Being loose and free in my art is something I’ve learned to do, especially when it comes to eyes and faces.
Having fun and playing as I paint allows me to capture the soul of my characters.
But sometimes I need to get out of my own way and start playing again so I can stop thinking so much and really uncover the beauty.
The other day when this happened, I was working on this new ‘Blissful’ Cat Painting.
I wanted to paint a woman or an angel. But she kept looking like a cat.
I knew I had to get the eyes right before I could even continue, so I gave her these big eyes.
And I fell in love.
Once the eyes hit my heart, I just couldn’t let them go. She had to be a cat.
My characters always begin with the eyes, but they’re the hardest thing to paint.
Most of the time my character looks nothing like it did when I started. It takes lots of beautiful mistakes and so many ugly stages before I can even begin to figure out the best body shape and face.
Yet whenever I begin, I try to paint this idea in my head… but I can never get that right.
Oftentimes it takes painting something I know I’ll love to finally be brave enough to let loose and see where it takes me next.
This video is one I come back to whenever I need to loosen up and let go, especially when painting my eyes and faces. I hope you enjoy it!
In this video you’ll learn:
- My secrets for getting inspired and knowing what to paint next
- The exact techniques I use to get unstuck and turn off my inner-critic
- My method for overcoming the ugly stage and covering up my art
As you’re painting, you might want to try these next steps to stay loose and free in your art:
- Whenever you’re stuck, go back to using your favorite colors.
- Use a pencil or chalk to outline your favorite parts of your painting so you don’t accidentally cover them up.
- If your colors start to get muddy… STOP and let your painting dry.
- Work on a few paintings at once. That way you’re not so attached to a single piece and can be loose.
Happy Painting!
xo Juliette Crane
P.S. You can learn more about Enchanted Soulful Eyes and Faces class right here.
P.P.S. If you’d like to paint more together but don’t have a lot of time, I’ve also put together my Happy Painting Mini Course, which has five-instant-access projects to get you started. Click here to Watch a Video Sneak Peek at the Happy Painting Mini Course.