No Regrets. A giveaway and Video Blog

It was merely a week ago today that I was wrapping up the last video I was taping with the folks at FW media, and I have to tell you friends that it was probably one of the scariest things I have done yet. I mean really, really scary to me. If you could be inside my head while I was driving from North Carolina to Ohio,  you'd have thought I was on my way to an execution one minute and then the next minute you'd hear prayers of gratitude for this opportunity to do something I have wanted to do for so long!   How can one have such conflicting emotions about doing something so dang cool?

I think it has to do a lot with stepping outside of your comfort zone and putting yourself into a vulnerable position.  I don't like doing that.  Yet, I love doing that.   It's a crazy life to lead when you have introverted ways with extroverted tendencies.  Does that make sense?

I understand how emotionally up and down this can be so I can totally relate to those of you who go through something similar. That's also why you often hear me preach the sentiment- in order for one to succeed in life and live out your dreams, you must act on your goals...even when they include doing something that is scary as can be.  The belief in yourself and your vision needs to rise above your fears.

And you know what?  Most of the time, the fear is 99% conjured in your mind and so not as scary as you believe it to be. The advice I was given over and over again was to slow down and breathe.

Just breathe.  Simple words but powerful.  Next time you are about to take a big step,  a big plunge...remember to breathe and believe you can do it.  Even if you fall down, you will get back up.



  I also have to tell you that the first time I proposed the video outlines to the powers that be, they weren't immediately accepted. So,  I tucked them away for a few months while I sat down and rethought out my ideas...and then, out of the blue.....I just brought them back out and got back down to business and sent them in again revised with the suggestions. At first they accepted 3 of the ideas, and then they said...hey, let's  do one more.

Moral of the story,   a 'no' not now, isn't a 'no', not ever....and another moral of the story is,   if you avoid that what you fear most of your life, you will also avoid that which you dream about doing.

One of my fears is living with regrets.   I know I'll have some when my time is called, but I want there to be as few regrets on my list of wanna dos and wanna be's as I can possibly have.   It's not always easy getting past the fear of being vulnerable, but when you do....doors open and amazing things can happen.

So that's my preachy preach for today :) Hope it resonates with one or two of you, if nothing else, to let you know that no matter who you are or what you do...we all are made of the same cloth and have similar fears and anxieties deep within our hearts.   You can over come them and rise above!

Oh heck...let's do one more thing...how about a give away?    I haven't done one in awhile!
Leave a comment on this post and tell me something you have overcome that was fear based for you recently. We want to hear your story!

Winner will get a $40 gift certificate to my Etsy shop valid for the rest of June. (Use it or lose it ;)

I'll pick a random winner on Monday, June 8th.
And for those of you that want to shop now....I have a thank you coupon for 10% off my shop that is valid for any time between now and June 12th.

Use code "Hellosummer"

BTW---I do NOT have the birds or many of the pieces featured in the video blog in my Etsy shop, but if you see one you like, let me know and I can put it in there for you.  Most of my new work is going to several of my shops and for a teaching event in 2 weeks.

Prices if you are interested:

small wood birds:  30.00

6x6 single peeps  48.00

8x8    canvas  60.00

11x14  birds and watercolor 174

20 x 20 feathers  on wood  400

12 x 36 ( I believe there are 3 featured in the video) 445

You can use the coupon on any of these, too.

I

Update:

Sold-Top Right  

Sold  Middle Right

Sold- Bottom left

Sold  8x8 canvas  Wear your Feathers

*if you are interested in any of these remaining pieces, please email me at jodiohl@hotmail.com, or stop by my Etsy shop and message me. I am not going to list most of these as they are going to a show/shop--but as readers and followers of my blog I'm offering you first pic! :))

Here is a little snippet of some of my new work...hope you enjoy and are inspired.  Don't forget to leave a comment to get in on the giveaway!!

One last thing--If you are in Florida or ready to take a road trip, I'll be teaching at the Art More Place in Melbourne, Florida  June 19-21.   Check out my last blog post for more details.

Better Than I Was The Day Before

 There was a time when I wouldn't dare paint anything larger than 6x6 or maybe 8x10 at the most. Anything larger, forget it. I was paralyzed by fear, perhaps fear of imperfection or not even imperfection...just total inability to generate anything at all and therefore, failing.

And then slowly I dabbled in a few larger paintings.  With each stroke, I found it freeing to have ROOM to experiment and grow.

It's kinda like moving out of your parents house for the first time without having much money to buy rental or share the space with others. Don't get me wrong,  you are super happy to be there but at the same time, it's constricting.

Painting small can be wonderful and joyful, not always constricting....but...stay with me....

Painting larger can be freeing and help lead you down a  wonderful winding path to growth.

 I know, I know...some may argue that having so much blank space may have just the opposite effect on one's self.  That huge space can be paralyzing too.

Kinda like a big house.  Where should the couch go? Which room should be the guest room? What color scheme should we pick?   Should we keep the carpet or refinish the old floors?

There are more choices and more decisions to make no doubt.

But, when you embrace them rather than run from them...well, every once in awhile you create a beautiful home, one room at a time.

 My goal for 2014 is to work on at least 2 big paintings each month. 

ehhhh ummmm COMPLETE at least 2 big paintings a month. I have to keep myself in check otherwise I will find my own loopholes.

I exceeded that goal. I finished 3 large paintings and several smaller ones in January.

Some of them go in different directions that I want to expand on for the next year or so..maybe longer.

 Others are cousins and siblings to paintings I've done in the past.

Each one, digs a little deeper and that's my ultimate goal:

To simply be better than I was the day before through continuous practice and stretching my wings.

It's not always easy.

 I spend plenty of time staring at the canvas, not knowing what to do next. What color to use, what to paint, what brush to choose....

Plenty of time allowing distractions to fuel my tendencies to procrastinate.

Plenty of time 'gathering inspiration' rather than just getting to work.

 But when push comes to shove, I push myself to overcome any fear I have created from within, overcome any doubts and simply enjoy whatever materializes onto the canvas.

I hope you find a way to overcome your own fears, whatever they may be-big or small, so you can become the best at what you were meant to be an better than the day before.

                  Until we meet again,

Jodi


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Stop by my Etsy shop to see many of these paintings now available!