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Julissa Andrade

@paxpaints

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✨Artist in the Twin Cities, MN
✨Partnerships:[email protected]

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Its been a year since I posted this reel which blew up in such an unexpected way.

My life has only become more beautiful, more authentic, more full of saturated light and life since and thats because of art. I am surprised almost every day the endless joy that creating and sharing has brought me. The things ive been able to do with my art, like supporting my community in a meaningful way, meeting you, continuing to paint, teaching art, and contributing to research connecting neuroscience to society have overwhelmed me with gratitude. I am so thankful for each and every one of you.

I hope me sharing my journey can encourage you to create - it is one of the best decisions ive ever made and has helped me heal significantly and manage post trauma vision syndrome/post concussion syndrome/ brain injury. I imagine it could do the same for a number of different things. You might be surprised where it brings you if you give it a try.

After my accident, i had no clue i would one day be a full time artist creating my own hope i needed to see in the world through painting every day. Dont ever let anyone tell you that your art doesnt matter.

If youd like to support my work - i would be so grateful. Prints, originals, journals, stickers, necklaces & more on my website paxpaints.com by @paxpaints

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4 months ago

Part 2! The butterfly effect is wild because if that one guy never ran a red while i was driving from work i would have never had issues with language and memory and wouldnt have needed a new lower pressure way to express myselfqnd new perspective and i would have never found the greatest joy ive ever found in life: painting.

Living life with a permanent disability in chronic pain is incredibly hard. But every day i am so lucky and grateful i get to paint. Painting saved my life. Art and artmaking have endless healing power. we can take our most difficult moments and make them into something beautiful and i hope my work can show you that. Follow me if you’d like to see more💖

#michaelscraftstore #liquitexbasics #liquitexofficial #goldenacrylics #trekellartsupplies #holbeinartistmaterials #goldenpaints by @paxpaints

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a year ago

I could say SO so much more about this topic, but I wanted to quickly answer the question of how my perception of color changed here and how i use painting to express that change. Basically color looks more “alive” to me. The world looks more saturated & bright with colorful moving dots like tv static over images because of my vision difficulties and intense photosensitivity. Living with post trauma vision syndrome is hard. I experience chronic pain, nausea, fatigue, and overstimulation every day. There are some days where i have to do basic tasks and i cannot hold lunch down because i get so visually overwhelmed. I often mix up numbers, i have a hard time being in light so i live most of my life during the night, i get especially overwhelmed at busy places like grocery stores and family gatherings. Painting has helped me so much through it. Its the one thing that doesnt terribly exacerbate my symptoms. It brings me so much peace and joy. Painting saved my life and i hope to show the transformative & healing power of creating art in my work. If this piece resonates with you, i have both prints and the original on my website. 💖 by @paxpaints

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a year ago

So excited to be at the @schmidtartists loft this weekend for the St. Paul Art Crawl among so many other wonderful artists! I hope to see you there!

Friday 6-9 pm
Saturday 12-7 pm
Sunday 12-5 pm

✨I have a special gift just for my followers so ask me about it if I catch you 😉 by @paxpaints

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a day ago

All art by me. Some thoughts that have been on my mind lately. I think its okay to not have an answer. It always bothered me when I saw a lot of academics confidently claiming and speaking on things they didn’t properly contend with, and I refuse to do that. I refuse to reproduce the epistemic/structural violence I try to resist.

I think its okay to not have a concrete answer, because everything is complicated. I still think though, as a person it is my responsibility to learn, support, uplift, and show meaningful solidarity to Indigenous people simply because its the right thing to do.

As someone who thinks about liminality a lot, i feel a sort of comfort in understanding that sometimes things are blurry, identity is incredibly layered, complex and informed by many social & historical factors and I dont have the perfect or most clear answer. The only way I can concretely say my perspective is Indigenous is through that particular lens of disconnection informed by those harmful colonial historical processes. by @paxpaints

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3 days ago

Follow @paxpaints , then click the link in @rebel_loon bio to grab one of the last tickets for the gala on October 15th! by @paxpaints

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5 days ago

Being vulnerable on main. Lately, ive been dealing with a LOT of these feelings, especially the first one. I know im not the only one, so sometimes it helps me to share and feel less alone. by @paxpaints

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6 days ago

People feel differently about the labels “hispanic” and “latine/o/a” and thats fair but not the conversation im getting into here. What im more concerned about is how as a historically marginalized group im noticing a lack of opportunity, visibility, and more that impacts us harmfully- Especially during a time when many of us need are vulnerable and need even MORE support than before.

