Meet Julie Draeger, a born and raised Toledoan, who has spent her life refining her artistry. Draeger, always a visual person, could draw well as a child — she drew so well that other kids in her art class asked her to draw their projects for them. A spark was ignited. Draeger wanted to take her artwork seriously, so she took as many art classes as she could at Notre Dame Academy. In high school Draeger would walk around the Toledo Museum of Art inspired by the endless art, thinking, “I’m going to do this.”
She attended the University of Toledo to study art education and started teaching art classes on Saturdays at the Toledo Museum. She worked as a projector operator in the small theater, “back when there were projectors,” Draeger laughs.
Invited on a trip to the Virgin Islands, she fell in love with the place and declared herself a beach bum. She moved there full time to soak up everything the Islands had to offer. Draeger started teaching at local schools and started a family. Julie moved back to the area to finish her education degree, in her hometown of Toledo. She applied and received a Pell Grant to pay for her degree and moved back home with her two daughters, working in the Toledo Public School system for 28 years.
Continuing to teach
Draeger taught her high school students during the weekdays and taught at The Museum on weekends. She used The Museum’s endless resources to enhance her high school students’ art education. Though she was working hard, Julie felt unfulfilled. Needing an outlet, she gathered a group of friends to meet once a week, simply to paint. This connected her with The Toledo Artist Club, which helped her find community in Toledo.
A new community
Julie left teaching and in 2013 and moved into Ottawa Street Studios, which she calls her artistic home. With several artist neighbors, Draeger joined a new art community that inspires her. Abstract art is Draeger’s style, where the canvas displays mixtures of colors in various shapes. “The thing about abstract art is there are no objects in it, which allows people’s imaginations to explore the piece. I’m really happy when people are present with my pieces. Most people glance at art and walk by, without a second thought.”
Julie hopes to find a way to invite the public regularly to her studio and says she dreams
of a gallery where she and her fellow artists can display their work. Draeger is grateful to Toledo for giving her so much and, in return, she tries to give back as much as she can. “I’m very happy in Toledo and I hope that shows in my work.”
Find more about Julie Dreaeger on Facebook: @julie.draeger3
Q & A with Julie
What challenges did you overcome to get to where you are today?
Being a woman, female artists have their challenges as well. Men have traditionally held the attention of the art world and to squeeze in it and succeed in it has been difficult. Success has come only in the last twenty years despite working at it my entire life.
What’s one trait you consider essential to your success?
Being friendly and open. Gregarious. Learning to relate to the artistic community and share what I’ve learned in an effort to educate.
What do you love most about your job?
Creating art. The ability and freedom to express unspoken parts of myself. Those areas of myself that cannot be put into words.
What’s on your bucket list?
Travel. More travel. Romance. Enjoying my grandchildren and being part of their lives.
What inspires you now?
People that are responsible for their own happiness. People who create their own happiness. I want to adopt that as my mantra.
What are your biggest influences?
The Toledo Museum of Art. Going there as a young person I discovered a whole new world of possibilities and that I could access that through my choices in life.
How would you describe your style of work?
Always explorative, intuitive. Pushing boundaries. Demonstration of courage and strength.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned as an artist?
That I am standing on the shoulders of giants. That I have a lot of creatives to thank for forging a path for me. I have a lot of gratitude for creative artists who have come before me. Also that there is so much creativity in the world and beauty and inspiration. Not just in painters, but it’s in the creative aspect. Art is the well doing of what needs to be done,” – Sister Mary Genevera Art saves lives. The process is more important because it engages the creative part of you.
When you want to escape, where do you go?
Go to my studio, take a fresh canvas out, and start working.
What’s the one thing you most want to be remembered for?
My collection of inspiring work that I left behind and inspire someone else to find their voice. Against all odds we forge.
What makes you proudest of your journey as an artist so far?
My uniqueness and my ability to be one of a kind. I don’t copy any one. I am not into that.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
That I lived in the Virgin Islands for nine years.
