Hello and welcome
My name is Julia Vasileva, I live in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, and draw both traditionally and digitally.
I have a literature degree but instead of studying books, I illustrate them and spend my days creating imaginative worlds for children's books, greeting cards, and other projects. Occasionally, I also write.
Books are my sanctuary. I grew up in a house filled with them, devouring their pages from a very early age. To this day, I begin and end each day with a book.
After immigrating to Canada in 2014, I pursued several different career paths before eventually finding my way into art and publishing. In my heart, I carry a stained-glass-like combination of places, countries, and people, all of which influence the way I create.
In Louise Glück's poem "Nostos," she says, "We look at the world once, in childhood. The rest is memory." I often reflect on this line in my life and work, trying not to forget how I saw the world as a kid.
I love being out in nature as much as I love drawing and reading, and you’ll often see elements of the natural world in my artwork. If not in my studio, you can find me up in the mountains or down by the ocean.
Residing on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, I am grateful for the opportunity to live, learn, and create in the abundance of these lands and waters. I hold deep respect for the Coast Salish peoples' enduring stewardship and cultural heritage on these lands.
Photo credit: Angelika Kagan
I am a member of The Illustration Department and SCBWI.
For publishing inquiries, I’m represented by Tracy Marchini at BookEnds Literary Agency.
