Julie Houck is a contemporary Maine painter whose work captures the fleeting light of a landscape and transforms it into something enduring. Working in oils, wax, and intaglio, she creates atmospheric landscapes that invite viewers to linger in a moment of quiet radiance. “I aspire to convey not only the scene but also the moment and mood,” Julie says. “The moment is fleeting, but the painting allows us to live in that moment a bit longer.”Inspired by the interplay of light across land and sky, Julie paints with deliberate patience. “Painting softly allows me the opportunity to recreate that one particular moment when land, light, and atmosphere seamlessly fuse.” Each oil painting may contain up to forty transparent layers, a technique rooted in her early classical training and her study of light on form.Her practice moves between outward and inward vision. While her landscapes celebrate coastal Maine art and its ever-changing skies, her abstract works arise from what can only be felt or intuited. This dual approach reflects her belief that painting is not simply about place, but about essence—the spark of a thought, the memory of a season, the rhythm of a landscape carried within.A former professional photographer who worked internationally for two decades, Julie brings a keen eye for composition and atmosphere to her painting. She continued her training at the Academy of Art in San Francisco and in private ateliers in France. Her work has since earned recognition, including being named a finalist in the International Artist Magazinecompetition.Now dividing her time between Hawaii and Maine, Julie continues to find inspiration in shifting light, cycling through marshlands, and recording the sky in sketches and studies. Her paintings are meditations on time, atmosphere, and connection.Hear more of Julie’s story on Radio Maine.