How Anne Julie Dudemaine Turned Burnout Into A Career Of Colour Pattern And Montreal Murals

Creative Boom: Inspiration Art & Culture How Anne-Julie Dudemaine turned burnout into a career of colour, pattern and Montreal murals The self-taught illustrator, muralist and pattern designer on swapping advertising for a sketchbook, painting 42 feet in the air, and why slow periods are easier when your income isn't relying on one thing. Written By: Katy Cowan 24 June 2026 If you've spent any time on the colourful side of Montréal as I have, you'll have probably already seen Anne-Julie Dudemaine's work without knowing her name. It's on the giant Osheaga logo, on a BIXI mural, along Promenade Wellington, and even on a Canada Post stamp.

Her work has a way of turning everyday city scenes into something joyful, bold, and unmistakably hers. What makes her success all the more remarkable is that none of it was the original plan. Anne-Julie has a degree in Communications and spent years working as an advertising project manager before burnout pushed her to rethink everything. "Eventually, I started showing signs of exhaustion and found myself longing for a more creative career," she tells Creative Boom.

"I took some time off to recover, started drawing every day, taught myself Photoshop, and after stumbling upon a video of Lisa Congdon talking about how she became a working artist, I knew that illustration was what I wanted to do." "A mural concept I'd love to bring to life someday" – Anne-Julie Dudemaine Photography by Timothée Guzzo Photography by Timothée Guzzo More than a decade on, she has built an impressive practice that spans illustration, murals, surface pattern, and, most recently, ceramics. "I get bored easily, so it felt natural to keep exploring new mediums and creative outlets," she explains.

"I also think it's important, as an artist, to diversify your income sources. It brings more stability and helps you navigate the slower periods that inevitably come with creative work." Colour and pattern play a key role in her work, which is quite the contrast, given she started out using only black and white. It was a trip to Portugal that changed everything. "I fell in love with the traditional tilework and all of its colours and patterns, and I started incorporating those influences into my work. A few years later, I took a job as a pattern designer for a children's fashion brand and immersed myself in the field.

That experience had a huge influence." She adds, "My style has evolved quite a bit over the years, but I feel really good about where it has landed. It feels authentic and very much like me." Osheaga. Credit: Susan Moss Montreal indoor mural. Credit: Olivier Bousquet Montréal also runs right through her portfolio, from the BIXI mural to Promenade Wellington. Anne-Julie says it's a fantastic city for creatives. "Art is everywhere, and you can really feel that people value and appreciate it. When I started drawing more seriously about eleven years ago, Montréal became my first subject.

I drew iconic streets, architecture, cafés, and everyday scenes from the city. In many ways, Montréal shaped the artist I've become and continues to inspire me today." Anne-Julie has worked with everyone from Osheaga to Le Devoir and L'actualité. Is there a project that felt like a turning point, or one she's most proud of? "Painting the giant Osheaga logo was definitely a highlight. It was the first time I operated a boom lift, and I was up there on my own, painting forty-two feet in the air. It felt both terrifying and exhilarating, and it gave me a lot of confidence moving forward," she says.

Article truncated for readability. Read the full piece →

The article discusses a unique personal journey that emphasizes authenticity and diversification in branding, which is significant for brand professionals, though it may not be groundbreaking in the broader industry context.