The fall is never final Mixed media dragonfly

Posted Jul 25, 2021

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I’ve been wanting to do a dragonfly piece for a while and as soon as I read this quote, I knew it was meant to be.

“The fall isn’t final unless you stay on the ground” – Marie Forleo

She writes – “failures (ie: challenges, lessons, mistakes, gifts) are guaranteed. What matters most, however, isn’t the fact you stumbled. What matters most is what you do immediately after.

Don’t give the fear of failure or making a mistake a chance to harden in your bones. Get back up while the fear is fresh.”

The word fly came to mind and I knew that I could use this quote to inspire this piece.

Lots of layers of collage and things that signify the journey of life and art. With bold colors because it’s a bold accomplishment to keep going when we feel things didn’t go as planned.

This applies to art too, not just life.

Too often as a beginning artist, we can create something and it doesn’t go as planned (that still happens every day) and we question our ability.

What we do after a blunder is so very important….. the key is to keep going, while the fear and frustration is still fresh…. dive back in and don’t give doubt a chance to sway us from doing it again.

I’ll share more about it in the video.

Have fun watching!

This original is available HERE and the prints available HERE

Supplies used:

11×14 MDF board
Liquitex fluid matte medium
Utrecht gesso
Liquitex carbon black spray paint
Lukas cryl acrylic (cobalt teal, olive green, fern, caramel, prussian blue)
Lukas acrylic ultramarine blue
Golden soflat acrylic cadmium orange
Liquitex soft body (quinacridone magenta, napthol pink)
Amsterdam carbon black
a variety of soft pastels (teal, black & white)
Stabilo woody teal and white
Stabilo all pencil
Generals charcoal pencil
Black china marker

Stencils used: THESE WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEK

Wildflower Sketches 2 (printed and instant download)
Persians Patterns 1 (printed and instant download)
Vintage Wallpaper 6 (printed and instant download) THESE WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEK

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Posted Jul 25, 2021

shawn petite in her studio in front of an easel

Hello there! I’m Shawn Petite

I’ve been teaching and creating for well over 30 years. About 15 years ago I found my art soul mate in mixed media, and it changed my life! I love the story that can be told by combining paint, texture, ink, paper and—really anything that you can imagine.

But what I’m truly passionate about is being your guide, walking with you step by step and helping you become your own hero in your creative journey.

Along my path, I’ve learned that the creating art also creates a healing space. Life can be messy and complicated and painful, but something about a paint brush can help heal your soul.

Join me on this journey of art and inspiration!