5 Strategies For Making Big Things Happen

*Winner of my giveaway announced at the end of this post** :)

When you have an idea for something, make that a BIG idea, how do you go about making sure that you accomplish it?  More or less, I'm talking about creative ideas but honestly, it could pertain to anything you'd like to achieve.

I know for me, I often sit and percolate over my initial musing and decide the pros and cons of doing something in my head before I take action.  The head-game can be slightly dangerous though because you can talk yourself out of doing something as much as you can get excited about the idea.  The longer you stay in your head can also mean the less likely you actually put the plan into action.

For the last couple of years, I have been releasing one to two new online classes a year (plus a few mini lessons one friend's collaborative workshops) and that number is actually lower than I set out to do when I first started working for myself.  In my head, I thought surely I can do 4-6 a year, no problem.  

Ha.

I know I probably go overboard in my workshops, I often do a lot more than I need to for it to be a successful class which is why it takes me so long to produce a class.   Knowing what I know,  I have learned that I can't really commit to a class unless I have a full 8 weeks or more to work on it with very little commitments other than the class to distract me.  

Easier said than done!

That brings me to my main point: to do big things, you need white space to work in.  By white space, I mean time, openness of your schedule, and very little elsepulling you in other directions.

I've worked in a 'sparkly colorful' space for far too many big projects.  Often, it leads to burnout and even physical revolts from my body.

This time around, during my Zen Houses class I did have a lot of white space cleared out so ideally, the production should have gone smoothly but what I didn't account for is the many things that pop up at the last minute that I 'had' to take on, you know the ones that seem like a good idea at the time and not take too long but end up taking 10x as long as you imagine to do and not such a great idea overall.  I also didn't really account for personal commitments that pop up that have got to be taken care of no matter what because that's what life is about being a Mom, friend, co-worker.  

Long story short, I did have to delay the launch by 2 weeks so I could fit in those things that 'popped' up that had I not delayed the class, it would have pretty much killed me to open it on time.

I'm so glad my pre-registered students understood and were so very gracious and patient.  

If you want to do big things, hear are some lessons and strategies I've put into place or learned over the years that I'd thought I'd share with you today.  If you have processes in place that have worked for you, I'd love to hear those too!

1.  Be cautious on saying 'yes' to every project or request that comes your way.  Have a 'mission' statement in place and if the request doesn't support your mission, or doesn't fit into a time space you've allotted for impromptu opportunities,  the answer should be no.  To quote Derek Sivers, "If it's not a 'hell-yeah, it's a hell no."

2.  OVER Estimate how long projects will take.  Even if you know you can finish your task(s)  in a shorter amount of time,  it's better to over deliver and under promise rather than the opposite. Leaving a cushion in your timeline for unexpected delays as things will pop up when you least expect them to.  (ahhh--hhmmmm.--lesson learned once again for me!)

3. Put stretch goals in place but be realistic in what you can achieve.  You want to challenge yourself but not set yourself up for failure by being unrealistic about what is truly possible.  Truthfully, most anything you strive to do is possible, but it may not be achievable in a particular time frame if a plan isn't well thought out or executed upon properly. 

4.  Plan out your project and do check ins periodically.  Know what you want to achieve and when you want to achieve it by.  I have found that deadlines and due dates (even if they are self-imposed)  are so important to keep myself accountable and on track.  I like to start with an outline and fill in bullet points under each category for a particular project.  This helps me visualize the entire process from start to finish and the key milestones along the way.

5.  Delegate-delegate.  If you are striving to do something big, it doesn't mean you have to do it all yourself.  This may mean you will have to  enlist help for things that you normally do at home or at work that are important but not critical for you to do.   This is one of the hardest things for me to do honestly, but I've learned along the way  that it's critical to do so that you can make that 'white' space available for the truly big things you want to accomplish.

So what is that big idea next on your list?  How are you going to make sure you reach your goal and shine for the rest of the world to see??

Until Next Time,

Jodi

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Drum Roll please-----We have a winner for my 10 x 10 original painting featured in my last blog post:

 Tamara Decoito said...

