my elephant with gold toes + my pre-birthday celebration sale!

TITLE: Elephant With Gold Toes

this little elephant really touches my heart. i’ve no idea where he came from. here i was, painting all of these owls, and all of a sudden this elephant appears!
this is how he started. sort of like a casper ghost. 
i’d had this square canvas covered with it’s spray painted design since my open art studios event at the start of october! i wasn’t too much for that reddish brown color, so i painted in the white ground.
something in me was saying to make him an elephant, so i added that crazy trunk and big ears. then i rounded out the horizon line so it feels a bit more like a circus stage or the edge of the earth (i’m not sure which).
next i gave the background a deep burgandy glaze (thinned down color), so you could still see the spray painted pattern but in a much richer hue.

then i knew he just had to get those gold toes! i used some of my vintage origami paper from my great aunt june’s collection to cut out the little half circles. 

and he got GREEN eyes.
a week later (after i’d given my studio a makeover), i was thinking i’d waited too long to finish him. that there was no way i could get back into capturing his spirit that had been drawing me in before. but i got out my ink markers and decorated those gorgeous eyes.
then i had this thought of being in grade school. and i turned one GREEN eye into a BLUE eye.
i remember being in first grade with my strawberry blond hair and my one green and one blue eye. the teacher was trying to teach us something about proportions, so she divided the class based on hair color. she added a red classification to the blond side, just for me. 
then there was the choice of blue or green eyes. there too, i didn’t know where to go. and part of me had fun with the idea that i could choose between green and blue-i could be whatever i wanted. but the other part felt a bit lost and out of place-like i didn’t belong there. 
i mention this because there’s something about painting this elephant that made me think about that day in my first grade classroom. and so, he not only got gold toes, but one beautiful blue and one green eye in celebration of our differences!
i added a gold bubble popping up from his trunk to match his toes, and an origami paper circle at his center.
TITLE: Elephant With Gold Toes
then i thought i was finished and sprawled out across my new studio’s floor space and melted beeswax on the painting’s surface.
and isn’t it ironic, that my iron completely melted away his blue and green eyes! so i had to go in and draw them once again!

and now i am completely in love with my ELEPHANT WITH GOLD TOES!

**************************

TITLE: THINE and THOU TOGETHER. Prints available in my etsy shop.

ps. it’s my BIRTHDAY next week! and i’m celebrating with a 2 DAY SHOP SALE! STARTING TOMORROW, all PRINTS are BUY ONE GET ONE FREE! just mention the additional print title you’d like in the note to seller when you make your purchase!

 TITLE: SPEAK YOUR TRUTH by Danielle Fraser

pps. tomorrow is the day for sales! i’ve been
so inspired by danielle’s beautiful paintings. and she just so happens to be having a HUGE sale in her shop too!

the sale starts tomorrow and ends on Friday December 10th–40% off on ALL of her ORIGINALS! i really love danielle’s artwork and hope you have a chance to stop by her blog and shop and see what she’s been up to!

18 comments on “my elephant with gold toes + my pre-birthday celebration sale!”

  • faerwillow

    December 6, 2010 - 1:20 pm

    ~oh i think you have captured the essence of celebrating our differences beautifully sweet with your elephant…your muse took you down memeory lane and what came to be of it is just so darn cute!!! everything about this little guy is perfect…to me his eyes speak a thousand unspoken words…thank you for allowing us to be apart of your special day by offering a sale…will be back tomorrow to have a look!!! warm wishes and brightest of birthday blessings upon you this year to come and always~

  • Jenny Stevning

    December 6, 2010 - 1:34 pm

    Oh, YES! The gold-toed elephant is beautiful!

  • nacherluver

    December 6, 2010 - 2:33 pm

    A very Happy Birthday to you!

  • Kristin

    December 6, 2010 - 3:41 pm

    Stunning! Your blog and work are FAB and I'm so glad I found you (through the collage making directory) – I will be back as I am now a follower – thank you for the beautiful inspiration this morning, xo

  • Tiffany

    December 6, 2010 - 3:46 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE the Elephant!!!! 🙂

  • Jessie

    December 6, 2010 - 3:57 pm

    He's gorgeous! The red background looks amazing too, it suits the painting really well. xx

  • Juliette Crane

    December 6, 2010 - 4:01 pm

    thank you so much!

