The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.

- Pablo Picasso

Julia Bartlemus was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and raised in Palmer, Alaska, a small town with more bars than traffic lights. She grew up in a loving family with her parents James and Sherry Waddell, who supported her artistic dreams. She attended Lazy Mountain Bible Church and was active in the youth group, where she made many friends and learned about faith and service. She has always had a passion for art and storytelling, and she started painting at a young age. She enjoyed expressing herself through colors and shapes, and she was inspired by the beauty of nature and the diversity of people around her.

She has always been fascinated by literature and the power of words. She enjoys reading and writing poems, stories, and essays, and she often uses them as inspiration for her paintings. She believes that literature and art can enrich each other and create new meanings and expressions. Julia also has a strong faith and a desire to learn more about God and the world. She spent time at two Bible colleges, one in Holsby, England, and one in Japan, where she studied the Bible, theology, and cross-cultural communication. She also had the opportunity to travel and explore different cultures and landscapes, which broadened her horizons and influenced her art.