Tuscany Italy Art Retreat | May 3-10, 2027

Registration will open on Monday, April 13th @ 10am Central

I’m so excited to share that I’ll be teaching a painting retreat in ITALY — next year!

The retreat will be held at a gorgeous private estate in the sunlit hills of Tuscany, Italy — May 3-10 2027.

I expect this to fill quickly, so if you’d love to come paint and play together sign up for the waitlist by clicking here.

There are only 16 spots available and I think this retreat could fill up fast! I’d LOVE to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with you next spring in Italy!

Anyone on the waitlist will hear about the itinerary and have the opportunity to book before I announce it on social media! Join the waitlist  to be the first to know when registration opens to the waitlist on April 13th, 2026.

Here are some photos from the incredible venue and the surrounding areas…

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• A full week of painting, gathering inspiration, and exquisite experiences

• Mixed media and watercolor painting for all levels and diverse styles

• Limited to only 16 guests—a small group perfect for conversations, art chats, personal guidance, and quality one on one time with you!

• Private estate equipped with helpful hosts and event staff, heated pool, private lake, walking trails, art studio, views of the countryside,, and terraces

• Day trips to local Tuscan villages, cafes, and shops

• Delicious chef-prepared meals and local drinks

Excited? If you have ANY questions reach out to Uptrek at contact@uptrek.com or https://uptrek.com/contact.

As I’ve mentioned, we had a life-changing experience at my France retreat and this time we’ll be staying at a Tuscan vineyard estate! There’s also an art studio, gardens, a lake, pool, and more, all surrounded by the warm Italian landscape. And, of course, we’ll be taking day trips to sip espresso and explore the local shops.

Again, I’ve partnered with renowned destination art travel company Uptrek to host this event. We’ve been working together the last few months to plan all of the beautiful details

And I can’t wait to share that magic with you!

ALL skill levels are welcome!

To see the recap of my previous retreat in France, check out this video below to get an idea of what all of the excitement is about!

Sign up for my in-person retreats and workshops waitlist here.

If you know anyone who might love this retreat, please help me spread the good word by forwarding this post and telling friends and family.

I hope to see some of you in Italy next year for an amazing art adventure! 

I always find it super helpful to hear from others about their experiences, especially since creativity can be so healing, soothing, and calming, so I’m including some reflections from my France retreat guests:

“This trip has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived, Juliette created a space that was warm, open, and deeply nurturing… I found myself inspired, experimenting freely, and falling in love with the journey of self-expression.”— Evie G.

“What a spectacular week filled with love, care, friendship and art. Everyone produced magical paintings and memories for a lifetime.”— J. Hughes

“Juliette’s gentle guidance, presence, and encouragement helped me create more freely than I ever have. The environment she created gave us permission to experiment, play, and return to ourselves.”— Kalinda B.

“Juliette truly created something magical. I left feeling inspired, expanded, and deeply grateful.”— S.Y.

“From beginners to practicing artists, Juliette’s demos and support opened up new ways of creating. Her positivity and warmth made the whole retreat feel joyful, relaxing, and transformative.”— Pat R.

“Our retreat with Juliette was peaceful, beautiful, and full of magic. I will never forget it.”— Sara M.

“This experience was unforgettable — not just because of the art, but because of the kindness, support, and joy that surrounded us all week.”— Sue C.

“Thank you so much for offering this amazing experience that brought so many incredible people together. I’ll carry it in my heart through life.”— G. Warren

Looking for my latest writing? I now publish essays on Substack: Living the Way of the Happy Painter.
Read or subscribe here →

Today I’m sharing Protection of Peace — a large owl commission.

Over the years, many of you have reached out about original paintings, commissions, and upcoming shows. To make it easier to share that side of my work more intentionally, I’ve created a Collector’s List for those who want to stay connected to what I’m painting now and what’s coming next.

If you’re interested in original work, commissions, or upcoming shows, please be sure to join the Collector’s list.

If you’ve been drreaming of a custom piece inspired by my work, I’d love to talk about a collaboration. A commission is a one-of-a-kind painting created together — often beginning with just three words. These might include a color scheme, interior design swatches, or other sources of inspiration.