Hi Jodi
I live in La Mesa, CA and my home is a creative place where my grandchildren can explore with color and many different mediums. Thank-you for your inspiration I am excited for the start of Zen Houses. 

Congratulations Tamara!!! 

A Soul Filled Interview: Jodi Ohl

Exciting news, I was recently interviewed by Sheree Keys who had some very thought provoking questions  for me, stop by her community blog and check it out. 

What advice would you give someone who wants to become an artist?

My advice is first and foremost, practice everyday. Don’t compare yourself to others but learn from others. There are no shortcuts to practice honestly. Know that you will have peaks and valleys but if you know in your heart, you are going to pick up the pieces and go back into the studio (or kitchen table, or nook in your office) tomorrow and try again…that is a success..... READ MORE HERE

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Some exciting news coming on Monday.......it's my Birthday and I'm going to have a little Arty Party with you!  :)  You don't have to bring anything unless you have a bottle of wine..haha. ;)  Seriously, if you were around the blog over the last few years, you might know what's going on....but if not, stay tuned, it's going to be a big happy ARTY Birthday celebration!!  Set your clocks for Monday morning, 12/14/15!  I'll have the post up by 11 if not sooner :)

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Looking for some last minute gifts?  Check out my Etsy shop for a wide variety of prints, cards, magnets,  original paintings, as well as several online classes!   I will accept a few commission orders for January so if you want some special, please let me know!

Looking to participate in something low pressure and lots of fun? Join us for Creative Jumpstart 2016!  Pre-registration begins now and you save 5.00 off the low price of 50.00 for the next couple of weeks!   Click on the image below to find out more information and to register!

Guest appearance on Adventures in Arting Podcast!

Continuing on the fun in art adventures  over the last few weeks, I did a  pod cast with my friend and fellow artist,  Julie Fei Fan Balzer of Balzer Designs.   Did I mention I'm a podcast junkie?   I LOVE LOVE LOVE them, so to be asked to participate in one was so cool, even better when it was with someone I admire.     


Grab a cuppa your favorite  drink and sit down and enjoy this conversation on Adventures in Arting Podcast with Julie and her Mother!

Don't forget to stop by my recent post about being swept away in artsy adventures,  rumor has it there is a giveaway!!

Have you had a chance to stop by the shop lately? 

See what's new!

Until Next Time,

Jodi

The Burning Question: So You Want to Teach...How Do I Prepare for a Class Proposal?

Did everyone survive "Tax Day" ?  Phew..I'm glad it has come to pass and I can continue moving forward in 2015!  For today's post, I wanted to talk about a few  things.  First off, I am having a fun 'Tax Relief' sale over at Creative Workshops (or in my online shop) featuring all of my Creative Workshops online classes. I do offer classes in other venues so not to confuse anyone but the sale is for the CW classes only.  Save up to 25% off all of my classes including my Podtastic class (featured at 20% off the regular price).  If you are looking for some inspiration using mixed media painting applications, techniques galore, abstract, collage, faces and more--stop by HERE or click the image to be taken to the shop.

Perhaps online classes aren't your thing...I have a couple of spots open in my Funky Little City Scapes this Satruday, April 18th at Jerry's Artarama, in Raleigh, NC.  The class is a full day mini city painting extravaganza, full of great techniques and of course, tons of fun!

For registration and more information, click HERE to be taken to the class page.

Grunge Ink coming to the Art More Place in Melbourne, Florida this June!

Okay...On to the topic of the day:

How Do I Create a Class Proposal

Speaking of classes,  recently I was asked by a past student of mine about sending in class proposals to teach at a small shop. What was involved? How do I price my classes and how do I ensure I make a profit in doing so?  I  thought that if one person had this question, perhaps a few others of you may have this same question, so today I'm going to share a few tips to help you gather your thoughts and wrap your arms around what you need to do get started teaching what you love.

