Mistakes always happen while I’m painting.

I’ve dumped my water bucket accidentally on a face, ruining my perfect eyes, and had my neighbor’s dog run into my yard and spill black india ink all over a painting (these things happen to me all the time).

It can be SO frustrating to make a mistake or to not be able to paint the idea just as it is in my head. But so often it’s those mistakes that lead me to new techniques or my favorite painting.

When the dog spilled the india ink, I started splattering more intentionally.

This made me use more paint drips in my work (and I realized it was so much fun). When I dumped ink on my most perfect eyes, I began adding masks to my characters, and this started an entirely new series of paintings.

That’s why now, it’s so important for me to return to having fun with my artwork.

Whenever I begin to take myself too seriously and try too hard (usually when I’ve painted over my eyes a million times), then I remember to return to painting backgrounds or splattering ink.

Anything to get me to play again. It’s always in those moments of joy that the real magic happens.

Here are 3 Tips To Help You Get Unstuck and Let Go:

*Be Imperfectly Perfect: Embrace mistakes as opportunities for creative exploration. Imperfections often lead to unexpected beauty and unique outcomes.

*Embrace Spontaneity: Allow room for spontaneity in your creative process. Sometimes the most captivating elements arise from unplanned actions.

*Learn from Mistakes: Instead of seeing mistakes as setbacks, view them as valuable lessons. Analyze what went wrong, and let it guide you to new techniques and discoveries.

Playfulness is a powerful force in creativity. Letting go of seriousness and allowing yourself to play opens the door to limitless possibilities and joyful artistic expressions. That’s when the magic happens.

The artistic journey is a ever-evolving, just like everything else in life. The cycle of making mistakes, learning, and adapting not only allows for unexpected beauty, but contributes to the ongoing growth and development of your artistic voice.

Happy Painting!
xo, Juliette