An incredible pencil artist like no other, Julie Kraulis is a visual artist from Toronto, Canada that has been drawing for as long as she can remember. This 36-year old artist discovered watches two years ago by pure serendipity and is currently focusing on an independent study of timepieces through a collection of graphite drawings that are out of this world. For her the pencil has been an extension of her hand, mind and soul. Since receiving a Bachelor of Design in Illustration at the Ontario College of Art & Design, she's spent most days in her studio with a pencil or paintbrush in hand working on a wide range of projects with clients worldwide.
Passionate about design and detail, we first ran into Julie at the special viewing of Paul Newman’s Daytona auctioned by Phillips Watches on October 26, 2017 and which fetched $17.7 Million USD including buyer’s fees.
“I dipped into watches about two years ago. I had been looking for a new subject to study and came across an article on iconic timepieces. I thought watches would be an interesting world to explore both from a design standpoint as well as history and other areas of interest. I'll draw any watch that piques my curiosity and I have a special affinity for vintage timepieces —a vintage watch is a pretty magical thing full of story, soul and character” says Julie Kraulis.
When asked about her favorite piece in her collection of pencil drawings Julie answers:
I’m not sure I could pick a favorite, each one offers unique details and challenges. I'm learning how to handle a wide range of textures from various metals to leathers to carbon fiber. Capturing patina has been one of my favourite challenges. I've also loved working at a large scale, usually 26 x 40"/66.04cm x 101.6cm. It allows me to see the form, balance and design elements in a fresh way. So far I've worked on 24 large scale timepiece drawings. I consider the first handful of drawings sandbox pieces where I was just playing around to see if watches were something worth diving into deeper.
With a range of pencil drawings that spans across different brands and types of watches, Julie Kraulis is a very special artist and one that we will continue to follow closely. From A. Lange & Söhne to Rolex, to Patek Philippe and everything in between, the level of realism achieved by the artist is almost unfathomable. Pencil drawings like we’ve never seen before, and that are as realistic as almost being in the presence of the watch itself.
A talented Canadian artist like no one we’ve seen before. If you like art and you like watches no one else can deliver as Julie Kraulis does. For more on her you can follow her Instagram account @juliekraulis or go straight to her website for some serious eye candy and the ability to purchase her work. You can also always contact Julie to inquire about commissioned artwork.
Sticker Price Ranging from $900-$1,500 for limited edition prints. To head over to her website click here.
