Raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Julia Anderson always felt a calling to the bright blue skies of the southwest. After studying photography in Ohio, she packed a bag and crisscrossed the country in pursuit of the most pristine blue sky she could find. She found it in Durango, where she settled in 1991.
“I’m always moved by my environment, especially all the rock formations in the southwest. So you could say my inspiration is nature’s beauty,” says Julia.
In addition to the awe-inspiring beauty she found in the landscape, Julia also met and married a wonderful man, and they built their home on their ranch in Hesperus in 1996. Running the family ranch and raising two daughters, Julia found sanctuary in her jewelry studio, and she has been crafting one-of-a-kind pieces for nearly 20 years, selling most of them at annual trunk shows.
As an artist, photographer, jeweler, and painter, Julia works with various mediums to share her thoughts, beliefs, and visions with others. When it comes to her jewelry, “I find the centerpiece or pendant as a treasure, and then the adventure is finding other gems to make the treasure come alive,” she explains.
Most of her pieces are made from gems sourced around the globe. Julia hopes that people who wear her jewelry enjoy the beauty of it and feel that beauty inside and out.
She sells her work on Instagram (@juliaandersonjewelry), at the Smiley Art Room, As well as the website MontanaArtsandHome.com.
“I’m always moved by my environment, especially all the rock formations in the Southwest. So you could say my inspiration is nature’s beauty."