For this native Californian, the sea is her muse. Having spent her lifetime near it, and time as a dive instructor in it, Julie Brookman uses encaustic painting to capture the myriad faces and moods of the ocean. She holds a Degree in Fine Art with an emphasis in photography from San Francisco State University.

Brookman's encaustic technique layers and molds hot wax and pigment as it cools. Parts of this process are inherently uncontrollable - not unlike the ocean itself - so her paintings literally have a life of their own. And yet, Brookman makes the constantly churning ocean stand still in order to capture and hold onto a moment of chaos.

"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. It is permanent, but always changing."