The Color of Music with Julia Hamilton

Julia says:

“People do not know they have synesthesia until something comes up. It was a realisation others do not see colors as I do’

Synesthesia has been a much discussed topic among color professionals and finally I got the chance to interview Julia Hamilton, an artist who uses her condition for her daily creativity. As Julia listens to music, she draws inspiration from the lyrics and sounds for the colors for her paintings. Julia not only sees colors when she listens to music, she also sees colors in letters and numbers. During this episode we will in depth discuss her experiences as a synesthete. Forget all logic you learned in color psychology and science, this is a very different episode on color!

Julia Hamilton enjoys creating intricate line drawings, mixed media paintings, and physical digital installations in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. She has loved creating art since childhood.  After graduating from high school, Hamilton attended University of Cincinnati, majoring in Fine Art. She soon became disillusioned with art school, switching to Information Technology (IT). She graduated with a bachelor degree in Computer Science and has enjoyed a lengthy, successful career working in IT, all the while keeping her artwork as her true passion and stabilizing foundation. In 2017, Hamilton was able to make art her full-time profession, fulfilling a lifelong dream. She continues to work in IT but only part-time, allowing her to make her art practice her primary focus. In 2019, Hamilton received her Master of Fine Arts from Columbus College of Art & Design. During her graduate studies, she learned how to make physical digital installation pieces using new technology. 

 Currently, Hamilton continues making mixed paintings physical digital installations. She continues taking inspiration from her synesthesia and science. In 2020, she began working on a body of pandemic-themed work, which explores the ways our lives have changed in recent months.