Jersey-based artist and interior designer Jules Duffy at her easel. Photo: Laura Moss
As a child, Jules Duffy painted. Later, even with a thriving interior design business, Duffy painted. “When my kids were migrating out of the house, I knew I had more time. I wanted something to fill that void,” she explains.
With her watercolor talent well honed, she decided to explore oil painting. She had a lot to learn and began taking classes and attending workshops. “I wanted to learn the proper way, the proper strokes, the proper methods,” she says. “I created a personal passion, not just a career passion.”
Duffy’s glossy notecards feature florals, marine scenes and Harbor Island, Bahamas—a favorite spot for inspiration. A set of five is $35. Photo: Laura Moss
Duffy’s work, now displayed in galleries and private collections, is inspired by color. As a sought-after interior designer, she’s known for splashes of saturated hues. “My love for color paved the way for my interior design career,” she says. And that career paved the way for her to explore painting with the same keen eye.
Duffy splits her time between Chatham and Bay Head. “I’m drawn to the water,” she explains. “Living at the Shore, I’m constantly inspired by the changing water and sky.” One of her favorite subjects: sailboats. Her husband, Lawrence, is a skilled sailor, and she often captures his likeness on the water. “Since I started painting, I look at the world through a completely different lens. It’s added so many meaningful layers to my life,” she says.
Duffy partnered with a high-end puzzle company to create these hand-cut wooden works: “They’re truly bespoke, heirloom pieces.” Photo: Laura Moss
Duffy’s original oil paintings can cost thousands of dollars. She also creates more affordable giclées—canvas prints of her work—that she enhances by hand. “I paint over the print so you can see the brush strokes. I make it an original. I’m constantly striving to take my art to the next level. It’s a lifetime of education,” she says.
“Painting is a journey, an adventure,” Duffy says. “You need to be willing to dive in and make mistakes. Trust me, there are a lot of paintings I’ve done that no one will ever see.”
For more on Duffy’s work, visit julesduffyfineart.com.