Disclaimer-this list is in no way all inclusive nor does it mean that this is the only way to do this, it merely is a sharing of my own experiences. I've been teaching online for over 7 years and I have taught at large national retreats, mid size galleries and shops, and local and small shops/venues, so while not all inclusive, it is well rounded. 

First Things First

Make sure you are ready to teach your processes. When you embark on a teaching career as an artist, you are inspiring and guiding others to go down a creative path as well. You in a sense, have to be willing to let go of what you do and not hold back the information the students need to be successful. There is a high  likelihood that your designs will be replicated by many and you have to be okay with that as it is the way students learn until they find their own way. If you are not at peace with that thought, than don't teach that what is still too close to you.

1 1 /2 day extended version of Funky Little Beach Scapes at the Art More Place in Melbourne, Florida this June. 

How Do I Price My Classes?

Similar to pricing your work, your creative class offerings evolve based on your experience, your credibility, the demand for your services,  and the uniqueness of your class/you in the field you are teaching. One of the best things you can do is to research on your own, artists/instructors that you feel are on the same peer level as you and see what they are charging for their classes.  Be mindful of the length of class, location (is travel or overnight stays required),  size of venue, and what supplies the teacher is expected to provide (if any) to the students.   

All of these factors can effect your prices slightly, however once you have a class outline in place-be very careful of not changing the prices of your class by the venue unless there is a significant reason why you would do so.   

Remember when pricing your classes, to include the prep time it takes to create the class, the samples, travel if needed, the uniqueness of your workshop, and of course profit.    Be very careful when agreeing to do a class that pays by the hour or is asking for multiple days of instruction over a period of weeks.  There's not only a time commitment on your part,  you need to know how many students you will be teaching  and if there are any guarantees for you as an instructor.    I personally do not teach by the hour for a one time event.   The reason is that financially it doesn't make sense to do that nor is it competitive with other classes that I offer both in person and online. 

Twinks on Yupo, an online class over at icreatflix.com

Know What Is Included and Is Expected

Is travel required?  Who pays for any food and lodging that you will incur as an expense?  Is the cost of airfare your responsibility or the venue?  What marketing will you both need to do? Who covers the expense? Do they have a marketing plan in place to promote your event?  You also have to have a marketing plan to be successful.   Will you be providing the supplies? Will the students be bringing their own supplies? Or will the venue be providing the supplies for a cut of your overall class fee? Is there an exclusivity agreement that is required (can you teach your class elsewhere in the area or for a period of time)?  Are you able to charge a fee for supplies you are asked to bring (remember, your supplies used are not free!  Even if you get a sponsor,  and get free supplies, or some samples...there ALWAYS is an expectation for you to do something for those supplies in return which takes time (like sample projects, videos, blog posts, social media promotions).   Be sure to take this into account when pricing your classes at least as an underlying cost of doing business.

I'll be honest, this is an area I am trying to do better in and be more realistic myself.  My inclination in the past is to say YES to everything and figure out the details later, which has left me in a not so great position in some cases.    I've even gone in the 'hole' teaching at certain venues because of not truly figuring out all the expenses before hand.   With that said, there can be reasons why you choose to take a chance on teaching in a location that may not be financially lucrative (long term opportunities, to build your resume, to break into a new market,  to build a student following, to view it as a marketing opportunity, to test out a class process in a small market that you will take and bring to a larger market with additional opportunities).

One of the things I feel I can do better at is having clear expectations on my travel engagements especially and to have an outline on my minimums, expenses, and other variables that I can just send to prospective venues when I am asked to teach.   Some places have very standard contracts in place and they already have those factors outlined, that's not to say you can't negotiate those items if you are called to do so, and other venues sit quietly and let you make the first move  when discussing the financials.  The standards  aren't necessarily even or the same across the board per instructor.  I don't feel this is a bad thing, after all everyone is looking to make a living, but I am saying, that the more prepared YOU are and the more YOU know what you can and can't do...and why, the better off everyone will be and the likelihood everyone will be happy with the arrangement.

