# Julia Henze
*Artist, urban sketcher, and art teacher*

Julia Henze is an artist, urban sketcher, and art teacher currently based in Bergschenhoek, the Netherlands. Born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia, she took her first steps into the art world there by attending a children's art school, studying drawing and painting, and graduating from the Academy of Art. Soon after graduation, she moved to the Netherlands to study at the Royal Academy of Art. This journey between two artistic traditions, and her ongoing love of exploring cities with a sketchbook in hand, is the foundation of her work.

Her art spans urban sketching, illustration, and lettering, with a focus on capturing the character of a place through line, color, and quick observation. Whether she's sketching on location, illustrating for clients, or creating pieces for print, Julia's work is shaped by her academic training in classical drawing and painting and by a genuine curiosity about the world around her.

Alongside her studio practice, Julia has been teaching since 2016, first through Skillshare, where she has taught more than 60,000 students and is ranked among the platform's top 1% of teachers. In December 2022, she founded Brave Brushes Studio, a membership community offering personal feedback and support to artists. She also teaches through in-person workshops, mentoring, and immersive sketching retreats abroad. Her teaching style is clear and encouraging, focused on helping students see the world with an artist's eye, understand color, proportion, and perspective, and let go of the fear of "getting it wrong."

At the heart of Julia's teaching is the belief that mistakes are simply steps forward, not failures. She brings that spirit into everything she does, from urban sketching adventures in new cities to her ongoing classes and community, and she is always focused on helping people rediscover the ease and joy of making art.

Learn more about Julia Henze and her work by visiting her [website](https://www.juliahenze.com/), or follow her on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/julia_henze/).

**Connect:** [Website](https://www.juliahenze.com/) · [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/julia_henze/)

## Retreats led by Julia Henze

### Unforgettable Places - A Sketchbook Retreat with Artist Julia Henze in Greece
May 13 - 20, 2027 · Planos, Zakynthos, Greece · $4,550
Instructors: Julia Henze
[Details](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/retreat/unforgettable-places-sketchbook-retreat-artist-julia-henze-greece) · [Book on uptrek.com →](https://uptrek.com/retreat/unforgettable-places-sketchbook-retreat-artist-julia-henze-greece#book)

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**Last updated:** 2026-08-12