LOVE. 9×12″ on bristol paper. Find the original painting here.
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“You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” Ansel Adams.
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LOVE was one of those paintings that came easily. A piece where I was able to let go and follow my instincts without covering her up again and again. But that only happened because I’d been painting so much, every day.
There were plenty of paintings just before and after this one that did not come quite so effortlessly.
To me, the creative process stems from trying, again and again, without judgement. Then learning what works for me and what I like or don’t like.
From there, I am able to step back and get out of my own way.
Here is how this painting evolved from start to finish…
To create this painting, I used watercolors, calligraphy ink with a bamboo writing stick, a stabilo pencil and warm gray acrylic paint.
Once the girl came out of the paint for me and I defined her features, then I felt more at ease with adding words and found I love adding words with ink and a bamboo writing stick. The writing stick allows for fluid, thin lettering. And I find my movements are less regid and more free because it’s a stick rather than a brush where my mind thinks there is a right or wrong way to use it.
I’ve also tried writing with ink and a tree branch and painting with leaves or flower petals and feel the same freedom.
For me, there is never a right or wrong way to be creative. Never a mistake. But sometimes I need to trick myself into remembering these things.
Happy painting!
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Ps. I’ve added lots of new paintings and prints to my online shop here.
I’ll be adding more throughout this month. Feel free to follow me on facebook and instagram where I will announce new listings first.
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Pps. If you’d like to see the evolution of this painting in video, LOVE is one of the painting projects including in my online mixed media workshop BLISS.
2 comments on “New Painting: LOVE”
margherita
Hello juliette…! this is the same for me… I don’t have the art work in mind… all come out from my heart…!
juliette crane
that’s wonderful to hear. i love that about the creative process! xo