Extreme Portraits, an online workshop over at Colourarte.com

Lastly

There are many times when you are called upon to teach what you love that may fall out of the realm of all these guidelines.  For example,  volunteer projects,  demonstrations,  blog post tutorials,  lectures, interviews,  donations, etc.  Many,  if not most, of these opportunities are very worthy of your time, but remember before you say yes to everything, choose your projects wisely and go with what your heart tells you to do. You can get very burnt out by saying yes to it all because as creatives, our hearts are so big and empathetic to all causes and requests for our time and talent, we forget how much energy (time and money) is expended going in a different direction that is not aligned with our goals and aspirations.  Don't make the mistake of undervaluing what you do and come to your agreement to doing something for 'exposure' or for a cause out of fear....make the decision out of love, love for others as much as a love for yourself and your family.  

Teaching other artists to do what you do should also come from a place of love and true desire to share.  Yes...I've talked a lot about the financials and expenditures because I think that artists need to understand & take into consideration all of  these things just as any small business should.  Beyond the financials is the underlying core of your calling. Are you compelled to pass on the torch of creativity?  If so, then proceed on with all that you have within you!   It doesn't make you any less or anymore of an artist if you teach or not teach, it just puts you on a different career path-one that I hope you proceed on with open eyes, an open heart, and a passion that fuels not just you..but all of your students.

Podtastic-one of my newest online classes on sale over at Creative Workshops

Free Worksheet For You To Use:

If you would like additional guidance on how to compile a basic teaching proposal, please check out my PDF worksheet created for you below.  It has tips and suggestions for you that you can amend based on your situation or the request of a particular venue.    

Click here

I hope you found this article insightful. Asking the right questions and knowing what is expected or needed is truly an art in itself!

Do you have a 'Burning Question' around art, the art business, living the creative life?  Drop me a line here in the comments or send me an email at :   jodiohl@hotmail.com

I'd love to hear from you and will be featuring as many questions as I can in upcoming posts, articles, and down the road, classes!


Artfully Yours,

Jodi Ohl


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New in the shop:  Family Matters!

Family Matters 11 x 14 original painting

The Burning Question: What Do I Have to Do to Get Business?

"Grace and Love"  18 x 36  

The other day I had a conversation with someone who was seeking out business advice around her art/craft business and one thing that became apparent within seconds of our conversation starting was how unhappy she was. Frustration, despair, anger, and negativity oozed from her lips as we talked about ideas around running a creative business.  

What was lacking anywhere in the conversation was passion.

I'm not saying she wasn't passionate about what she did, I'm sure she probably was, but it was buried so deep within, she was not conveying it.

All I could hear was how there were roadblocks everywhere.

Nothing was going well.

Business was horrible.

No traffic.

She didn't have money.

She wasn't going to sell online either.  

She didn't have a computer and wasn't about to get one, she couldn't afford it.

Collect emails and send a newsletter?  No way, I don't even have an email address, why would I do that?

The truth of the matter is, there's not one person out there that goes into business for their self, that doesn't come up on a roadblock or an obstacle to overcome, at one time or another or quite frankly, frequently in what they do.  

If you are lacking passion or drive to do what you want to do that is bigger and stronger than a monetary reward, than you probably aren't going to be successful.  Those roadblocks will trip you up every time if you are lacking drive and passion.

It's that drive to create and to put your ideas out into the world anyway you can that keeps you fueled on a day to day basis. You have to keep seeking out opportunities. You have to continue to hone your skills and improve what you do all the time.  Will you need to refuel from time to time and take breaks? Of course.  No one's well is at full capacity 100% of the time.  Ever.  Bigger than drive perhaps is  a compulsion  to do this more than anything else in the world.

When things aren't happening, you have to take a good look at yourself and  consider that part of the reason may be external factors, but also take ownership for what you are doing or not doing to the best of your ability. What needs to be changed? What can you do differently?  It's easy to get discouraged during down times. I've been there and done that too...but the important thing is to know that there are MANY things within your control that you can do to be better or more successful (whatever your definition of success is).

