Julienne (phonetic: Joo – leen) Pacheco lives in the ocean town of Juneau Alaska, and grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Southern Colorado. Julienne owns and operates WILD by Nature Studio, creating beautiful jewelry pieces out of salmon and trout skin. She takes pride in her artwork, and sources both business and jewelry materials from local Alaska businesses first before sourcing from other small US businesses. Julienne creates art pieces most of the year, and when she is not creating art, she seasonally manages the salmon stock in Western Alaska.
Where are you from and how does that affect your work, or when did you first become interested in art?
I grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Southern Colorado, but have been living and loving Alaska for many years. Both states instilled a deep appreciation for the mountains and wild, untouched areas. I hope my love for nature comes across in not only my style of art but in the materials I use to make it.
I think I have always had an interest in art and a desire to craft on and off throughout my life. I love going to art museums and getting so close to paintings that I can see the individual brush strokes. I love architecture which is itself a form of art. I remember visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral in Montreal, which was beautifully intricate but also hand-painted and carved. I could have spent days in there, getting up close to admire all the work that went into creating such a breathtaking space. I think that is what I love about art – that you can get lost in the work of someone’s creation.
It has been almost 5 years since I began making art jewelry and the more that I have pursued art the more creative expression seems to surface. I am truly enjoying this time in my life and the art I get to create. I have so many ideas for jewelry and other products I don’t quite know how to navigate it all yet.
What about fishing inspires you as an artist? / Why fish? What inspired your work within the fishing industry?
I think a lot of my inspiration is their unassuming beauty. Fish are beautiful and unique, not to mention resilient and specialized. I had a fascination with fish and the ocean from a very young age but growing up in Southern Colorado made immersion difficult. I landed in Juneau Alaska for school and studied marine biology which became my segue into the fishing industry and as a way of life.
Do you have an art ritual of sorts? And,are there any art trends currently inspire your work?
As far as rituals go I drink a lot of English Breakfast tea and have my diffuser emitting essential oil blends into the studio while I work.
I don’t seek out trends specifically but I am always looking at what people are wearing, noting shapes that I’m drawn to and consider incorporating those into my jewelry.
What type of art/medium do you create?
I create art jewelry using fish scales and fins.
How long have you been practicing in this medium?
I began collecting and processing fish skin in 2016. I had only ever seen fish leather used, never preserved scales and colors so I didn’t know if it could be done let alone prove a viable material. I experimented with the process, trying one thing and observing the results which would raise a question and lead me to the next experiment. In this way I feel that my approach to this medium has been more scientific. Also, I used to love watching Project Runway and my favorite episodes were always the Unconventional Materials Challenge, learning how to work with a material when you have no road map before you. After a year of trial and error I introduced the jewelry in August of 2017. I am still refining this process however, as retention of certain colors within the fish skin has eluded me. But I like to keep raising the bar for myself and my craft.
How has your style changed over time?
Making this type of jewelry was entirely new and I had never gone into large production before so I have worked hard to streamline efficiency and refine all of my techniques and processes. The jewelry evolution is in some sense generational. I can look at my earliest work and see the budding inspiration and watch a slow and steady annual growth as I keep learning and creating, leading to a similar yet wholly new aesthetic of jewelry now. And most people would not guess how much time goes into searching for the right materials, researching companies that ethically source their materials, and creating custom components for specific pieces if no such material exists.
How do you manage your work-life balance as an artist? / Is your artwork a full-time job, or do you have a daily gig too?
In some moments I epically fail at any sort of work-life balance. There are moments when I am lost in inspiration and creation is easy and all consuming and others moments where it feels more like a job and I have orders to fill and deadlines to meet. I can find myself in a state of imbalance during both of those. I do have a daily gig, managing a salmon stock in Western Alaska but that is only seasonal, allowing the bulk of my year to be devoted to my art jewelry business but not always exclusively the art/creative process. There are so many facets to running a business so I wear many different hats, some more preferable than others.
Favorite fish to create jewelry with?
Arctic Grayling, hands down. Not only because of how stunningly colorful they are in the sunlight but their giant sail of a dorsal fin is astounding. Evolutionary biology is a fascinating area of study and I haven’t the slightest clue as to why the grayling have such a remarkable dorsal fin. I wish everyone could have the opportunity to land a grayling and admire it firsthand.
Most artfully inspiring place you have fished?
Karluk Lake on Kodiak Island. It is such a magical, beautiful place. A pristine lake and river surrounded by lush green mountains teaming with wildlife and away from all people is difficult to beat.
What was your first fishing experience?
I was a research assistant on a sea otter study in Southeast Alaska. Our base camp was located on Payne Island, a small island NE of Kuiu Island and we would occasionally catch rockfish for dinner a stone’s throw from our beach cove camp. You could see your line in the water and watch the fish circle and you knew exactly when they hit.
When did you begin fishing?
I was a bit late to fishing and didn’t take it up until after completing my marine biology degree. I think my deep appreciation for fish was cultivated in the classroom. Once I began working in my field and I was immersed in a world with such easy access to fishing some of the best rivers in the world my appreciation only grew.
What is it that draws you to fishing and creating art around the sport?
There is a quiet peace while fishing as well as a thrill when you get a hit on your line which is what draws me to the sport. Fishing has become an integral part of my life and lifestyle and my appreciation runs deep. I handle each fish with care and say a quiet ‘thank you’ to every single one – for the food that nourishes my body and the materials I am able to utilize in my craft. Creating art around fish is my way of sharing their beauty and my appreciation for these remarkable creatures. My customers tend to be fellow fish enthusiasts or converts, folks who had never thought to really look at the beauty and wonder of fish. I love connecting with others in this way – to alter the way one can look at nature and the creatures in it.
Who is your biggest inspiration/mentor both in art and personally? How did they impact your life?
I’m inspired by any and all artists, not necessarily their art itself but that the desire to create compels so many. Creation is such a pure form of expression and anyone putting that into the world is an inspiration to me.
Do you listen to anything when you are creating art? If so, what?
I listen to all types of music as well as podcasts, the news, standup comedy, and audiobooks. The selection is usually dictated by whichever part of the jewelry process I’m currently working on. When working with the fish skin and I need to focus I choose calm, classical music. When hammering and texturing the metal components I will go with more upbeat music. When resin or assemble the jewelry and I don’t need all of my attention I listen to the news, an audiobook, comedy or podcast.
Where can people find your artwork? (Retail store, online store, social media handles, etc)
I have a website www.wildbynaturestudio.com which can be accessed through my social media accounts (Instagram:@ WILD by Nature Studio). If you are in Alaska or Washington there is a list of retail locations on my website as well.
