Ohioana Citation for Art, Writing and Commentary: 2008
Julie Zickefoose
Whipple OH
Natural history writer and artist
Julie Zickefoose is a widely published natural history writer and artist. Educated at Harvard
University in biology and art, she worked for six years as a field biologist for The Nature Conservancy before turning to a freelance art career.
She has presented illustrated lectures for nature organizations and festivals across the country, and exhibited
her paintings at universities, museums, galleries, and in juried shows. Illustration credits include The New Yorker, Smithsonian, Spider, Cricket, and
Ladybug. She has written and illustrated articles for Country Journal, and Bird Watcher’s Digest has published more
than 30 of Julie’s articles and 17 of her cover paintings since 1986.
Julie’s writing is a unique personal narrative that creates a mood, yet imformes the reader.
She accompanies her writing with paintings and drawings. Her illustrated book, The Bird-friendly Backyard: Natural Gardening for Birds
(Rodale, 2001) has sold more than 40,000 copies and Enjoying Bluebirds More: a Bluebird Landlord’s Handbook, has sold more than half a
million copies.
Kenn Kaufman, author of Lives of North American Birds and the Kaufman Focus Guide to North American Birds says “Julie’s
writing is like the song of a Swainson’s Thrush: it’s utterly natural, it’s beautiful, and it climbs to a higher plane. I wish I could write like that.” Writer
Lola Oberman says “Julie’s word pictures are as vivid and eloquent as her art work. When she tells a story, she makes me
feel that I’m standing beside her, sharing the experience.”
Julie Zickefoose Website
