Hello, Friends!
Greetings from my studio in Wisconsin. I hope this finds you well as we ease into autumn. The leaves are just starting to change, so I’ve been going on lots of inspiration walks and taking photos in nature.
I love gathering color inspiration on these walks. Since all of my paintings begin with a few abstract layers of color, these photo walks are where I often find new color combinations.
My first layers are the way that I loosen up and let go, but also I can never quite begin on a blank, white canvas.
Maybe it’s my love of color, but the drips and first layers always become an open doorway so I can see where to go next with a painting.
Sometimes that happens intuitively – I might see an eye or a spot that looks like a nose in my first layers. When that happens, I go with those instincts. But most of the time, I don’t see anything in the paint.
When I started painting whimsical characters and faces in 2009, I struggled if I didn’t see something that inspired me in the first layers. I got lost and didn’t know what to paint… until I learned to create my characters using simple shapes.
It’s magic when I intuitively know what to do next with a painting.
But if I don’t know what to do (which happens all of the time), I pencil in my character using simple shapes. That way, I always have a place to begin.
Art was the thing I loved to do growing up and in high school. But when I graduated college, I felt like my creativity didn’t matter.
I stopped painting for more than ten years. I went to work as an editorial assistant at a newspaper, occasionally writing a music review or gallery feature.
It took SO many different jobs as a photographer, gallery assistant, floral designer and more before I finally realized the only thing I could put my heart into was being a full-time artist.
If you’re interested in learning more about my journey to becoming a professional artist, I recently did an interview on The Creative Genius Podcast – we go deep into my process and creative journey. I hope it brings you a lot of inspiration and encouragement on your own journey.
This new original painting is SOLD, but I’ve added a few other new original paintings to my shop.
Have a beautiful weekend!
With love + gratitude,
xo Juliette
P.P.S Don’t forget to join my free painting workshop if you’d like to paint together.
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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.
Join me for a Free Workshop!
Want to know how I create my paintings? Join this free workshop to learn the fundamental principles I use to paint with style and whimsy, from covering up the white space to final artwork. Follow along to paint your own character in 30 minutes.
