Julie Mahoney: How a Surprising Shift From Fine Art to Craft Brought Her Peace, Passion, and a Thriving Business

Restless and never really satisfied with the work she was doing as a painter, Julie Mahoney felt the weight of all the painters who better than her and she was often plagued with self doubt.

Julie spent nearly 30 years as a professor of drawing and painting at a local university before retiring in 2019. It was then that she began taking metalsmithing classes and fell in love with the craft. Surprisingly, she never felt the type of self doubt with metals as she did as a painter, and so she put down her paint brush and in lieu of a torch.

I always love hearing how each of our guests come to metal. For some it’s a fairly straight path, but for others it’s an unexpected right turn that leads them to the craft. These are my favorite stories. Perhaps it because my own path had many bends along the way and I’m inspired by the brave choices that so many our guests have made to live a more creative life. A life of authenticity. 

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Instagram: ⁠@juliemahoneyjewelry⁠

Website: ⁠www.juliemahoneyjewelry.com⁠

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