  • danielle

    December 6, 2010 - 4:33 pm

    Happy early Birthday Juliette and Happy Sale! Your new elephant is ABSOLUTELY adorable! He has so much personality! Thank-you so much for sharing my ART on your blog. I am one of your biggest fans! xo

  • Michele from Pipi La La

    December 6, 2010 - 5:25 pm

    Oh that little elephant is so gorgeous! Love him!
    And happy pre-birth week!

  • Teddi

    December 6, 2010 - 5:48 pm

    Oh those happy musical birds & happy late birthday!

  • Michelle

    December 7, 2010 - 1:09 am

    Juliette!!!
    I am loving your Elephant painting!! You are amazing!! So glad that I discovered your art! It makes me smile and talks to my soul!! Happy Happy birthday! I hope you have a magical day!
    xo
    Michelle

  • rachel awes

    December 7, 2010 - 1:51 am

    i love your elephant like crazy!!!
    & how fascinating you birthed this wonder
    around your birthday…hmmm, somehow
    deeply of you! xox

  • SaraLynn

    December 7, 2010 - 2:02 am

    These are all great! I especially love the elephant's face and his perfect eyes! Beautiful.

  • Kerri

    December 7, 2010 - 3:28 am

    i love that your elephants eyes and toe nails are so fancy!

  • Heather

    December 7, 2010 - 3:29 am

    Juliette your elephant is adorable!!!

  • Angela DiGiovanni | life * poetry * art

    December 9, 2010 - 1:09 am

    I am in love with your elephant with gold toes!!! He is melting hearts everywhere…

    xo

  • theartofpuro

    December 13, 2010 - 11:58 am

    Love it!

  • danasparkle

    December 13, 2010 - 12:29 pm

    the white elephant is a very auspicious animal. wise and patient, loyal and brave. i think you have painted a version of yourself. with gorgeous accessories, of course…
    *

Leave a reply

IMG_7287
compassion_and peace_12x16_2
Dreaming calls 16 x 16_2 (1)
IMG_4193

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.

My Story

My Courses

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.


Join Now

Related posts

Art
Read more

Business For Creatives + Overcoming My Shyness

I used to be afraid to raise my hand in class. I’d learned that my ways of thinking and seeing were different from everyone else. When I shared an idea, I was often laughed at or told it was impossible. So I learned to stay quiet and be shy. When I was in the third grade we had an art project where we were supposed... Continue reading
Art
Read more

Painting Owls + Finding Your Artistic Voice

Lately I’ve been going back to painting owls. For awhile I had been creating these very renaissance-style portraits with soft, realistic faces and incredible hair. I enjoyed that I could make them look very human, but still full of magic and color. While I still adore creating these flower girls, I found that these paintings were missing something. After countless attempts in the studio, many... Continue reading

Letting Go + Developing Your Unique Style

Everyone always asks how I developed my artistic style. I have to say, style was nothing I intentionally developed. It was just the thing that happened when I painted every day. Most often I can look at a finished painting and see that it perfectly reflects who I am in that moment… all of the quirkiness and emotion I sometimes wish I could hide. But... Continue reading

What Inspires You?

Prints, Books and Originals Available in my shop. …… I’m most inspired by nature and the feelings, emotions and stories I see around me, every day. That’s why it’s so important for me to make sure I take time, each day, to find that inspiration. In the summertime it seems easier to be inspired. My inspirations can come from something as small as a walk... Continue reading
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Permissions | Contact | FAQ | Login | Testimonials

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Permissions

© Juliette Crane LLC 2024

Ready to Paint?

Get instant-access to my Free Painting Class. You’ll learn to let go and be loose in your art.

[mc4wp_form id=”17183″]

I use cookies to give you the best experience on this website. xo

Ready to Paint?

Get instant-access to my Free Painting Class. You’ll learn to let go and be loose in your art.

[mc4wp_form id=”7249″]