Part of my creative process is trying new things and covering up my art.

I cover up what I don’t like, which is forever changing and evolving just like everything else in life.

When I reach a creative block, I return to whatever it is that makes me feel joy. This reignites my passion, so I can be brave and let go.

But the other day I was working on this new big painting and I just couldn’t loosen up (she’s the largest piece I’ve ever painted and called ‘Emissary of Love’ 30” x 40” on stretched canvas… visit my shop to see available originals right here).

She started out as an owl when I began this piece last summer.

I was having so much fun with the eyes, but something just wasn’t right. So it sat in my studio for months.

Then finally, I got the courage and covered up most of the painting, except for those eyes. As I turned the owl into a woman, I let the eyes lead me.

This helps me to follow a feeling that I want to express rather than painting what’s in my head. If I’m thinking rather than feeling, it doesn’t work.

Instead, I pretend I’m looking into a mirror and when my character’s eyes hit my heart and I can feel what they’re feeling, I know I’m on the right track. It took A LOT of layers, but as she emerged, I gave her feathers like the original owl and she came alive.

I just LOVE painting larger because it’s like dancing with these characters and really allows all of the marks to emerge, especially in the eyes.

With each painting, I try to take the emotions and ways I experience and feel life unfolding everyday and translate those stories into the colors, expressions and postures you see in my backgrounds and characters. My hope is that my work can then be seen and experienced as a source of heart and connection with others ❤️

Whenever I paint the eyes of my characters I feel like I can best express myself. But sometimes I just can’t get them right.

That’s when I paint a character with their eyes closed. This brings instant calm to me and the painting.

This video is one I come back to whenever I need to paint a character with more softness. I hope you enjoy it!

This is one of the paintings we create in my Enchanted Soulful Eyes and Faces class. Click Here For More Details On Enchanted Class.

In Enchanted, you’ll learn many different techniques to help you develop your own recognizable style, be loose in your art and build a cohesive body of work.

In every class video I slow down and explain my creative process, so you can overcome the ugly stages, be brave, and achieve soulful eyes and faces that are unique to YOU.

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.