Recap, Release, and a Giveaway!

Hello Everyone!  Happy Beginning of Summer to you!

I hope you are ready to launch into carefree days of BBQ-ing, swimming, vacationing, and family fun! In between those wonderful days filled with sunshine and sweet memories, I'm sure you'll be looking for  something creative to keep the muse flowing, right?  Well this month's big recap issue is full of possible events for you to attend as well as some a special pre-view of my new line of paintings that I'm so excited to share with you!

Take a look at some of the pieces in my new series:  Zen Paintings-Journeys and Pathways

I could probably write a whole article on how much this new series means to me--and I probably will on my blog soon, but in the mean time-my new series of Zen Paintings are making me more happy than anything has in a long time.  It's hard to explain other than I feel like I'm breaking through to some uncharted territory and there is no end in site. I have a ton of ideas for new paintings, color combinations and themes.Can you tell I'm super psyched about this new series???

Seeds of Hope-Sold

This first set is largely reminiscent of pathways, rocks, and geological structures.  While there is a few black and white pieces, there are others that have striking color combinations along with a few that are more subtle in the featured hue.  With titles like Seeds of Hope, Connections, Crossing Your Own Bridge,  Break Through...you can see where my mind is going while creating these intriguing abstracts.

I needed the peace...rather I NEED the peace that I feel while immersing myself in this process.

I crave the quiet solitude while painting. This is a slow process. It's not a sling the paint, scrape, scratch and repeat type of work. Rather, it's methodical.  It's not always controllable but yet you learn how to control what happens.  The process and outcome is not literal, rather you see things in the composition that transform with each glance.

I'm exploring and going through some unique personal breakthroughs--and this is my first release of what will be a growing collection with three main arms in the series, (Black and white, touch of color, and full color).

As newsletter subscribers-you are the first to see the grouping in their initial stage and have a chance to own an original.  Art is an investment, and I hope you believe in what I do and love it enough to want to add on to your collection or start one of my work today. :)

To see all of the new Zen Paintings,  stop over to my Etsy shop and check them out! Let me know what you think!!!

Thank you for joining me in this journey. I'm beyond grateful!

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Tons of Creative fun over the next coming months!

Upcoming Classes and Events:

June:

Art Journal Live-Learn from 4 world class mixed media and journaling artists during this action packed one day only class, June 16th at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, Texas!

Myself along with Gina Rossi Armfield,  Mary Beth Shaw, and Nathalie Kalbach will guide you through dozens and dozens of techniques along with several pages of art journal play.

Here's a sneak peek at a sample for my class-Character Studies:

Also in June-I'l be returning to Art More Place for a special 3 day whimsical and mixed media extravaganza-from acrylics to watercolors, birds, fishes and faces--we are going to have a blast anyway you look at it!  Did I mention that Art More Place in Melbourne Florida is a HUGE facility!  No cramped quarters while creating, each student has plenty of elbow room, sitting areas, and tons of inspiration in each and every nook and cranny!

Single Peeps,  Funky Little Fish,  and Face painting and Sketching primer  registrations can all be found by clicking the class titles or images for each workshop. I can't wait to see you there!!

July-I'll be enjoying a couple of weeks with my boys and family time before heading out for the first time to Washington State for 2 workshops over 4 days in Whidbey Island at the Pacific Northwest Art School!!!   This is going to be a blast and a great way to immerse yourself into acrylic painting, journal, and abstract fun!

Jam Packed and Abstract-  July 25-26: This is a class I'm soooo looking forward to! It'll be one of my first of many 2 day abstract classes featuring techniques and projects that'll be included in my new book coming out in the latter part of 2016, "Abstracts in Acrylic and Ink", published by North Light Books!

Funky Little Neighborhoods and Journal Jam-July 27 -28:   Bring your journals so we can jam on some pages and create the funkiest neighborhoods around town!   Based on my popular city paintings, these neighborhoods are full of quirky characters, fun elements and loads of color. Learn how to layer, shade and work with acrylics like you've always wanted to!

