Today we’d like to introduce you to JULIETTE CRANE.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

I’m Juliette Crane, an abstract and figurative painter based in Wisconsin, USA. I create colorful art to spark your spirit and uplift your soul and have been making a living from my art for the past 15 years.

Art had been my passion growing up, but I didn’t believe it had any real value. So, I moved from one job to another—copywriter, journalist, photographer, programmer, graphic designer, floral designer, website developer, and more.

Then I lost my job. It was the first job I truly loved (as a landscaper).

To heal, I returned to what I had adored most as a child—painting. I gathered all the art supplies that had been collecting dust and spread them out on a blanket in the backyard and I just started to play. It made me SO HAPPY to create and paint again. I loved it so much that I kept doing it, and it completely healed my heart. It changed my life.

Starting to paint again back then was a big deal for me, let alone sharing my work, especially since I’ve always been an introvert. But with every small step, I began to come out of my shell (and get out of my own way).

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

I’ve faced many challenges over the last 15 years running my art business. Looking back, I realize those hurdles are nothing compared to the dread I felt in my old jobs.

Losing my job was the turning point—I opened an Etsy shop with a dream of selling my art, but I wasn’t confident enough to share my paintings right away. When friends stopped by, they encouraged me, and I finally got up the courage to ask about exhibiting at our local library. A month later, I held a small opening and invited family, friends, and friends of friends.

That’s how I sold my first two original pieces to people I didn’t know. A few people requested commissions, prints and cards, so I began selling those as well. I also created mini prints for custom jewelry. It all sparked something in me, and I was on my way.
In the beginning, not many artists offered online courses, and as an introvert, that turned out to be a fantastic jumpstart into running a creative business. Over time, I kept following what I loved, focusing on education and original artwork. We even self-published a line of coloring books and a picture book.
It has been a journey of gradual progress with many pivots along the way—often feeling like ups and downs until things truly start to take off. Now, in addition to retreats, partnering with galleries, and writing and publishing more books, I’ve expanded my offerings to include 1:1 mentoring, larger paintings, and more commissions.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

For so many years I hid my creativity away. I stopped painting. Now that I’ve been painting full-time for more than fifteen years, I do whatever it takes to get me back to a less serious place.

Whenever I get frustrated with my work, I take a step away, start a new painting, fingerpaint or go back to using my favorite techniques and colors… I do whatever it takes to get myself back to a less serious place, so I can start having fun again. That’s when the magic happens

My colorful and enchanting paintings dance between abstraction and figuration, exploring overlapping themes of imagination, memory, and elements of 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.

After experiencing shoulder trouble this year, I found it difficult to paint large portraits at an easel and began laying the canvas on a flat surface instead.

Dissatisfied with this vantage point for painting faces, I gradually developed those initial layers into transparent veils of luminous color, capturing the emotions I felt from the figures in my paintings. Through this process, I found a way to express connection 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, offering viewers a space to reflect on their personal histories. I allow marks and textures to overlap in layers, mirroring the human condition. Each painting becomes a journey of deeper understanding, revealing universal truths and a sense of connectedness.

In addition to my original paintings and commissions, I also offer painting retreats, 1-1 mentoring, and online courses. In fact, I’m gearing up to lead my first retreat in France in May 2025.

What are your plans for the future?

Right now, I’m focused on my original paintings and commissions, as well as leading my first retreat in France in May 2025.

I’m also in the process of partnering with galleries and a literary agent to publish my books with larger publishers—including a nonfiction book, a contemporary fiction novel, my coloring books, and hopefully more!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juliettecrane.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/juliettecrane
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulietteCraneArt
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/juliettetcrane

Image Credits

All photos and artwork by Juliette Crane