I'm an artist, teacher, storyteller and adventurer, here to inspire and encourage creativity and living your dreams. As often as possible, I paint outside, mostly in the grass surrounded by flower gardens and the tallest trees. I'm also an avid gardener and enthusiastic cook and would be delighted to have you over for dinner! When I'm not teaching, travelling, and painting in gardens around the world, I live with my bluegrass-singing husband in Madison, Wisconsin.

My passion is living happily and being inspired by the little things. And I wish that for you too!

I'm the creator of a series of online courses that encourage thousands around the world to get creative and live their dreams. From my How To Paint An Owl course for bird and whimsy-lovers, to the mixed media workshops How To Paint A Girl and How To Create Whimsical Animals for those looking to strengthen their authentic voice and get over their fear of not knowing what to create.

Having fun, learning to let go, and not being afraid to cover up my paintings have become essential to my creative process. I delight in mixing all sorts of materials in my artwork-acrylics, spray paint, pastels, oils, watercolors, origami paper, glitter, vintage sheet music and wallpaper.

For years I stopped painting because all of my artwork ended up in my basement or the trash. I thought, “what good is it to create?” I knew I needed to create for myself (because I couldn’t not do it in some way), but I never thought anyone else would want to see my work. I've always painted and loved it so much (it was a fabulous outlet for me). But when I went away to college, I planned to study environmental biology. Yet I couldn't help myself from painting on everything and anything in my dorm room. I found this huge sheet of paper and pasted it above my bed and whenever I could, I’d work on that drawing. Then when it was done, I started in on a blank, white cabinet. I drew colorful abstract scenes with colored pencils, crayons and markers. I’m sure that giant drawing and cabinet got thrown in the garbage when I moved out of the dorms. That’s how I felt about my art for years.

Then in the summer of 2009 I lost my job. It was the first job I ever really loved (as a landscaper). To heal my spirit, I went back to what I adored most as a Child - cutting out outfits for characters and making up their stories. My sister-in-law gifted me with a few fabulous vintage wallpaper books. I fell in love with the colors and patterns and knew I had to do something with that gorgeous paper. And that's what started all of my whimsical paintings!

I’ve had all sorts of jobs- arts and technology journalist, editorial assistant, photographer, gallery manager, graphic designer, floral designer, landscaper, web developer and computer programmer. Nothing ever seemed to fit. But I’ve realized that having all of those jobs helped prepare me in different ways for my life as an artist and entrepreneur.

My work has been published in Glamour Magazine UK, Somerset Studio, Somerset Studio Gallery, and Artful Blogging and on blogs including Crescendoh, My Owl Barn and Do What You Love just to name a few.

My hope is that through sharing my art and experiences as an artist, others might be inspired to share with the world whatever it is they’re most passionate about and live their dreams. I try my hardest to tell my story authentically and completely honestly so others can feel the hard work and heart that comes through in all I do and hopefully see how amazing it is to experience life doing whatever it is you love.

Feel free to say hello...I'd be delighted to hear from you! http://juliettecrane.com