Julie Johnson is artistic and creative director for Feat of Clay.  She grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota.  Her early academic study was Interior Design, though she finished college with a degree in Psychology and then spent nearly 20 years in the Human Resources field.  Julie's early artistic interests included weaving, photography, and ceramics, though those hobbies were put on hold while she raised two children and toiled in corporate America.  She now spends her time pursuing her long-neglected artistic interests!

Julie discovered the relatively new art medium of polymer clay just over six years ago.  Her first year of working with the medium was essentially experimental and exploratory.  Having quickly learned to appreciate the complexities of the medium, she has spent the past six years taking formal instruction from many of the masters in the field.

As an art medium, polymer clay is still in its infancy.  It has gained popularity because of its versatility, unique characteristics, reactive qualities and as yet undiscovered potential.  In the hands of skilled polymer artists, this unique clay can be rolled, caned, carved, inlaid, sculpted, textured, embossed, painted, etched, shaved, layered, stitched, and made to simulate nearly every mineral in nature.  Objects made of polymer clay vary from two dimensional paintings, to beads, jewelry, sculptures and three dimensional structures.  Polymer clay’s acceptance by the art community is evidenced by the fact that polymer clay work can be found in galleries throughout the world.  Polymer art has also been displayed at the Smithsonian Museum and even on a White House Christmas tree!  Exquisite pieces of polymer art now sell for hundreds, even thousands of dollars.  Hollywood’s Julia Roberts owns a one-of-a-kind evening bag made almost exclusively from polymer clay. 

Julie’s work features custom palettes, hand-fashioned and beautifully finished polymer clay.  Objects, including individual beads, made from polymer clay are crafted one-by-one through a series of hands-on processes and treatments.  As a result, each polymer clay object is unique – no two creations can ever be ever exactly alike. 

As a polymer artist, Julie has focused her interest on jewelry and objets d’art including kaleidoscopes, bottle stoppers, desk sets and sea turtles.  Julie’s working studio is in her home and her work is available for purchase at art shows, bead stores, galleries and through the Internet.  Julie is a member of the National Polymer Clay Guild, Polymer Clay Guild of Minnesota, and Silver Brush Society in Charlotte, North Carolina.