Whenever I get stuck with my art, I go back to painting whimsical animals.
Sometimes I start to feel like I’m painting the same owls or bears that I did before. It feels like I’m not trying anything new.
But this is part of my creative process. It’s a place to begin.
The owl I create in my Free Painting Workshop has closed eyes, which is something I paint whenever I’ve covered up a face a million times (there’s a link below in case you haven’t joined yet).
But if you want to paint open eyes and you’re looking to keep them looking soulful, try using a water-soluble pencil to draw your features. Then smudge out the lines with a little paint or water, letting your initial layers bleed out to create shading and definition.
Instead of adding a thick layer of solid paint color on top, add a transparent ink or watercolor, then dots of white paint pen to show depth.
Oftentimes just returning to my favorite techniques whenever I get stuck, helps me overcome creative blocks, so I can be brave and paint with freedom again.
Happy painting!
xo Juliette