If there is a roadblock that you refuse to cross for whatever reason, then know that maybe that is just the thing that is keeping you from being successful.  Be open to change, because change happens whether you want it to or not. Perhaps that roadblock was put in your way by the 'universe' to force you to change directions. It could be a little bit of both, too.  Something you need to cross over, or something you need to turn and go a different way.  Thank about that for a minute.

As the conversation continued,   she fought me tooth and nail on any suggestion that I had for her.  I don't have all the answers for sure, but the lack of consideration even for a minute of anything that I mentioned showed me that she wasn't asking out of a sincere place of trying to improve her business, it was coming from a place of desperation and need to just survive.   

The passion wasn't apparent. 

Also lacking was an entrepreneurial spirit.  The fact she was in a creative business was more or less because she couldn't find a job elsewhere and this is what she knew and what she enjoyed doing.

It's very difficult to make a hobby a business if you lack drive or are working from a place of despair.  Honestly, there are a lot of creatives that aren't great business people...but you either have to roll up your sleeves and learn how to be a business or surround yourself with those that are. Hire out. Trade services. Join clubs or organizations that can provide mentorship.  

I never want to discourage anyone from creating or doing art because I think it is life changing  for not just yourself, but for those around you as well as the world at large.    My point for this post is that if you are in business or looking to be in business for yourself, make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and be willing to do whatever it takes to make it work.   But most of all, never loose the passion that drove you to do what you love. If your attitude is in the toilet,  chances are your business isn't going to be far behind. 

  The person I was speaking to that inspired this post is a good person and the interaction was a teachable moment for both of us.  I think  she knew most of the answers but was unwilling to hear them, for me..having the courage to tell someone something they didn't necessarily want to hear was hard honestly.   If someone is struggling and wanting to find a way out, if you say everything is rainbow and unicorns, and wonderful--well, that isn't helping anyone either, right?

Find your way to shine and let the world see all the good that you have to offer!  "Positivity" and belief that you can do something is 1/2 the battle...figuring out the steps to take to make it work and running after them as if there is a lion chasing you is probably the next step ;)  

Remember:  let your passion shine for everyone to see.  If it's buried so deep within your soul,   the world is going to pass by without noticing your gifts and that would be a shame. 

I've said this before and I'll say this again,  think long and hard before turning a hobby into a business...even if the start up cost is lower than say buying a software company or restaurant chain, it doesn't mean that there are no costs or no investment necessary.  Time and energy being the biggest investment of all..but of course there are other things you just have to have or do to make a creative business get off the ground.

Lastly,  remember...no one has all the answers you are seeking.  The questions are always changing. The answers are always evolving. The path is winding and the starting points are all slightly different.

Make YOURSELF be the authority on what you do by never stop learning and discovering around your chosen business/art/craft.   The art of discovery is a great fuel to keep your passion going, which is at the core of how to generate business...if that is indeed what you want to do. 

Thank you for stopping by today!

Artfully yours,

Jodi 

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Have you signed up for my newsletter?  A couple times a month I share art business tips,  creative inspiration, subscriber specials, and previews of new collections or classes coming up to my readers.

To subscribe, click HERE.  This month's edition is coming out soon and there will be some exciting news along with an awesome sauce special that you will have first dibs at!

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HUGE HUGE HUGE milestone hit this week (more about that later) in my Etsy shop!

Before the New Year, I had about 40 items in my shop
Art by Jodi Ohl...today, I topped over 100 items. I've been slowly adding on items, extending lines and just overall doing a better job at listing my work and keeping the shop updated.  I had a goal to hit a 100 items and I was going to try to keep it around that  number of offerings but I think I'm going to continue on and up that goal to 150 items before the end of the year.   I have a blog post or two about some 'aha' moments as to what has happened this year and why that hopefully can helps some of you. Stay tuned for that!

To see other items in my Etsy Shop, please click HERE. :)

Burning Question: What Inspires You? My Top Ten Ideas PLUS a special coupon code good this week only!