Looking forward.....This October--forget what you think you know about retreats, this October our newest ReMe Retreat, Reme-The Sandhills will blow you away!  We are pulling out the stops by pampering our students in so many ways, you'll walk away feeling cared for, inspired, and part of a growing community of ReMe Sisters.   

Space is extremely limited-so register early!  We also offer 4 payment plan options for your convenience!

Dates: October 19-23.  

Read all about ReMe and our newest retreat offering here!

Here's a photo gallery of some of our last few retreats highlights!

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Giveaway

Recently I sat down with Sue from Irreversibly Moi, a fantastic website/blog that is great source for art and inspirational articles across many creative  mediums,  and dished about art, life, business and lots of fun things.   Check out the interview and be sure to enter in the giveaway for a complimentary pass to my Dirt Flirty Birds  online workshop or your choice of any of my new DVD's.

To see the video interview, stop over here.  

Until next time-live to create and create to live!

Jodi

Pick Up Your Paint Brush and Join Us!!

The other day someone mentioned geez...if I had known sooner that you were coming to town, I would have signed up for your class.  Just when I think everyone has seen my message, I realize once again...there are many others that haven't heard yet!   Here's my creative public service and fun announcement!!


This week I'm heading to Florida for two classes at the new and amazing studio and creative learning space called, "Art More Place".      This will be my first time visiting Florida to teach and couldn't be more excited.   We still have a couple spaces available for both workshops, so if you are free this weekend and want to join us, please do!!  More info can be found on my 2015 workshop page.

After my trip to Florida I'll have a mini break and head back home to NY to see my family and friends for a bit then I will be taking most of the summer to dive into more classes online (filming and production takes a long long time...so I appreciate all of you who have been waiting for a new class from me, it won't be long now!!).  I'll also be working on developing a new body of work for a upcoming show and of course for future classes/galleries and Etsy.  My primary focus will be on my online classes though...well there are a couple other big things in the works but you'll have to stick around for that to be revealed ;)

Following  my summer respite, I'm heading  just outside of Asheville for a return visit to one of my all time favorite shops ever,  Random Arts in Saluda, NC.  I'll be teaching 3 classes over three days September 25-27th including two new workshops.  Wild Flowers featured below is a uber fun painting, printing and collage class that is just well, amazing and colorful. You'll learn so many techniques plus go home with a fantastic inspiring piece of art! 

Schedule:

Grunge Ink - September 25

Skinny Little Mini Cities-September 26

Wild Flowers-September 27th  (rumor has it some peeps want to add birds to their pieces and I'm totally down with that!)

There's limited space available so be sure to contact Jane Powell at Random Arts to reserve your space today!

Click HERE for more info.

We JUST added a new workshop in Missouri coming up in October and the weekend is about 1/2 filled with students all ready!!

I'll be heading west to see Kristen Powers at her studio Rubber Moon Studios where we will be splashing away for 3 days working on 2 different projects.

First up we have a 2 day  class called Funky Little Neighborhoods and Journal Jam.    You'll learn all sorts of textural tricks and how to design a quirky neighborhood on canvas with acrylics and more.  In between painting on canvas, you have a few journal exercises to explore and paint along with.   Tons of fun for everyone.  

Did I mention that for  each of the workshops at Rubber Moon Studios 99% of the supplies are included.  PLUS  lunch, drinks and snacks will be provided!!!  Whooohoo!  Just bring your favorite brushes, apron, water container and palette...we will supply the rest!

We will end the weekend with one of my favorite classes,  a 3 hour workshop called Angelic Inspirations.      Short and sweet but ohhhh so powerful,   this is another class not to miss!

For registration and more information, Click HERE

October will be whirlwind of events as soon as I return from Missouri....I'll have a couple of days break and then will be turning the car around and heading East to our beautiful Outer Banks for 2nd 2015 ReMe retreat fall retreat on Ocracoke Island.   We ONLY have 2 spaces remaining so if you want to join in on the magic...don't delay.    Our  May 2016 event is already booked up so this may be the last opportunity until late 2016 to sign up for a ReMe event!!!

