When I’m at a creative block, there’s no way I can be loose in my art.

That’s why every painting I create begins with a playful background. This is my time to experiment and let go so I can be more free when I paint my whimsical characters.

I try and remember to always have fun with whatever I’m creating. If I think too much about the end result or try to paint what’s in my head, I either freeze or paint something lifeless.

It helps to have 5 or 6 paintings going at once (sometimes more). That way, I’m never too attached to one painting. Then I’m not so afraid to cover up my art.

When I initially pencil in my character, I try not to cover up anything I really love in the background. Sometimes I’ll even circle my favorite parts.

This forces me to position my character in new ways – to avoid a beautiful neon pink smudge or to make sure the turquoise fingerprints stand out beside my owl like the one I shared in my free painting workshop (I hope you’ve been able to enjoy it… there’s a link below in case you missed it).

If I’m really stuck and self-critical, I paint an owl. With whimsical animals, there’s no right or wrong way, so I automatically start to play.

Having fun with my artwork helps me to get loose again. Then I can follow my heart and uncover beautiful mistakes as I paint without the pressure of everything having to be perfect.

Happy painting!
xo Juliette

P.S. I’ve put together a Free Painting Class… click HERE to get instant-access and sign up.