 As a creative type with a background in business, I like to look back on my progress on a regular basis and share some  'aha' moments with you from time to time. Well, really I try to incorporate my own experiences and nuggets of wisdom whenever possible and enjoy hearing what you are discovering as well, in your own artistic pursuits.  

(as an extra bonus I have a GREAT coupon code for you at the end of this post! :)

My sample for the upcoming ReMe reTREAT in Ocracoke Island, NC

I haven't posted a  "Burning Question" in a while so I thought today I'd bundle one in this post as it kinda relates to my topic of 'aha' moments and nuggets of wisdom I wanted to share.  

"What Inspires You? " asked by Emma

That's a great question and one that never really stays the same or is exactly formulaic if you will.  I can't say, "if I take a walk in the woods and look at textures, I'm inspired to run back to my studio and experiment.....or  anytime I dip my feet into the ocean waters, waves of inspiration pour over me"...do those things happen?  Definitely.  Do I have time for artist 'dates' daily (or even sometimes weekly), no...not always.  So then, where does that inspiration to create come from, especially if you are working on your craft daily for hours and hours at a time?  

I think you pull in inspiration from anything and everything you do.  You have to have your eyes wide open on a moment to moment basis to see things others miss or feel things others may dismiss. 

I have conversations with myself, or with others in my head and then play them out in the studio.  But most of all, I simply show up and do the work.  It really is about creating good working habits for the most part, because the more you do something, the more the doors open for the next  idea and the idea after that. 

And once I have an idea, I try to expand on  multiple times...not necessarily recreating that painting exactly but revising it and seeing what else can I do for as long as I'm excited about a process/composition/topic activity.

You stay inspired when you are excited about something you are doing,  and the flow will continue to feed you with ideas the more regular  you are with showing up to do the work.

Does this mean your faucet will always be on?  No...most definitely not.   I don't want to profess any delusional thoughts to you by saying every day will be rainbows and unicorns in the inspiration category or that you will always feel like going into the studio to create with abandon.   Life will throw you curve balls when you least expect it which will derail you for a time. In those moments, allow yourself a break, a nap, a trip, a artist date, or clear away clutter that is impeding your progress both literally and figuratively.

I'm going through a bit of that myself lately. Clutter and unnecessary activities have put obstacles in my way due to my not being clear on what I want in certain areas or not listening to what signs have been put before me.   I notice when I feel pulled in too many directions, I trip over myself rather than removing the obstacles.   It's hard to be inspired when you are chasing your tail.  When I'm focused and not distracted, at peace and calm.... there's no stopping what I can do. That's when the flow of inspiration gains it's greatest momentum.

 Here are some more tips on how I get inspired or stay inspired:

1) Keep a journal.  Whether it's a visual journal, doodle journal, written one, or some combination of all the above, the act of documenting thoughts, playing with color  or patterns, and getting something-anything on the page, will serve as a source of reference for future projects. Art Journaling is also a good habit that will not only help inspire you, it can help relax your mind.

2)  Plan out your activities and most important tasks each week and build in time to work in your studio to create.  These activities could be both personal and professional. By having a plan, you are creating more likely to accomplish the tasks you need to and leave more room for those that you 'want' to do.  (Note, the need and wants aren't necessarily mutually exclusive..but some may take higher precedence over others.)

3)  Stay well rested, eat well, and exercise regularly.  Your physical and emotional well being plays a big part of your ability to stay inspired among many other things in your life.

4)  Don't be afraid to make mistakes.  The fear of not being perfect can derail your creative activities probably more so than anything else.   I'm not saying give yourself permission to do shoddy work, but give yourself permission to experiment, play with new techniques and compositions,  try new colors, and do all of that over and over again.   Remember, masterpieces are few and far between but remarkable and inspiring work is created everyday..IF...quite frankly, you just go to work without worrying about the outcome.  Worry about the outcome as you finish, not as you start.

