Florida Artist with a Color Story - Julia Da Rocha

Feb 23

3 min read

I had the privilege of speaking with the artist Julia Da Rocha after her gallery reception for her vibrant solo exhibit, Seeds of a Painted Garden. Julia’s work is organic, heartfelt, and energetic. The gallery was a rainbow of tropical colors and expressionist graffiti—bright blues, a variety of pinks, lemon yellow, and romantic reds.

Julia’s artwork speaks for itself, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to get a peek inside the mind of the artist. The first question I asked her was: There’s so much color and motion in your work. How do you maintain visual cohesion without becoming exhausted?

"Even though I wear mostly black, I feel like I carry bundles of color inside me. Color is energy, and I don’t see it as something I have to force. It feels and flows naturally. Whether I’m working with a clear intention or just following instinct, I always feel that continuous energy guiding me. Inspiration comes from within, and as long as I stay connected to that internal source, I don’t really burn out on my aesthetic. My art just keeps evolving."

Color is the language that speaks through Julia and she has turned it into an unapologetic act of creation. But I had to follow up on it. What's the creative process like? Is it mood-focused or is aesthetic the priority here?

"For me, mood and feeling always come first. My creative process is very meditative. I have to be in the zone, grounded in my emotions. Art is healing, so I let it guide me rather than forcing a specific aesthetic. My intent is always rooted in ‘this feels...’ rather than ‘this should look...’ The colors, shapes, and textures naturally follow whatever emotion I’m channeling at the time. It’s an intuitive process. That’s what makes each piece feel honest and alive."

Julia’s intuition takes shape on canvas, but her work is more than just visually striking. Her artwork carries a high-frequency energy with a story told in color. The graffiti hearts, the faces hidden among multicolored foliage, overlapping swirls, and geometric shapes—it all makes me wonder: Is this work a reflection of yourself or is it an expressionist study of the world from the view of your garden window?

"My art is both an inner reflection and an expression of the world around me. They’re definitely interconnected. I take what I feel internally and project it outward. It becomes tangible. There’s optimism in that process, in the way I can transform emotions and ideas into something others can see and feel. It’s not just about capturing what exists, but about giving the world a part of myself."

Art as a gift... Now that’s a timeless idea. But what else does Julia plan to give the world? Do you have any upcoming projects or new collections in the works?

"Yes, I definitely have new art in the works! I'm going to keep exploring the imagery that feels true to me. While I love being part of a larger artistic community, I never try to mimic others. My work needs to stay authentic to my own voice. Recognizable art is your signature; it’s what sets you apart. So, whatever I create next, it will still carry my signature while keeping it fresh."

Julia Da Rocha’s artwork is an invitation into a landscape of color, emotion, and warmth. Her work turned the blank gallery walls into blooming flowerbeds. She continues to leave a vibrant mark on the Florida art community with both her inner world and the one she shares with us.