Julie Marks Blackstone

Julie Marks Blackstone teaches a variety of mediums as a professor at Oklahoma Baptist University, but is perhaps best known for her textile and fiber art, with her "Knotty Girl" works created using a French Knot embroidery technique with embellishments.

Blackstone claims that she experiences "more fun" at work than most professors because of the wonderful variety of mediums she gets to teach in her studio classes. 

"Teacher burn-out isn't a problem when one has the opportunity to switch mediums every day." - Julie Marks Blackstone

Blackstone teaches primarily high craft: ceramics, fibers, and stained glass, with color theory and the occasional figure drawing class thrown in for a change of pace. 

"I'm quite serious about teaching art, and feel that it's not merely a job, but a calling." - Julie Marks Blackstone

She has had work accepted in numerous shows, winning awards on both a regional and national level, including Fiberworks and the Handweavers' Guild of America. Blackstone's dedication to teaching was recognized in 2019 with the highest academic honor her university has to offer, the Distinguished Teaching Award.

In addition to her work as an educator and artist, Blackstone has authored eleven novels as well as designed and helped build her current home. She continues to design houses as an entertaining alternative to watching television. She also loves to read and to listen to audiobooks while stitching at her embroidery.