ReMe is an all inclusive event (other than travel).  Arrival will be on Monday afternoon and departure Saturday Morning.  In between that time you will enjoy art parties,  all your food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, cocktail hour,   3 classes PLUS all of your supplies,  special events and more...much much more.  If you read through some of our blog posts and peruse all the tabs on our blog, you will get a little taste of what ReMe is all about.....but nothing replaces actually being there and experiencing the magic that happens between all of our guests.

Check out the blog HERE.

BREAKING NEWS....It was just announced that for the first time, I will be heading to the famous Donna Downey studios (outside of Charlotte, NC) in January 2016.  I'll be kicking off their teaching season with a brand new 2 day workshop titled,  "It's a Whimsical Life" .  We will be painting funky houses in acrylics in a layered contemporary style that is almost a fusion of impressionism and mixed media.  Not almost, it is!   Students will also play along in their journals where we will explore color, design, shading and other fun techniques.   

This weekend workshop includes all supplies for the students, lunch and snacks!!  How can you beat that?  

Dates  January 16th and 17th.

For more info, click HERE.

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Sprinkled in between all these events, I will be opening new online classes,  releasing 4 DVD's with FW Media this Fall,  hosting a few local classes at a new venue...(stay tuned),  working on some product designs,  having a solo show in October, and maybe one other out of town weekend in November.  I'll be sure to update you as soon as I have concrete information, dates, times, descriptions, etc.!     

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I finally reached my 100 item goal that I set out to achieve last December in my Etsy shop.

Stop by and see tons of new paintings and products!!

**Any orders placed from today through Monday will be shipped out June 23rd as I will be travel teaching and away from my studio this week.**

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As always, I want to thank you for following me along. I appreciate your enthusiasm, kindness, inspiration and comments.  It's hard to believe it's been almost 9 years since I first started this blog and my artistic journey!!  Wow...so much has happened during that time. I'm excited to see where this next decade and beyond will take us!!

Heading To Florida! Wanna Join Me??

This week I'm  getting back into the groove after a HUGE month of activities, travel...teaching..and filming (More about all that later!),  so while these last few days have been a bit of down time for me (not really!!), there is still much to do in the studio as I'm heading back out in a little over a week to travel teach as a guest instructor in Melbourne, Florida at the Art More Place.   If you are looking for something fun to do in the sun....near the beach...creative and of course colorful, come join us for a whole weekend full of workshops.  We have a few spaces left in both classes so please spread the word!

  First up will be my Grunge, Ink class, Friday, June 19th  10-4.  We will be 'splishing and splashing' away as we create several amazing abstract pieces.  This is the first time I will be teaching this class live and I can not wait to introduce you all to this fantastic process!!!!

For this class, there is a small 15.00 supply charge that will include Yupo paper,  access to acrylic inks, India Ink,  Golden High Flow Acrylics,  stencils, stamps, along with various other supplies needed for the project.     (if you were to buy all the supplies needed individually, it would easily cost over 100.00).      Just bring a brayer or two, a couple of brushes, and water container--I'll take care of the rest.

To register, click the image above or click HERE.

Next up, we are featuring an extended version of my Funky Little Beachscapes class on June 20th from 10-4  and a morning session to finish up your whimsical masterpieces June 21st.   

For those that have followed my art for a while now...have to know that this is one of my all time favorite classes and genres of painting that I do.  HOWEVER...  this is one of the last times I'll be teaching this particular class for a long time so be sure to take advantage of this opportunity!!  

You'll be working on 1-2 canvases (you can choose the size but I would recommend your main canvas to be at least 16 x 20 so you can really experiment).  

During the course of the class you will learn so many techniques and many of my favorite tricks of the trade, it will make your head spin!!   

If you love color and whimsy, this is the class for you!  

Space is limited so please register today!!

Again, the dates are June 20th and morning session June 21st at the Art More Place in Melbourne, Florida.   

Click HERE for more information!

Have you seen some of my  newest "peeps" .....they are flying off the shelves faster than I can keep up with the private orders!    

Sign up for my newsletter to have first dibs at my newest set of birdies and some other special offers this week!

To be in the 'know' click here!

If you are already signed up,  be on the look out for my June edition coming this week :)