TITLE: Just Beginning. Prints available in my etsy shop.

So I mentioned I had a lot of new paintings to share with you! And this is one that means a lot to me. The original was bought over the weekend by one of the kindest guys I had the opportunity to meet during open art studios. It was one of those serendipitous events.

He had been in town for the weekend and stopped in at the gallop coffeehouse in madison, where i currently have an art exhibit going on and saw my open art studios flyer on his way out. And so he stopped by my place with his coffee to-go in hand. I cannot say how very honored I was. I just adore when events fall into place like that and when he chose this owl painting I knew it was going to the right place.

It all happened so fast though, that this painting actually left without a name! It found it’s home before I even had a chance to put a title on the back. And for some reason that feels quite fitting. Because in the whirlwind of a morning, he came to pick up the painting and mentioned it was going to someone else. So I said I’d gift-wrap it for him.

Now sometimes I am able to give a title to a painting, knowing where it’s going.

TITLE: Beauty In Prayer. Prints available in my etsy shop.

Like this piece BEAUTY IN PRAYER. The original also sold last week without a name. I love this painting too, and it took a bit to come up with a title, but over the weekend friends pointed out that within the writing on her belly and moon they read the word “PRAYER” (totally unintentional). And beauty kept resonating from this piece, so after contemplation I realized she is BEAUTY IN PRAYER.

So sometimes it’s tricky to title a painting, but I never ever forget. I always write it on the back, often along with a little story about the painting. But with the kind coffee-guy’s painting, to me that painting’s story is just beginning.

Perhaps that is a fitting title: JUST BEGINNING. And so, this piece gets its name from its story. Beautiful.

For both of these original mixed media paintings JUST BEGINNING and BEAUTY IN PRAYER, I cut out lots and lots of stencils from typing paper and layered them with doilies to create a spray painted resist. I just adore all of the layers! Then I drew the character in with pastel and acrylics and added origami paper/journal pages and ink for a lovely mixed media effect. And, of course, I just had to add a bit of copper glitter around the moon and feet. Something that, to me, connects the figure to its imaginary world, as if one just stepped right out from the other.

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ps. i just finished a few new LITTLE PAINTINGS on 5×5 inch blocks of wood. I’m adding them to the shop next week. Here’s a bit of a sneak peek!

8 comments on “a piece without a name”

Msartist

October 8, 2010 - 3:18 pm

Lovely pieces Juliette~ The colors of fall and the layers are beautiful. ~Theresa
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Jan Avellana

October 8, 2010 - 7:39 pm

hi juliette!
you are on a roll girl! keep going! i love the cheeriness of your work and the bright colors of happiness. 🙂 yay! jan
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Jenny Blair

October 8, 2010 - 9:43 pm

I just love your owl paintings soooo much! The colours in “Beauty in Prayer” are exquisite!! That moon is making everything glow 🙂 X
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Dee

October 9, 2010 - 2:17 am

I would have such a hard time of letting go of these pieces. Have you ever thought of taking photo's of each painting and placing them in rows to make a poster? I met an artist who did well selling her posters.
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Juliette Crane

October 9, 2010 - 2:23 am

what a lovely idea, dee. i would really enjoy putting together my paintings in a row for a special poster. thank you so much for the suggestion!

best wishes, juliette
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jacqueline

October 9, 2010 - 12:50 pm

juliette, these are truely gorgeous! I really love both of them. 🙂 Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to you!
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Dianne

October 9, 2010 - 9:34 pm

They are both beautiful…
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Gumnut

October 11, 2010 - 9:23 pm

Hi, Juliette.

I've been following your work for a couple of months now and I have to give you many thanks for both sharing your finished pieces and the stories behind their creation. It has been both inspirational and educational.

I've just recently been experimenting, and the other day when I found myself with a piece of work that I'd basically destroyed ( http://ffacets.blogspot.com/2010/10/oil-pastel-experiments.html ), I remembered your work and the ups and downs you encounter, so instead of throwing it away, I continued working. The piece turned out to be something entirely different, but instead of trash bin fuel, I have art! And it is mostly thanks to you 😀

So thank you very much and please keep sharing your work, it is lovely stuff.

Nutty
(up before the kids)
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HELLO

I'M JULIETTE

A painter, writer, and creator of The School Of Happy Painting, online courses to help you loosen up, let go, and develop your own unique style.

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a piece without a name

8 comments on “a piece without a name”