I’ve always loved art and have been creative.

But I stopped painting and creating for years after college.

I didn’t want to do anything creative if I couldn’t do it for a living. It was just too painful.

So I hopped from job to job to job until I was fired from my favorite job as a landscaper in 2008. I started painting again to heal my heart.

That’s what started my whimsical paintings (I’d never painted characters before) and it all eventually led to starting a business for my art and life as a full-time artist.

I’d thought it was too painful to create if I couldn’t do it full-time. But now I realize that not creating was what held me back and really crushed my spirit. So now I paint every day and I’m so honored and humbled to be able to share my art and creative journey with you (thank you!!!).

I’m in the middle of a new female portrait that I can’t wait to share with you!

This video is a project we create in my FACES – Mixed Media Portraits class.

It’s a project I come back to whenever I need to loosen up with eyes and faces. I hope you enjoy it!

Sometimes I can get so stuck in painting something perfectly that my faces totally look too lifeless.

Whenever I paint the eyes of my characters I feel like I can best express myself. But sometimes I just can’t get them right.

That’s when I know I need to loosen up and play.

Happy painting!
xo Juliette

P.S. If you’d like to paint more together but don’t have a lot of time, I’ve also put together my Happy Painting Mini Course, which has five-instant-access projects to get you started. Click here to Watch a Video Sneak Peek at the Happy Painting Mini Course.