Julie Sharkey

My work explores the quiet tension between resilience and decay, using abandoned structures as metaphors for the passage of time. I am drawn to these in-between states, where something is neither fully alive nor entirely gone, but instead exists in a fragile, transitional moment.

Working in watercolor allows me to embrace unpredictability, mirroring the organic processes of erosion, rust, and fading memory. The fluidity of the medium reflects the influence of water itself—both a life-giving force and a silent agent of change. Layered washes and loose mark-making echo the textures of peeling paint, warped wood, and the soft blending of land, sky, and tide.


Colour plays a central role in shaping emotional atmosphere. Muted earth tones and soft coastal hues are punctuated by bursts of color, suggesting remnants of vitality beneath decay. These contrasts invite the viewer to consider not only loss, but also endurance and transformation.

Ultimately, my work is less about the object itself and more about what it holds—stories of use, abandonment, and the passage of time. By focusing on overlooked and forgotten subjects, I hope to evoke a sense of reflection and connection, encouraging viewers to find beauty in impermanence and meaning in what remains.