeles in October 2023.
Pabove Foundation game art
- Donated art to be used as a poster supporting an RPG run by Todd Stashwick to help raise funds for the Pablove Foundation
ProjectHOPE Gala
-All 100 of my "Portraits of the Frontline" were on display at the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C. at ProjectHOPE's Gala in 2022. I created some paintings that were also up for auction, used as awards for the volunteers of the year, and did a live drawing of the skyline of D.C. looking over the museums terrace. Some of the healthcare workers I painted were able to attend and it was the first time I was able to meet them in person since the pandemic.
The Quiet Year Game
-Created art during "The Quiet Year" gameplay on stream with Patrick Rothfuss, James D'Amato, Aaron Amendola, Maude Garrett, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Jennifer Kretchmer, Mikey Neumann, Molly Lewis, Catieosaurus, Lexi McQueen, and Wesley Chu during the "Geeks Doing Good" fundraiser. - 2022
Naomi Novik bookplate
- Designed the bookplate for "Scholomance: A Deadly Education" by Naomi Novik - 2020
The Adventure Zone Art
- Commissioned to do artwork for the NYT bestselling comic book series "The Adventure Zone: Petals to the Metal" - 2020
Joe Abercrombie Bookplate
- Designed the bookplate for "The Trouble with Peace" by Joe Abercrombie - 2020
- There's a fun clip of him showing off the bookplates here.
Specialty Brotherwise Game Card
-Painting "Beautiful and Broken" on a variant card for the game "Call to Adventure" by Brotherwise Games as a charity exclusive though Worldbuilders. - 2019
Demonstration at the Portrait Society of America
- Charcoal portrait demonstration at the General Pencil Booth in Washington D.C. at the Art of the Portrait Conference. Artist Michelle Dunaway modeled for this session -  2018
Stranger Things Podcast partnership
- Commissioned to create a portrait of Catherine Dyer and was presented to her at a reception in her honor at the New York Academy of Acting  -  2017
- Partnership with the Upsidedown Podcast, making portraits for the actors that they interview from the Netflix Series Stranger Things.  -  2017
Demonstration at the Portrait Society of America
- Charcoal portrait demonstration at the General Pencil Booth in Washington D.C. at the Art of the Portrait Conference. Artist Leslie Adams modeled for this session -  2018
Putney Painters trip
- Studied with artist Richard Schmid after being invited to paint with his private group. - 2016
First workshop
- Taught my first portrait workshop through the Rochester Art Club in April. - 2014
Critiqued by Everett Raymond Kinsler
- My oil painting, "Skin Deep", was one of the 20 chosen out of 2014’s international entries to be critiqued by artist Everett Raymond Kinsler at the Art of the Portrait Conference in Washington DC. - 2014
Demonstration at the Portrait Society of America
- Charcoal portrait demonstration alongside internationally renowned artist David Kassan.  We both completed a 2 hour portrait of artist Bryce Billings from life. -2014
Signature membership
- Became the youngest Rochester Art Club member to date in February 2013.
- Achieved Signature member Status in the Rochester Art Club along with being the only student (age 17) in the organization - 2013
American Idol
- Presented my portrait of Singer and American Idol contestant Lauren Alaina to her on stage during her "Top 3" hometown visit in Chattanooga, TN - 2011
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