When I’m at an ugly stage with a painting, I have to turn off my inner critic and let go. But that’s way easier said than done.
A few days ago, I was painting and I completely overworked the eyes and face of my character.
My first thought was, “I’ve totally ruined my painting.”
Then I thought, “There’s no way I can save this piece. I should just cover the whole thing up.”
While I know every painting has this ugly stage, I still kept trying to fix it and paint my perfect face. I scribbled over the eyes and redrew them again (and again) at least ten times. And then I felt super defeated.
Finally, I got so frustrated I took a fat brush and splattered and dribbled dark ink over the entire painting. It turned into a big, muddy mess (but I started to have fun).
It’s so difficult to be loose and stay in that intuitive flow with my art. Play is a solution, but moments like these remind me to take a step away, turn off that inner critic and go back to a childlike mindset where there’s no right or wrong… that’s where the beauty emerges. Oftentimes, it just takes a few paintings and tons of mistakes to get there.
This new painting is called ‘Secret Garden,’ 20″ x 30″ on stretched canvas (original available) ❤️ This piece is inspired by fairy tales and an intention to fill (and find) your purpose. I wanted her to reflect the sense of magic and wonder that I feel whenever I’m in nature, so I’ve kept her strong and filled with rainbow light.
I’ve started a few smaller paintings and can’t wait to share them with you soon!
In this video preview, I share how I begin to transform a painting I am not liking into something new, using the existing layers as a starting point as I layer my favorite mixed media supplies. In class, I share the inspiration behind each painting, so you can learn how to paint more freely and easily develop your own style.
“This course was the in depth instruction that I was really looking for to take some of the quick pieces I’d done and really develop them further. Watching Juliette work through a piece until she really felt the character develop was so helpful. Knowing that I wasn’t making any mistakes and that if something wasn’t working – just changing my tool or supply could get me right through that tough spot was so useful.”
Happy Painting!
xo Juliette Crane
Comments are closed
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.
