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When I try to be loose in my art, it never works. Sometimes it seems like it’s only the happy accidents and mistakes that lead to freedom in my paintings.
The other day I spilled a brand new bottle of yellow orange azo ink onto my near finished painting. The color spread all across my table, down onto the floor and seeped into pages and pages of the newsprint I paint on (so I don’t mess up my table… but it doesn’t always work).
I thought for sure my painting was ruined. The ink got all over the woman’s eyes and face. There was no way I could just wipe it off.
Yet, somehow, once it dried, the yellow ink added all sorts of beautiful dimension and depth to the face that I never would have added otherwise (now I’m trying to recreate that mistake so I get the same effect and I simply cannot get it right).
This is a project we paint in my online art class ENCHANTED – SOULFUL EYES AND FACES. In this video sneak peek you’ll see how I begin a face that can be completed in under 10 minutes using just a few art supplies. This is one of the fun techniques I use whenever I want to let go and be looser in my art.
Mistakes can be SO frustrating, but often it’s these beautiful accidents that lead me to new techniques or my favorite painting. It all reminds me to let go and have faith in the creative process.
If you’d like to let go and paint more whimsically, I’ve put together my latest painting class Enchanted – Soulful Eyes and Faces. This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to learn the techniques and supplies I use to create eyes and faces in every painting.
Happy Painting!
xo Juliette
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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.
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.
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