Meet our 2025 Poster Artist
Julia Rose: A Leaf, a Life, and the Joy of Seeing
Julia Rose, a recent transplant to Corvallis by way of Northern California, brings a vibrant, whimsical energy to the local arts scene. Her watercolor painting of a Sycamore leaf was selected as the commemorative image for the 2025 Corvallis Fall Festival—a celebration of both the season and her growing connection to this thriving creative community.
A self-taught painter in watercolor and oil, Julia’s artistic journey spans more than 30 years. She began with clay sculpture and abstract work before finding her voice in expressive landscapes and nature studies full of color and motion. Her art is deeply rooted in a spiritual relationship with the natural world. “I get my inspiration from the beauty of nature where I feel oneness with God and the universe,” she says. “That’s what I try to share—beauty, serenity, and joy.”
Originally from New York, Julia spent most of her adult life in Northern California, in places like Chico, Lake Tahoe, and Mt. Shasta. “California was the opposite of the East Coast—more open and freestyle,” she recalls. “It helped me become more spiritual and connected.” Drawn to the Pacific Northwest, she discovered Corvallis.
“I didn’t know a soul when I moved here in June 2024,” she says. “But I loved it right away—the trails, the university-town vibe, the creative energy. Fall has become my most adored season. I feel like I landed exactly where I’m meant to be.”
Julia quickly immersed herself in the arts community, joining the Corvallis Art Guild—soon becoming its vice president—and painting weekly with the plein air group Vistas & Vineyards. “Sharing critiques with other artists really helped refine my work,” she says. Her current series features local icons such as Marys River at Marys River Park, a Christmas tree farm, and Marys Peak.
Through her business, Julia’s Watercolor Wonders, she offers expressive art workshops and one-on-one coaching. With a master’s degree in art therapy and marriage and family counseling, she combines creativity with healing. For Julia, painting is prayer. It’s play. It’s connection. She finds in nature a well of wonders that continually inspires her work.
The Sycamore leaf featured this year was painted after a walk with her dogs. “The colors were exactly as I saw them—nothing changed,” she says. “The colors of nature are amazing!”