For Protection of Peace (36 × 36” on canvas), this collector shared three words: blue, owl, snowy — and this is what emerged.

If this resonates, you can check out my commissions page or email me to talk about your special project.

And if you’d like to stay updated about originals, commissions, and upcoming shows, the Collectors List is the best place to do that.

Thank you, as always, for being here and for supporting this work. I’m grateful to continue creating — and sharing — what’s unfolding next.

With gratitude,

xo Juliette

P.S. In case you missed it, I’m keeping registration open with 50% off my lifetime-access courses. Since 2011, I’ve guided tens of thousands of students through my classes, and I hope they continue to bring you joy, connection, and comfort.

All photos and artwork by Juliette Crane

This essay was originally published on my Substack, Living the Way of the Happy Painter.

Looking for my latest writing? I now publish essays on Substack: Living the Way of the Happy Painter.
Read or subscribe here →

I’m in the middle of painting a new collection of owl paintings, and as they slowly come into being, I’ve found myself thinking about a creative sabbatical I took last month.

It was the kind of retreat that doesn’t look dramatic from the outside—no grand itinerary, no big reveal—but one that quietly rearranged something inside me. I came home filled with ideas, yes, but more than that, with a renewed willingness to begin.

Do you ever find it hard to cover up your paintings?

I do. All the time.

There’s a moment—sometimes many moments—when a painting feels almost right. When the marks are tender, the colors feel alive, and something in you whispers, Don’t touch it. Don’t ruin this. And yet, beneath that hesitation, there’s often another truth waiting: this isn’t finished yet.

Every so often, when I do paint over something I love, a beautiful mistake appears. Something unexpected. Something better than what I was trying to protect. Those moments always ask the same quiet question: Can you let go now?

It’s an easy thing to forget when you’re standing in front of a blank canvas—or worse, one that feels full of possibility and risk all at once.

If I’m honest, there are times when I avoid painting altogether, especially when I’m experimenting or stepping into unfamiliar territory. I love the feeling of a finished piece. I love the calm that arrives after. But getting there requires showing up before the outcome is clear—and that part can feel vulnerable.

And yet, every single time I do show up, I remember something important: once I’m inside the process, I love it. Sometimes it just takes a little persuasion to begin.

When I feel stuck at the start, I gently remind myself to keep things simple.

1. I begin with three colors I love.
2. I cover the white space by finger-painting.
3. I pour water on top—and let go.

That’s it. No pressure. No expectations. Just an opening.

On my sabbatical, I rented a small Airbnb by the beach and set up a tiny, temporary studio. I brought six small canvases with me. At first, it didn’t feel like enough. Halfway through the week, I wished I’d packed more.

But those limits turned out to be a gift.

With fewer supplies and fewer canvases, I slowed down. I became more deliberate, more attentive. I began meditating before I painted—something I return to again and again when I want to arrive with presence instead of urgency. That simple pause made it easier to release my attachment to the outcome and allow creativity to move through me rather than feeling like I had to wrestle it into existence.

Each day, my only goal was to complete those six studies. Nothing more. Those small works are now quietly informing the larger paintings unfolding in my home studio—proof that even the most modest beginnings can ripple outward.

I’ve just sent a new collection of owl paintings to Studio E Gallery in Palm Beach, Florida, and I’m putting the finishing touches on a few more that I can’t wait to share with you soon.

Wherever you are in your creative process—at the beginning, the messy middle, or the quiet pause in between—I hope you’ll trust this: you don’t need to see the whole painting yet.

Sometimes, it’s enough to choose three colors you love and begin.

P.S. Lately, I’ve been feeling called back to color in my paintings—just letting myself play with paint, follow layers, and see where it leads. That same spirit is woven into all of my online courses, too. They’re not about getting it “right”—they’re about reconnecting with joy, trusting your creative voice, and finding your own fun. If you’d like to see more of what I teach, you can explore my painting courses and free resources here.

All photos and artwork by Juliette Crane

This essay was originally published on my Substack, Living the Way of the Happy Painter.

