Looking for my latest writing? I now publish essays on Substack: Living the Way of the Happy Painter.
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When I first started painting again in 2009, I had no clue what to paint. But then I stepped back to look at my first layers—and I distinctly saw the outline of an owl.

Lately, I’ve been painting dreamscapes—colorful worlds you feel like you can step into, just like a dream—and it’s made me so excited to get in the studio and see what will emerge. I’ve been experimenting with new color palettes, techniques, and supplies, constantly reminding myself to follow whatever feels right in the moment.

Even after I’d painted owls for a while, feeling like I’d finally found my style, being loose was still a challenge—and staying motivated and inspired was even more so.

It wasn’t until I started snapping in-progress photos of my paintings that I realized every painting has an “ugly” stage. That negative self-talk and lack of confidence took the fun out of painting. But once I saw it happened every time, I learned to turn off my inner critic and let go.

One of the things that helped me most was painting every day. I recently shared a video about my inspiration and process on Instagram. It’s been wonderful to hear what you see in these paintings, and it inspires me as I paint new pieces.

Creating is one of the things I know I can always return to for grounding—especially when everything else feels crazy and chaotic. Even just a few minutes of dripping color or watercoloring in my sketchbook brings me a deep sense of calm.

In case you haven’t seen it yet, I’ve put together a monthly subscription to my classes called The School Of Happy Painting Membership.

This is actually something many of you requested—a way to learn more, build confidence, and develop your style all in one beautiful space.

It’s perfect if you want to paint more but don’t always feel inspired. It’s a natural next step for anyone who enjoys my teaching, offering you even more flexibility and opportunities to experiment with various techniques. And I’ve just added my Happy Painting Mini Course to the membership! If you’re already a member, you’ll see it in your course library.

If you share a passion for creative freedom, whimsy, color, and inspiration, I invite you to explore The School Of Happy Painting Membership by clicking here.

Or, if you prefer lifetime access, I’ve extended the special pricing, so you can still get 50% off each class.

I can’t wait to see you in the membership and community. Sending lots of love and wishing you a happy new year!

Love, Juliette

P.S. If you’d like to see more of what I teach, you can explore my painting courses and free resources here.

All photos and artwork by Juliette Crane

This essay was originally published on my Substack, Living the Way of the Happy Painter.