My figurative paintings of women and owls never really start to come together until I find the eyes.
The eyes have to resonate with my heart before I can go deep into the rest of the painting.
There’s always an ugly stage, but, little by little, layer by layer, the face and shape comes together and then it feels like magic.
The other day when this happened, I was working on this new female portrait.
I’d been wanting to paint a woman with wings. But she kept looking so rigid and tight.
I could not get her eyes or posture right.
It wasn’t until I added all of the prussian blue spray paint that she stepped into her power.
If I paint over something again and again, I know I’ve stopped having fun. I’m usually trying to make my painting perfect.
Sometimes when I look at a finished painting like this and remember all of the layers underneath, I still forget that I was also painting many pieces at once and that each of those pieces went through their own ugly stages.
The Finding Peace Collection is about using your greatest essence to spread hope, peace and be light.
I’ve also been getting so many questions about how I find time to paint and stay loose, so I’ve put together my Portrait Painting Masterclass, which has many watercolor portraits and paintings you can do in under 10 minutes.
Click here to learn more about Portraits class.
Here’s a fun video to get you started too. I hope it all keeps you inspired!
While I paint in a loose, whimsical style, this class isn’t about copying my process. It’s about helping you explore portraiture in a way that feels personal, intuitive, and truly your own. You’ll build a series of watercolor and mixed-media portraits that become a springboard for your unique creative voice.
In this video you’ll see how I begin a watercolor painting in my sketchbook in under 10 minutes to help you loosen up and play.
Happy Painting!
xo Juliette Crane
P.S. If you’ve been wanting to paint together, but don’t have a lot of time, I’ve put together my Watercolor Joy Mini Course, which has six-instant-access projects to get you started.
Click here to Learn More About My Watercolor Joy Mini Course.
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Abstract and Figurative Painter
Juliette Crane creates luminous, dreamlike paintings shaped by memory, imagination and nature. She builds translucent layers of color until something familiar begins to emerge. Based in Wisconsin’s scenic Driftless Region, her work is represented by select galleries across the United States.
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