Looking for my latest writing? I now publish essays on Substack: Living the Way of the Happy Painter.
Read or subscribe here →

I’m writing to you today from my creative sabbatical at the beach in Florida, where I’ve just finished the first messy layers of six new paintings.

As I mentioned, I’ve been painting dreamscapes, which has made me feel like a beginner all over again. I’m experimenting with new ways to build colorful layers and constantly reminding myself to have fun with whatever I’m painting.

I’ve had some big realizations about my work in the new year. The biggest one is that I simply want to paint large — with layers and color. I’m still using small studies as a place to begin, but they feel even more freeing now that I see them as inspiration and research, rather than the final outcome.

Whenever I play, I feel calmer and more connected. It helps quiet my inner critic so I can follow my heart and paint without the pressure of everything needing to be perfect.

To help myself stay in that playful space, I pay close attention to how I’m feeling while I paint — especially when frustration shows up. The elements that work become the techniques and colors I return to when I hit an “ugly stage.” I think of them as my fallback techniques or go-to colors — my favorites.

Over time, these favorites shape my style. And as I keep adding more of what I love, my artistic voice continues to evolve — and so do I.

The invitation is to be gentle with yourself. Paint something that feels a little weird or wonky. Reach for your favorite colors. Let yourself make mistakes. That’s often when the magic happens and things begin to fall into place.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

*Start with Play, Not Perfection – Grab your favorite colors and make marks without worrying about the outcome.

*Work in Layers – Let each layer dry and reveal what wants to come next.

*Limit Your Palette – Choose 3 colors. This makes it much easier to avoid overwhelm and just get started.

Don’t hold back. Have fun painting on canvas or watercoloring in your sketchbook. Over time, this kind of play can become a daily practice that inspires you.

When you look back at your paintings, notice what you loved — and what you remember enjoying most. Try those elements again. You never know where they might lead.

I’ll be sharing more of my work with you soon. In the meantime, with everything happening in the world, I’m keeping registration open with 50% off my lifetime-access courses. I hope they continue to bring you joy, connection, and comfort.

I hope to paint with some of you in class!

xo Juliette

P.S. If you’d like to see more of what I teach, you can explore my painting courses and free resources here.

All photos and artwork by Juliette Crane

This essay was originally published on my Substack, Living the Way of the Happy Painter.

Looking for my latest writing? I now publish essays on Substack: Living the Way of the Happy Painter.
Read or subscribe here →

When I first started painting again in 2009, I had no clue what to paint. But then I stepped back to look at my first layers—and I distinctly saw the outline of an owl.

Lately, I’ve been painting dreamscapes—colorful worlds you feel like you can step into, just like a dream—and it’s made me so excited to get in the studio and see what will emerge. I’ve been experimenting with new color palettes, techniques, and supplies, constantly reminding myself to follow whatever feels right in the moment.

Even after I’d painted owls for a while, feeling like I’d finally found my style, being loose was still a challenge—and staying motivated and inspired was even more so.

It wasn’t until I started snapping in-progress photos of my paintings that I realized every painting has an “ugly” stage. That negative self-talk and lack of confidence took the fun out of painting. But once I saw it happened every time, I learned to turn off my inner critic and let go.

One of the things that helped me most was painting every day. I recently shared a video about my inspiration and process on Instagram. It’s been wonderful to hear what you see in these paintings, and it inspires me as I paint new pieces.

Creating is one of the things I know I can always return to for grounding—especially when everything else feels crazy and chaotic. Even just a few minutes of dripping color or watercoloring in my sketchbook brings me a deep sense of calm.

In case you haven’t seen it yet, I’ve put together a monthly subscription to my classes called The School Of Happy Painting Membership.

This is actually something many of you requested—a way to learn more, build confidence, and develop your style all in one beautiful space.

It’s perfect if you want to paint more but don’t always feel inspired. It’s a natural next step for anyone who enjoys my teaching, offering you even more flexibility and opportunities to experiment with various techniques. And I’ve just added my Happy Painting Mini Course to the membership! If you’re already a member, you’ll see it in your course library.

