Meet Juliette Crane

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Juliette Crane. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

JULIETTE, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever head any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?

My motivation to keep painting has always been rooted in personal healing and expression.

I had always been an artist, but I reached a point in my life where I no longer allowed myself to be creative. It just hurt too much, so I stopped. I had all of these art supplies, and I just shoved them into a closet.

Then in 2009, a few years after we moved from Chicago to Madison, I lost my job. I was extremely burned out, and I felt the urge to return to what I enjoyed doing most: painting and creating.

I loved coloring, drawing, and painting as a kid. To heal my spirit as an adult, I took out all my art supplies, went into the backyard, and allowed myself to play, paint, and create just for me.

That’s what led to my current business and life as a full-time artist.

I can’t express how happy I am that I allowed myself to be creative again. It’s phenomenal to let that part of yourself come out. Now, I paint and create every day, especially in my sketchbook, which I take with me everywhere. It’s my way of grounding myself, and I revisit it throughout the day whenever I need calm. It doesn’t need to be perfect, and no one else has to see it. If I don’t like something, I just turn the page.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a full-time artist based in Wisconsin. Dancing between abstraction and figuration, my colorful and enchanting paintings explore overlapping themes of imagination, memory, and elements in nature.

When I lost my job in 2009, I returned to what I loved most as a child: painting. I began by dripping and splashing color, then defining the figures I imagined in the layers and bringing them out of the paint.

When I found it difficult to paint large portraits at an easel after shoulder trouble in 2024, I began laying the canvas on a flat surface. Dissatisfied with this vantage point for painting faces, I gradually developed those first layers into transparent veils of luminous color to capture the emotions I felt from the figures in my paintings-a connection expressed through color, movement, and the creation of slow, intentional forms that represent the inner radiance of human life.

I use techniques that involve building up layers of acrylic paint and mixed media to create rich patterns, celebrating the beauty inherent in imperfection. My paintings challenge conventional expectations of everyday life, providing viewers with a space to contemplate their personal stories. I allow marks and textures to overlap in layers, mirroring the human condition. Each painting becomes a deeper understanding of the world, revealing universal truths and connectedness.

In addition to my original paintings and commissions, I also offer painting retreats (I have a week-long creative retreat in France coming up next year), 1-1 mentoring, and online courses through my Art School, The School Of Happy Painting. You can join my newsletter list for details at JulietteCrane.com

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Imagination, resilience, and creativity.

The biggest piece of advice I can offer is the understanding that everyone—even professional artists—experiences imposter syndrome. I rarely start a painting knowing exactly what I want to create, and even when I do, my artwork often turns out differently from what I envisioned in my head. Every painting involves experimenting with different supplies, marks, and colors, and layering everything until it finally comes together. Some paintings take much longer than others, but every piece builds on the skills I’ve developed before, allowing me to grow and improve with each new work.

This process mirrors my personal and professional journey. Everything in my career has required a lot of resilience, and painting constantly reminds me to embrace creativity, try new things, and accept that the unexpected can often lead to the most beautiful outcomes. You never know where something might lead unless you try, and bringing imagination and creativity to that process builds resilience over time. It never gets easier, but knowing that it’s all part of the process helps me avoid getting stuck, whether in life or in my art.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

People often assume I had mentors when I began as an artist, but I didn’t have just one person to look up to or model my path after.

After opening my Etsy shop, I began connecting with other artists and makers. In 2011, I submitted my work to a magazine and launched my first online class, How to Paint an Owl. But I couldn’t have done it alone; I had the support and encouragement of so many creatives who were also beginning to share their art on a similar journey.

Back then, Instagram wasn’t around yet, but blogging and Facebook were. Many of us were looking for change, using creativity to heal in some way. We connected online and encouraged each other.

There was no path yet; the online creative space was just starting to happen, which meant many ways to explore, experiment, and find our way. We supported each other through each new step, making our way up this mountain and pulling each other up, cheering each other on.

I didn’t have just one inspiration; instead, there were many friends and artists—each on a similar path but taking different steps.

We connected initially through blogging, each of us realizing we needed to change something in our lives, and that making art brought us closer to feeling whole. I started a blog, created a Facebook page, launched my website, and shared my experiences and paintings.

Then I went on my first art retreat with friends I’d met online. This all started an amazing cycle of connection, encouragement, and friendship. Our heart-centered community grew, and we stayed in touch. Having a supportive community keeps me going, especially when things get difficult.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Instal/home shot: Photo by Jenny Bradley. All others by Juliette Crane.

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