When Julie Bousum has a few hours to herself, she is usually involved in some type of art project. Bousum is best known regionally for her work with paste paper collage. Wolfe Clinic bought four of Bousum’s collages for its entrance lobby. She has taught a number of paste paper collage workshops for the Amana Arts Guild.

    Bousum works with a variety of media. She has displayed work at the Iowa State Fair, Central Iowa Art Association (CIAA) in Marshalltown, Lake of the Ozarks, Meskwaki Museum, and the Grinnell Regional

Medical Center. Her favorite past shows include two with family artists including her mother Darlene King of Blairstown and her daughter Brooke Jetmund of  Polk City.

      A thirty-eight year veteran of teaching, Bousum took early retirement after eighteen years at Marshalltown Community School District. An art education opportunity opened at Meskwaki Settlement School four years ago and she continued her teaching career. Bousum has also taught ceramics classes for Marshalltown Community College and Iowa Valley Community College Continuing Education, and summer art camps for Ankeny and Marshalltown elementary students. She takes great interest in learning about her former students, especially those who have gone on to become designers, teachers and artists.

     Julie Bousum has homes in Marshalltown, Iowa, and in Sunrise Beach, Missouri. Many of her inspirations come from her lake home, her travels, and her students. Bousum lives with her husband of 37 years, Curt. They have three children, all of whom went into the education field, and the Bousums have eight grandchildren, ages 9 and younger.