Julie describes herself as an Ohio farm girl and recovering engineer who went to Montana to be an artist following 18 years working for HP in California, after she won the Arts for the Parks $50,000 Grand Prize in 2002. She grew up as a horse-obsessed child who drew equines monomaniacally out of unrequited love. "The wildlife of the American west inspires me and invites me out of doors for fieldwork at every opportunity. I'm fortunate to live in a state that boasts Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, and the National Bison Range - and I will never tire of observing and photographing the other nations who share this beautiful landscape."