Textile artist Julie Campbell was born in Scotland and now lives in Belgium. Her background in illustration can be seen in her meticulous hand embroideries of anatomy. “Our bodies are a facade. I like to explore beyond that idea, and get under the skin.”

Firstly where are you from and where are you based now?

I am of Scottish origin but have spent most of my life abroad. I now also have Belgian nationality and live near Brussels in a small village with my family.

What is your background in textile art? 

My background is actually mainly drawing and children’s illustration. At the end of 2017 my children opened an Instagram account for me and I saw quite a lot of embroidery, I decided I’d like to give it a go and instantly loved it. So I’m self taught and actually know very little about all the different stitches and techniques. I originally studied Applied Graphics but did not enjoy it.

How do you describe your work?

My mother was a draughts woman and always says that my work is very precise and technical. I think that’s true, I’m like that in drawing too. I find it important that although I add embellishments to my embroideries the subject matter stays real. I also enjoy working on a fairly small scale but like to keep the detail.

What is it that draws you to your subject matter?

I have a chronically ill daughter and over the years we have found it hard as you are often doubted and misunderstood. What I find fascinating is that our outward appearance tells very little of the person we are. We are so often judged or judge others purely after a fleeting moment. Our bodies are a facade. I like to explore beyond that idea, and get under the skin as it were.

What stitches do you use and why?

Just plain little stitches in different lengths, shows how much I know that I don’t even know what they are called! I always think of my work as drawing with thread rather than embroidering. I embroider as I would when drawing, mainly starting with the darker shades and working down.

What is your favourite brand of embroidery thread?

I always use DMC floss just because that’s what I first found in the shop, maybe I should try other brands, any advice is welcome! I also use threads that my mum gave me for very fine details. I mainly work with two strands of floss but then again for fine detail I use one.

Can you talk us through how you create a piece? 

I am too impatient to sketch first, I’ve never been a great one for sketch books although I love looking at other people’s. I just like diving straight in there. I mainly use old anatomical illustrations to get the anatomy right and then add an embellishment. Ideas just come to me while doing random tasks, or a title pops into my head which I quickly write down. From the title an idea will form. I draw the outline in pencil on linen and then start. I work on several at a time so that I don’t get bored as it is a slow process. I find I am always most inspired while at my lowest, so if life ever picks up and becomes ‘happy’ I think I will run out of ideas. I always say my work is my therapy, it’s cathartic and helps when I am very down. 

Your work is incredibly detailed, it is anatomically correct and if it is where do you get your source material from?

I have quite a lot of books with old anatomical illustrations, I like looking through them to get inspired. I never work from photos. I choose to work on linen as I feel it is more in keeping with the old cream paper that the original drawings would have been drawn on. I also try to keep my work as anatomically correct as possible.

I know it’s tricky to answer but how long does it take do make a piece?

This is the question that I get asked a lot. I really have no idea as I work on several pieces at a go. I just know it’s slow going and that my drawings take a lot less time to do. I did try to time myself but I gave up, I tend to jump up and down a lot while I’m embroidering to do other things or someone phones me and I get distracted.

You have a huge following on Instagram, do you have an advice for other artists trying to grow their followers?

Be authentic. I have been very open about who I am and the struggles that my work is portraying. I was a bit nervous the first time I put a photo of myself on as I always had the feeling that it was a young person’s platform. If anything I had a very positive reaction. It made people realise that no matter what age you are it is never too late to try something new. I also read every single comment and answer all my messages. My old brain does forget things sometimes but I try to reply if I remember!  It’s also important to post regularly as Instagram is like a monster that needs to be fed all the time. It can be tiring and annoying but for me at this moment it gives me something positive to think about, probably if I wasn’t at home so much I wouldn’t have been able to have the time to build up the audience I have. I am very grateful to the people who follow me and post lovely comments as there are some days that it can really help. 

How do people purchase your work?

I often have my work shown at a beautiful gallery in Manhattan @stonesparrownyc.

https://www.instagram.com/stonesparrownyc

https://www.instagram.com/juliecampbellart/