In a Nutshell....lotsa Artsy Goodness Goin' On!

I know...I know...I've been a bad blogger again.  Just when I think I have it all together,  something happens and gets me distracted and before you know it, things fall apart.    But the good news is, I've been having lots of fun while being distracted!  :)

 First on the list was finishing up and getting ready for the launch of 21 Secrets which started April 1st. OMG.  What a line up of instructors, a huge variety of classes on journaling, art making, upcycling, creative prompts, book making and more!
If you haven't taken a peek at what all the hub bub is about, hop on over to the website and check it out.  21 classes all for under 60.00; access them all from now until December 31st! 

You'll be playing with students all around the world!!!  Plus a private facebook group to bond and share tips, pictures and make friends.  What more could you ask for?

In my lesson, I show you how to make your own journal, create prints from COOL tools from the hardware store, and how to put it all together in a page, along with MANY jumpstarts on the PDF workbook (66 pages) from all the teachers.

Also in March I was one of the featured artists at a shop up in Raleigh, NoFo at the Pig (great food and tons of arts and fine crafts)...check out the display of spring goodies.   After the show is taken down, I'll be bringing some of the pieces to Aria Gifts in Apex.  

For the second year in a row, my friends Nancy and Frank have held an exhibit called "Double Takes" at their gallery, "Eye Candy" in Southern Pines, NC; where a photographer and artist are matched up to showcase their 'take' on the same subject--my partner and I ended up being a quadruple take with a photo, my painting, a bracelet and scarf all inspired by the photographers photo (June White):

I had so much fun doing this painting, it may not look like it in the picture but this is a 30x30....I LOVE painting big!!!  I really really want to do more large scale paintings.  In fact..I have a canvas that was bigger than my old car sitting in my bedroom (width wise anyway..lol) that I've been SCARED to do.  Why?  Just do it. I'm going to. Soon. As soon as I catch up! (my conversation I've been having with my self for some time now!)

(Mary, Angie (owner) Me, and Jean) at the Arestry Hideaway in Beaufort, NC

Unfortunately, I didn't get to the show opening because a few fellow artists friends and I made a trip to the NC to fill some galleries with some new spring items.  I made a ton of beach houses and other funky inspired paintings to sprinkle along the crystal coast and grand strand:)

 We returned just before Easter and I swear, I was worn slam out.  The delivering part, preparation, being 'on' for business, and just thinking about my next steps, where to go from here, am I on the right path, am I doing the right things....so much to consider and it definitely can be draining at times, but in a good way.   Doing something you love and trying to be successful at your own business is OOOOOOOHHHHHH so personal.  It's hard not to take any less then successful venture personally, and at the same time, its easy to forget to celebrate the successes because you are worried about the next thing and how long it will all last.  

Nothing is certain.

Ever.

But it is personal. And I do want to be successful, at the same time I need to remember to breathe and take it all in.   Mistakes and all.  They are what make you who you are.  And I'm not saying I'm making huge giant mistakes other than ONE big one last year which is a story all in itself, it's just the figuring out the path to take and second guessing myself when I overestimate either how much I can do, or how well I will do. 

Anyway...along came Easter and I took a few days off to enjoy it with family...my boys are getting so big. All grow'd up:)

The boys and Charlie:)  

This week has been a whirlwind, too...coming off of Easter, this week has been about the launch of 21 Secrets and getting ready to kick up my heels and load the car till the bumper hits the ground full of artsy goodness and head on down to yeehaw Nashville, Tn to take part of the Art Trunk show of Art Is You Retreats, Nashville

This event is open to the public at the Sheraton Music City hotel, from 9-2pm April 6th. I hope I see some of y'all down there!

So yes...this week I've been tying up some loose ends, finishing more paintings and getting my art on!! Can't wait to see all the artsy peeps at the show!

April 12 marks the roll out of session 2 (a re-release) of my class Twinks on Yupo.  If you didn't have a chance to take it in January, you don't want to miss out on this go around--you will have just enough time to make some fantastic paintings for Mother's Day along with learning super cool watercolor techniques using Twinkling H20s,  Yupo Paper and various other textural tools and mediums.  This is one of a kind class that not only will you get 4 weeks of classes, you will have 12 months of access to the class AND get a 30.00 coupon to buy Twinkling H20s for the class!!

Wowza.

Check out more details here. I really hope you join us, the students from the last session are still creating paintings and showcasing them in our facebook group!

There's even more going on then what I can fit in this post...but we will save that for later and perhaps do a giveaway next week of some sort. My peace offering for you sticking around despite my slackerly blogging ways.   

Much love and creative goodness from me to you...

Jodi Ohl

*****

See what's new in my shop this week! LOTS of summery fun goodies!