The targeted operation that happened here in minnesota economically devastated many communities and a lot of us are still bouncing back from or actively dealing with consequences of that. I also know and support a lot of creators here that have commented that this year has provided much less opportunity this month than years in the past.

These brands some of us look to- like for example Target (BOO)- were never made for us. They were actively supporting operations targeting their own customers and employees. Many of them that have done DEI initiatives in the past are now actively profiting from our direct suffering in a disturbing multitude of ways.

I think its up to us to build infrastructures to support each other. And im not sure what exactly that looks like but theres definitely a need there which includes supporting local. Support your local artists, restaurants, small businesses, etc. Im sure theres someone doing this work somewhere so if youd like to point me to them id love to be connected. Am I the only one thats feeling this way? by @paxpaints

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8 days ago

I am SO excited to share about my recent collaboration with @savethebwca, they have been doing critical work to raise awareness and advocate for the protection of our beloved BWCA here in Minnesota which is a place of beauty, magic, and great reprieve for me. In this design, I wanted to imagine a loon - which has become a symbol of hope and resilience for me - protecting the boundary waters with someone canoeing and appreciating the powerful magic of the area to demonstrate harmony and reverence for nature, rather than a desire to extract from it.

I was so honored when they reached out and asked me to create an exclusive sticker design for them! You can become a “boundary waters sustainer” on their website to receive this exclusive sticker! Huge shoutout to Megan and her team at Save the Boundary Waters for being so wonderful to work with! 🩷 by @paxpaints

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8 days ago

Spoons are low right now. Can we pretend I started with a polished attention-capturing hook that makes you consider buying my art, sharing it, or working with me. 🩷🫣 by @paxpaints

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9 days ago

JACK-O’- LANTERN COMPETITION presented by St. Paul Art Collective, Sponsored by @stpldowntown, partners @saintpaulparks

Bring your creativity, carve your best pumpkin, and compete for $650 in gift cards to some of your favorite restaurants in downtown St. Paul and West Seventh.

October 17, 2026 | Mears Park

Join us for SPAC’s Jack-O’-Lantern Competition during the St. Paul Art Crawl!

Bring your creativity, carve your best pumpkin, and compete for cash prizes and gift cards to some of your favorite restaurants in downtown St. Paul and West Seventh.

The competition is presented in partnership with St. Paul Parks and Recreation and sponsored by the St. Paul Downtown Alliance.

PRIZES

1st Place

$300

2nd Place

$150

4 Runner-Up Awards

$50 each

Prizes are in forms of cards to restaurants in downtown St. Paul and West Seventh. Winners will be able to select their preferred participating restaurant.

HOW IT WORKS

1. REGISTER

Register online before the competition stpaulartcollective.org

You will receive additional information, including the exact pumpkin drop-off location, after registering.

2. CARVE YOUR PUMPKIN

Create your best jack-o’-lantern!

Your pumpkin can be funny, spooky, artistic, traditional, unusual, or completely original. We want to see what you come up with.

3. DROP OFF YOUR PUMPKIN

Bring your finished jack-o’-lantern to Mears Park on Saturday, October 17.

Drop-off: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

When you arrive, you will receive a competition number. Place the number underneath your pumpkin so visitors and judges can identify your entry without seeing your name.

4. EXPLORE ST. PAUL

Once you’ve dropped off your pumpkin, don’t just wait around!

Start your day at Mears Park, explore the vendors and music, and then head out to enjoy the rest of the St. Paul Art Crawl throughout the city.

Visit artists, galleries, studios, businesses, and other participating St. Paul Art Crawl locations before returning to Mears Park for the awards.

5. VOTE

St. Paul Art Crawl visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite jack-o’-lantern.

More details on our website stpaulartcollecyive.org under
Menu -> Programs

Poster design @paxpaints taken in Mears Park by @paxpaints

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9 days ago

Calling all my fellow bird lovers! If you like birds and especially if you like vultures of the turkey variety you might love one of these journals for your birdwatching adventures or a necklace with my bird painting in it :) by @paxpaints

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12 days ago