If you share a passion for creative freedom, whimsy, color, and inspiration, I invite you to explore The School Of Happy Painting Membership by clicking here.

Or, if you prefer lifetime access, I’ve extended the special pricing, so you can still get 50% off each class.

I can’t wait to see you in the membership and community. Sending lots of love and wishing you a happy new year!

Love, Juliette

P.S. If you’d like to see more of what I teach, you can explore my painting courses and free resources here.

All photos and artwork by Juliette Crane

This essay was originally published on my Substack, Living the Way of the Happy Painter.

Looking for my latest writing? I now publish weekly essays on Substack: Living the Way of the Happy Painter.
Read or subscribe here →

I’m writing to you today from my backyard garden, where the cosmos are in full bloom. My mom used to plant stretches of cosmos in two separate flower gardens in the backyard of the house I grew up in. There’s a photo of my younger brother and me, laughing as we sit among those cosmos—we look so happy, the smiles reaching deep into our eyes and out into the sunlight. I imagine my mom taking that photo and the joy she surely felt in that moment too.

That’s what cosmos bring to me now. As I watch the tall, delicate stems swaying in the August breeze, blossoms in every shade from blush pink to deep magenta, I find myself thinking about the colors in my own work—the pigments I reach for again and again, and the way certain hues seem to carry an energy all their own.

Lately, in my studio, I’ve noticed a shift. I’m thinking less about capturing the natural world exactly as it appears, and more about translating what I feel when I see it. Not necessarily through my eyes, but through my mind’s eye—the inner lens where color, memory, and meaning mix together.

In my recent paintings, something that might look like a dot or a fingerprint to you is, to me, a wish for abundance. A sweep of cobalt could be the echo of moonlight I felt one night by the water.

In one new piece, I pressed a thick fingerprint of color into the upper right corner—not only as a guiding moon, but as a way of leaving my DNA in the work.

This shift in perspective has grown out of time spent away from the easel—walking along the shore, sitting in my garden, giving space for the colors and shapes to arrive before I try to catch them on canvas.

But not every painting flows easily.

The other day, I was waiting for a layer to dry when impatience got the better of me. I poured yellow and emerald green over the whole thing… and instantly regretted it. When it dried, the beauty I hoped to reveal wasn’t there—just a muddled, overworked mess.

That’s when I remembered why I keep five or six paintings going at once. It means I can pivot when something flops. It means I’m not married to any one outcome. And it means I can return, again and again, to what I love most—playing with color without fear.

When fear and doubt creep in (and they always do), I don’t stop painting. I start something new. I chase the colors that make me feel alive. And slowly, the creative flow returns.

If you’ve been following my creative journey for a while, you know that I’ve not only been painting and teaching, but I also finished writing a novel.

As I mentioned in my interview on the ReBloom Podcast, I wrote a fiction novel about a woman who could step into her paintings. However, what I didn’t mention, is that was the idea behind the first draft of my manuscript. But, just like my paintings, the novel has MANY layers.

In 2009, I got super burned out writing that manuscript. I had this goal to finish and submit it to an author friend for feedback by the end of the year. So what was I doing on New Year’s Eve? Working hardcore to finish my manuscript.

I got so caught up in the result, I completely forgot to enjoy the journey.

That led me to take a step away from writing and heal my heart through painting, which eventually (and rather quickly) led me to paint full-time. It ultimately became the impetus for my creative business and life as a professional artist. I set my book aside, just as I had my art for so many years.

But then, a few years ago, in 2016, I lost my lovely mom.

Creating has always been a healing process for me, so I went back to writing my novel to heal and honor my mom. Writing my story down became a different kind of healing. It felt like getting out the words into stories filled in the gaps the paint couldn’t touch.

I rewrote the entire novel (many times).

The entire direction of the novel didn’t change much – as the heart and main plot points remained, but I took everything deeper. I started to write again to rectify that part of me that wanted to believe.

It was such a healing process to write this new version of my novel and to say all of the things I never said. To answer questions that will forever go unanswered but can be imagined and reinvisioned in fiction.

