Hello my artist family!

Today I’m excited for you to meet a wonderful artist from our community, Julie Hansen from Mesa, Arizona. Julie’s story is such a beautiful reminder that you don’t need a long list of art classes to begin — sometimes all it takes is a love for creativity and the courage to try something new.

Julie has been a lifelong lover of art, but before joining our community she had never taken lessons in acrylic painting or used a palette knife. Like many artists today, she discovered DabblePaints after seeing an ad on Facebook and decided to jump in and give it a try.

And I have to say, I’m so glad she did.

Julie joined our Dabblers community and, with the support and instruction from Matt, me, and a whole group of encouraging artists, she says she has grown beyond her wildest expectations. Watching artists discover what they’re capable of is one of my favorite things.

One creative tradition Julie especially enjoys is painting Christmas cards. And I love this idea so much. These aren’t the kind of cards that get opened and tossed aside — they become treasured keepsakes that families display year after year. That’s the kind of art that carries meaning long after the paint dries.

Julie is also currently navigating the challenge of macular degeneration, which can make perspective in painting particularly difficult. But when she shared that with me, she added something that made me smile. She said that with a little luck she might become the next Van Gogh.

Now that is the kind of artistic determination I absolutely love.

When I asked Julie what inspires her creativity the most, she described that magical moment we all know as artists — the moment when the painting finally comes together.

You know the one. Suddenly the colors click, the shapes make sense, and you lean back thinking, “Wait… did I actually do that?”

Julie says sometimes she amazes herself when that moment happens. And honestly, that little surprise of what we’re capable of might be one of the greatest joys in painting.

She also shared that her fellow artists in the community are a constant source of inspiration. When artists support each other, creativity has a way of multiplying.

Julie chose to share a painting of a Blue Heron, inspired by her love of Mediterranean scenes and the travel memories they hold.

What I love about this story is that Julie originally believed this painting might be beyond her abilities. But she kept working at it, trusting the process — and somehow everything began to fall into place.

Those moments are pure magic. It’s like the canvas quietly says, “See? You can do this.”

And paintings connected to meaningful memories always carry something extra special. You’re not just painting a subject — you’re painting a moment from your life.

Julie mentioned something that made me grin when she talked about the smaller jars of DabblePaints. She loves how versatile they are and how well they fit into her smaller workspace.

She also shared that the vibrant colors and creamy texture help her paintings look their best. Hearing artists talk about the creamy texture always makes my palette knife-loving heart happy. That buttery consistency is exactly what makes layering color so satisfying.

For Julie, the joy of painting comes from the process of watching an idea slowly turn into something real. Her Blue Heron painting is the perfect example — something she once thought might be too difficult ended up becoming a piece she truly loves.

That’s the beauty of art. Sometimes the paintings that surprise us the most are the ones we almost didn’t attempt.

Julie shared some thoughtful advice for anyone just starting their painting journey:

“Be patient with yourself. The longer you paint and absorb the lessons and all the supportive feedback, the more you will grow as an artist. I focus on doing my personal best and enjoying the journey.”

It’s simple wisdom, but it’s exactly right. Growth in art happens little by little, painting by painting, as we keep showing up and learning.

Julie, thank you for sharing your story and your art with all of us. Your determination, creativity, and positive outlook are a wonderful inspiration to this artist family. Stories like yours remind us that art is about growth, courage, and enjoying every step of the journey.

Keep creating, keep shining, and keep bringing more beauty into the world. 

XO,
Jen