The Journal

Outthinking the Ordinary - Julie Jeanne Art
Outthinking the Ordinary
186 days of running at least 35 minutes. A year of no alcohol. Two months (or more) of no caffeine. Daily cold plunges in a freezing lake or shower for... Read more...
Dreams for hire?
Something I've noticed since this healthy eating no-sugar diet is how incredibly vivid and memorable my dreams have been. The only other time I had such vivid dreams was when I was pregnant. Not only are they wildly colourful, they are incredibly thought-provoking. Whether they have actual meaning is to be determined. Recently, I've been having some of the most wildest dreams. Occasionally, they're about companies wanting to recruit me for work. Anything from consultant work, to finance, to my previous job in customer relationship management. "It's an offer you... Read more...
AI = Aggravating Irritation
Many years ago I had a small home based business selling handmade jewellery. I worked it alongside my corporate gig. It was a passion project because I love to create. I ran a Shopify store and sold affortable and unique pieces throughout the United States and Canada primarily. It was fun. I set up the website myself using Shopify and it was very straight forward. I got better at taking photos, writing descriptions and overall making the customer experience a pleasing, effortless joy. I wanted to make it easy for... Read more...
Blue Donkeys and Dancing Skunks
Have I told you how awesome being a professional artist is? In a world full of fear, scarcity and uncertainty one thing is certain - I can create anything, anytime I want. That, in and of itself is so liberating. Like a child, my imagination can take me to magical places of awe and wonder, where the clouds move in rainbow patterns and the animals wear sunglasses just to be cool. I love that I can share this world with my community. Occasionally, when I paint, I think of the... Read more...
Bubbles, wonder and why I refuse to grow up - Julie Jeanne Art
Bubbles, wonder and why I refuse to grow up
One thing I like about myself (yes, it's okay to say that and start with a positive!) is that I've managed to keep a bit of my childlike wonder into... Read more...
Plans Splans - Julie Jeanne Art
Plans Splans
Have you heard of the expression "God laughs at those who have plans?" That is basically saying we cannot determine how our life will unfold. Case in point; recently I... Read more...
The inability to copy & paste - myself
If being a parent isn't tough enough being one who does it all on her own, with little to no support from the other parent, makes it that much more challenging. Add being a solo-preneur, dealing with a soon-to-be-teenager and there are some days when I question how or why anyone would have more than one offspring. Something you may not know about me is I never wanted to have children. Kids are okay as long as they are in small quantities for short periods of time. Yes, I know... Read more...
Well....that didn't go as planned - Julie Jeanne Art
Well....that didn't go as planned
I hereby declare the second week in May 2026 as a week of learning experiences. I have learned more than I needed to. What happened you ask? A few things.... Read more...
Brushstrokes and Bandwidth
From landlines to TikTok, a personal look at embracing technology, building an art business, and staying grounded in gratitude, creativity, and authenticity along the way. Read more...
From Natural Wonders to Dancing Skunks - Julie Jeanne Art
From Natural Wonders to Dancing Skunks
Do you ever laugh at your own life, or your own art?  I share how my work evolved from traditional florals and northern lights into whimsical, joy-filled creations. A reflection... Read more...
Have you ever felt deflated?
Running a small business can be both exhilerating and exhausting. So much to do when it comes to fulfilling orders, creating product, photographing the product, uploading and editing, tracking and storing inventory, systems, emails, shipping, posting on social media, going live - and so much more! The rush of seeing a new order coming in makes it all worth while however, not all days bring orders. It is on those days one questions whether they are doing the right thing. If they should take a step back and do something... Read more...
Technology- Friend or Foe?
A behind-the-scenes look at life as a full-time artist- navigating website challenges, growing a creative business, building the Joyful Portal mail club, and sharing the real ups and downs of art, social media, and self-employment. #fulltimeartistjourney #independentartistblog #lifeasanartist #artistbehindthescenes Read more...