5)  Repeat designs and expand the possibilities within a collection.  Sometimes when you are excited about something and have a good plan, you can make it even better the more you tweak it by experimenting.   This is also important when developing a collection.  Tying your work together by repeating color palettes,  themes, motifs, and even designs helps in creating a cohesive collection.  Discover how far you can take those ideas, by taking those ideas far and wide.

6)  Evaluate where the heart strings are being pulled in your every day and professional life.  Saying yes to everything means you are taking time away for the right things.  It's hard to let go of the wrong things, especially if they have meant a lot to you in the past.  The problem though is, you start to loose your focus and hence your inspiration when there is so much going on that your head is spinning.  In fact, it's likely to cause temporary (or long term) paralysis, so to speak, if you are spread too thin.

My sample for an upcoming class this September at Random Arts in Saluda, NC.

7) Surround yourself with people that believe in you and lift you up rather than bring you down.  If you are uninspired...take a pulse on the mood of the world around you.  Negativity from within is poisonous, but when it comes from the outside in, well it can darn right kill you.  

8)  Know that from the outside looking in,   it may seem like everything is a bed of roses for those people you admire. They may  have something you want and  appear as if what they are  just doing is just flowing day in and day out without any hiccups or effortlessly 100% of the time.  This is never true. Those that make things easy,  most likely do so because they are insanely committed to what they do. Your mentors  live and breathe their passion and that is why,  from the outside looking in, it looks so polished and easy.
 If you want something with all your heart and soul, you don't wait until the inspiration hits, you run out and find it by doing the work.

That's the magic sauce most of all...doing the work.  

No one said it was going to be easy.

No one said you are going to have time for it (hey we are all busy!!)

But when it flows and you are in the groove-yes it does flow like a open wide faucet and others will be envious of what you do.   You can lead some people to the water but you can't force them to drink it...they have to do it themselves. You have to do it yourself. 

9)  This is one that I have a hard time with...but I know that when I do this, I am way more inspired then when I don't....keep your space open and neat.  It doesn't have to be spotless or totally clutter free, but at the very least, take time to pick up at the end of the day, clear your desk, put away a few things, throw a few things out on a daily basis, and reclaim your sanity by not tripping over yourself physically.   I'm a work in progress in this bullet point...after I finish writing this post, I'm going to go into the studio and clean up. Going forward, I'm going to take time either on Fridays or over the weekend to really clean up because I think it's important to start your week fresh and create a space you can flourish in.

Featured art in the March/April issue of Cloth Paper Scissors

10)  I was reminded of this last tip by a comment on another post I wrote for ReMe last week. It's important to share what makes us smile with others, those little things that we take for granted on a day to day basis should be celebrated.  Take time out to listen to others, to learn about those we love--to learn about the world around us, and you will be amazed at how you feel (and how you will make others feel by just being there to share back and forth).  Capturing the moments in our lives through our art is why we do what we do...it's a celebration of our history, our point of view, and our dialogue with one another.  What's more inspiring than that?

Last but not least---I wanted to thank my readers for taking time out to follow my blog, newsletter, Facebook, and all the other platforms out there.  I couldn't do this on a day to day basis without you.

Save 20% in my shop all week (including paintings, classes, prints, magnets, cards, supplies) using code "hellospring" at check out.  (custom orders not included).

Stop by and see what's new!

If you would like to share what inspires you or ideas you incorporate to stay inspired, leave a comment here!

Likewise, if you have a "Burning Question" about the art biz, creativity, living the creative life, processes, email me at jodiohl@hotmail.com  . I'd love to hear your thoughts and will incorporate as many questions as possible into my future blog posts.

Unfinished Business and a Coupon Code (expires today!)

Sometimes I drive myself nuts.

Starting and stopping multiple projects at once and have things going on everywhere.   There really is a method to my madness and most of the time I do it in the name of 'efficiency'  or frugal-ness (I don't want to waste paint and to keep busy while things are drying).  

But....

But...

If I'm honest with myself, sometimes I have multiple projects going on at once because I don't know what the next step is for the piece I'm working on so rather than stare at it, I move on to something else, meanwhile I hope that piece of the puzzle will come to me while keeping busy.