It’s been an amazing process to take all of these new learnings and emotions and infuse them into my paintings, especially in my latest collection.

So, from one creative to another—if you find yourself stuck, try letting go of the “perfect” result. Begin again. Pour out the colors that call to you. Write the poem deep inside your heart. Let the layers, the fingerprints, the hidden marks tell their own story.

You never know what beauty might unfurl.

Sending you so much love,

xo Juliette

P.S. Since I’ve been feeling called back to simplicity and creative play, I thought you might be too. That same spirit is woven into all of my online courses. There’s no right or wrong—just following joy, trusting your creative voice, and finding your own rhythm. If you’d like to see more of what I teach, you can explore my painting courses and free resources here.

All photos and artwork by Juliette Crane

This essay was originally published on my Substack, Living the Way of the Happy Painter.

Looking for my latest writing? I now publish weekly essays on Substack: Living the Way of the Happy Painter.
Read or subscribe here →

I’ve carried this tension for as long as I can remember — a quiet tug-of-war between my love of whimsy, imagination, and color, and the “professionalism” I thought I was supposed to embody.

When I began writing my novel, I was accepted into a six-week program in New Hampshire with thirteen other genre writers. The feedback I received made me lose my voice for a while: too much imagination, too much color. Too childlike.

Earlier in my career, when I pursued surface pattern design, I was told my paintings had too much color, too many layers. They just wouldn’t work. It felt eerily familiar.

For a while, I believed them.

But a few years ago, I flew to Los Angeles to meet my dream literary agent at a book event. One afternoon, I found myself at a table with a group of readers and book lovers. As we talked, woman after woman shared how much they longed for more imagination, more color in their lives.

I told them about the novel I had just finished — a story for adults about a woman who can step into her own paintings. I still believe there’s a place for this book, and that it will be loved.

Because I’m starting to understand something important: whether it’s through painting or writing, my work will always be filled with imagination and color. It’s not a flaw. It’s my language. It’s how my heart speaks to the world.

Today, I want to share my picture book with you — a self-published project I created with my husband a few years ago. I wrote the story, painted the art, and designed every page.

The whole thing came to me in one unexpected swoop of inspiration while I was staying alone in the Texas Hill Country. I didn’t love much about that season — it was lonely — but the place had a big Jacuzzi tub. One afternoon, soaking in the warm water, this story arrived almost fully formed.

It was exactly what I needed. And maybe it’s what you need, too.

I thought about making a more polished video for you which you can watch here, but when I rewatched the one I’d already filmed — with the birds singing and the faint hum of traffic in the background — I decided to keep it as it is. A little slice of real life to go with a big monster story.

This picture book offers an imaginary tale about making friends with the monsters in your closet — a story that speaks to the hearts of children and adults alike. Over the years, parents have written to tell me that reading it has helped their children fall asleep more peacefully, sometimes for the first time in weeks, and even kept the nightmares away.

I also created a coloring book of the same name, filled with playful illustrations from the story so children (and grown-ups) can bring the monsters to life in their own way.

It’s all for fans of Where The Wild Things Are, The Little Prince, Hope For The Flowers, The Giving Tree, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse—and for every budding artist.

It’s dedicated to anyone who has ever felt different or unimportant, and to my husband, Brian, who has helped me know the difference.

I hope you enjoy it.

From Big Monster—A Tale of Heart and Magic:

You know when there’s a monster in your closet, except no one can see him but you.

He’s big and hairy with giant shark teeth and big long claws.

But the kindest eyes.

You can’t help but go up to him and ask him to be friends.

You take his hand and he shows you where he lives.

He takes you into the woods and to his grandmother‘s house, which is a cute little cottage at the edge of the forest.

You never imagined a monster would come from such a beautiful place.

All of a sudden you realize this monster is not such a big hairy ugly mean monster at all.

You just had to let him out of your closet, and get to know him.

And if this story speaks to you, you might also enjoy reading the prologue to my novel. More than once, I’ve been told it could stand alone as a children’s book, and I would love that.

If you’d like me to share more of that story sometime, I’d be delighted. And I always treasure hearing what’s stirring in your own world, too.

I hope this invites you to step into the person you know you’re meant to become.

Sending so much love,

xo Juliette

P.S. Since I’ve been feeling called back to simplicity and creative play, I thought you might be too. That same spirit is woven into all of my online courses. There’s no right or wrong—just following joy, trusting your creative voice, and finding your own rhythm. If you’d like to see more of what I teach, you can explore my painting courses and free resources here.

All photos and artwork by Juliette Crane

This essay was originally published on my Substack, Living the Way of the Happy Painter.

You can find the full list of all 7 Weeks of Creative Celebrations here.

Welcome to Week 7 of 7 Weeks of Creative Celebrations!

This week’s featured class: Enchanted – Soulful Eyes and Faces

When I picked up my brush again in 2009, I never imagined it would turn into a 16-year career as a full-time artist — launching over eighteen online classes, teaching and sharing my work around the world, directly with collectors, and now through amazing galleries. Honestly, in my heart, I just knew I needed to heal and reconnect with the part of myself I’d hidden away for too long.

That’s why this week’s creative celebration is all about painting with brilliant color. We’re painting eyes and faces with freedom — trusting our intuition and seeing where the color wants to take us.

I’m also happy to continue my gratitude sale: 50% off my most-loved online classes with lifetime access.

(You’ll also find them inside my Membership, if you prefer monthly or annual access.)

Let’s paint!

This Week’s Mini-Class: Enchanted Soulful Eyes And Faces

We’re continuing the celebration with a full-length tutorial from my Enchanted Soulful Eyes and Faces class. You can explore the full course here.

In this project we’re going to create a woman’s face with lots of color, and no right or wrong. Often when I paint, it’s difficult to cover up my painting. So this tutorial is meant to help you trust your gut and find more freedom in your faces.

I’ll be creating in my sketchbook, but feel free to use canvas or any loose paper for this project (watercolor paper, bristol paper etc.)

ART SUPPLIES:

*sketchbook
*watercolors
*chalk pastels
*watersoluble oil pastels (I’m using Caran d’ache Neocolor II in light blue, cobalt blue and orange)
*other supplies to color & scribble with (pastels, crayons, etc)
*paint pens
*acrylic inks (daler rowny brand in flesh)
*oil paintstick (I’m using Shiva brand in peach and antique white)
*stabilo pencil (black)
*pencil sharpener
*water bucket

THINGS TO REMEMBER

*If you’re having trouble staying loose, try using your non-dominant hand or scribbling with your eyes closed. While things might look like a mess at first, this always helps me to have fun, be bold and let go (and not take my painting quite so seriously).

*To keep the pages from sticking once the oil painsticks are dry, you can place wax paper between the pages. I also like to have a few sketchbooks around. I keep one for my stabilo pencil paintings and one for the oil paintstick, more layered pieces. That way, my cleaner, pencil paintings and drawings don’t end up with paint, pastel and fingerprints all over them.

*Add several layers of different supplies to your eyes to really add depth and contrast. Don’t forget the white dots to really make them shine like magic.

ART TIP

Oil paintsticks can take 1-3 days to dry, depending on the brand you’re using (Shiva brand seem to dry the fastest for me). In my sketchbook, even if my oil paintsticks are wet, I’ll just turn the page, but not tuck it under (so it can stay loose and dry).

As you paint, I hope you’ll let the layers lead the way — no rules, no pressure, just lots of color. Give yourself permission to play and see where it takes you.

Happy painting!

xo Juliette

P.S. If you’d like to keep painting together, I invite you to check out these resources For Artists and Dreamers.

You can find the full list of all 7 Weeks of Creative Celebrations here.

Welcome to Week 6 of 7 Weeks of Creative Celebrations!

This week’s featured class: Bliss – Mixed Media Painting.

It’s all about staying loose, so we’re painting a woman’s face with color and freedom — making marks to define our features and seeing where the colors lead us.

I’m also happy to continue my gratitude sale: 50% off my most-loved online classes with lifetime access.