Sometimes that method works...and sometimes that method does not work.  I could make a case for multi-tasking and how wonderful it is.... and I could also make a case that it causes chaos and procrastination if you take it too far. (I do the latter more than the former!)

You can't force inspiration but you can force yourself to not walk away from something that is sooo close to being finished.  You need to tell yourself you can and you will work out the kinks and finish what you started.

Or not.  

I only know myself and that 'self' needs a kick in the arse every once in awhile otherwise there's a heck of a lot of chaos and not whole lot of finished work which causes me anxiety which in turn causes me to stress out...none of which is good for the creative soul.  

I'm showing you this piece that is unfinished but I've been adding to it  little by little over the last month.  Really, a month??  lol     It's so close I can taste it.  I just need to finish it.  By admitting to my big procrastination disguised as multi tasking habits, maybe it'll inspire me to show you the finished work in my next piece so we can put this baby to rest and move on to new work.

Sounds good?

(another unfinished work)

Do you have any less than ideal habits in the studio? 

 I'm not going to say 'bad' because multi tasking for me isn't necessarily a bad habit it's necessary most of the time--my dealio or deal breaker happens when I have 20 works going on an nothing is finished! :))

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OHHHH HEYYYY...

Don't forget, today  (March 17th) is the last day to use this extra special coupon code to save 15% off your entire purchase in my shop:

happypaddyday15

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Looking for inspiration? 

Join me in my 1 1/2 day extended Funky Little 'Beach' scapes at the "Art More Place" in Melbourne Florida!

When:  June 20 and 21st

Even better, come on Friday, June 19th   and take my Grunge Ink class, too!!  

For more information, visit the the event calendar HERE.

You Never Know: Tips From The Studio and an Art Journal Flip Through

Hello and Happy Monday!

  I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and you were able to carve some creative time in your spare leisure moments.  I didn't do a whole lot in my studio this weekend other than finish up this project:

This is a 24 x 36 whimsical acrylic painting in my "Funky Little City Scape" style.that I started at the beginning of the month--while it didn't take me 4 weeks of non stop work to do, I would gather to say it was the better part of 2 weeks to do in full with a break in between to prepare for another project I was doing.   I just love the colors and happy vibe you get from this piece (which was inspired by a painting I did a few years ago that I loaded up to Pinterest). It is my most repinned pin and has inspired not only additional paintings, but even led to an opportunity to be on a book cover!!

 Here's a note card taken from a print of that above mentioned painting: 

(ps..if you like this style of painting and want to learn how..I have an online class called "Funky Little City Scapes" that you'd enjoy!   Click HERE to find out more.)

So..you see for my point today, you never know when one project is going to lead to the next, and the next---or for that matter, you never know where potential clients will find you.   My only regret and this is something that has happened to me before.... is that I did not capture a super high resolution image of this painting. I can create prints that are about 8x10 but that's the largest I can go and not sacrifice picture clarity.  

Don't do as Momma does...do as momma says: Take super high res images of your work before you send it off into the world!!!!  Saving your photos at 300 dpi also insures that if your image is used in a print publication, it will conform (ideally) to most industry standard printing publication guidelines. As you see, creating high resolution images is not just important for  for creating prints, you never know who may ask to use your work: licensed designs, fabric,  authors, musicians, stationary, etc...etc....the possibilities span far and wide!!

...I'll leave you with a little more inspiration today as I sign off--I've shared this before but for those new followers, I thought you might like to see some of my favorite journal pages of 2014.  I've JUST begun filling up a few new books for 2015, so stay tuned for a little preliminary look in a couple weeks (or if I get really ambitious...a couple of days!!). 




Artfully yours,

Jodi Ohl

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There's not much time left to take advantage of my sale on work shops over at Colourarte--all classes of mine are 15.00 off today!!

Have you stopped by my Etsy shop lately?  

See what's new! I've listed over 50 items since January!!!

'dirty flirty birds' one of my several new flat note cards/postcards now available in the shop!