(You’ll also find them inside my Membership, if you prefer monthly or annual access.)

Let’s paint!

This Week’s Mini-Class: Bliss – Mixed Media Painting

We’re continuing the celebration with a full-length tutorial from my Bliss – Mixed Media Painting class. You can explore the full course here.

In this project we’re going to focus on painting a more realistic portrait. For these paintings, I like to lay down an initial background of watercolors, add two dots for eyes and then keep the rest of the sketch simple, using just a few lines.

I’ll be creating on bristol paper, but feel free to use your sketchbook, canvas or any loose paper for this project.

ART SUPPLIES:

*9×12″ smooth bristol paper
*watercolors (Winsor And Newton travel watercolor set)
*stabilo pencil (black)
*india ink or calligraphy ink (black or paynes gray)
*bamboo writing stick, calligraphy pen or medium brush
*various other brushes (small, medium, large)
*water-based paint pen (white)
*1-3 colors of acrylic paint (I’m using warm gray)
*water-soluble oil pastels (I’m using Portfolio brand)
*paint palette
*water

THINGS TO REMEMBER

*Fill the white space with layers of watercolors. There’s no need to pay too much attention to where your colors go. The random-ness and spontinaity can help to inspire your face and give it additional character as you go.

*Instead of erasing or completely covering up a line, stay loose. Use a bold color to scribble out your line and redefine your face (the way I did with the green water-soluble oil pastel to redefine the chin).

*Use a neutral acrylic paint to help your character pop out from the background. You don’t need to cover up the entire background, just use the color to define one side of the head or neck. And, if you’re not liking the neck, add a necklace.

ART TIP

If your eyes seem too painted on, add a bit more line to the outside, upper lash to get a softer look. Then add a few dots of white to the eyes to make them smile and shine. I like to use water-soluble white paint pen, but try out a few different supplies to find what you like best – white chalk, white watercolor, white pencil or white ink all work well too.

Happy painting!

xo Juliette

You can find the full list of all 7 Weeks of Creative Celebrations here.

Welcome to Week 5 of 7 Weeks of Creative Celebrations!

This week’s featured class: Faces – Mixed Media Portraits.

It’s all about playful color, so we’re painting faces with freedom and joy — trusting our intuition and seeing where the layers want to take us.

I’m also happy to continue my gratitude sale: 50% off my most-loved online classes with lifetime access.

(You’ll also find them inside my Membership, if you prefer monthly or annual access.)

Let’s paint!

This Week’s Mini-Class: Faces, Mixed Media Portraits

We’re continuing the celebration with a full-length tutorial from my Faces: Mixed Media Portraits class. You can explore the full course here.

In this project we’re going to create a face with lots of color and paint outside the lines. So often when I paint a face, I draw the shape first, pencil in my features and then paint in my color. So this tutorial is meant to help you find more freedom in your faces.

I’ll be creating in my sketchbook, but feel free to use canvas or any loose paper for this project (watercolor paper, bristol paper etc.)

ART SUPPLIES:

*paper/sketchbook (I’m using an 8×8” sketchbook by Cachet)
*bleeding art tissue paper (regular tissue paper is fine too)
*origami papers
*glue (I’m using golden gel medium, but my favorite glue is Liquitex Matte Medium, it’s less sticky)
*Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Artists’ Crayons
*paint pens (floresent pink and white)
*stabilo pencil (black)
*crayola crayons
*washi tape
*oil paintsticks

THINGS TO REMEMBER

*I always begin every painting by covering up the white space. This allows my underneath layers to show through in the final painting and creates lots of depth.

*Since I know my first layers will be covered up, I don’t pay too much attention to what paper is going where. I just have fun with it and feel freedom.

*The one thing I DO pay attention to, as I glue down collage materials, I try and keep in mind where my eyes will be and avoid adhering papers in those areas (it’s much harder to cover up and can mean a paper crease where I don’t really want one).

ART TIP

As you create, pay attention to what you’re having the most fun with – what colors really pop out at you, what supplies do you really love to use. Keep doing more and more of your favorite things to continue to develop your style.

Happy painting!

xo Juliette