Start Where You Are

"Be the silence that listens."   Tara Brach

What a whirlwind weekend and a hot one at that!  I don't know about you but here in North Carolina, it's like an oven when you open the doors and step outside.  I'm permanently wearing my hair up with a head band to control the sweat dripping down my forehead.  Appetizing visualization, isn't it? Sorry about that!  I have to laugh because the above picture was taken outside--what was I thinking trying to work in 95 with a feels like 110 heat out there??

(PS..the winning entry for my class giveaway is announced on this post....read on to see if it was you!)

awww much better...I may never do my hair again now that I fallen in love with  big old head bands!

As I was trying not to melt over the weekend, I spent a lot of time working on my upcoming classes at Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point  this weekend along with working on projects for my newest online classes set to be released in about 6 weeks and a few other misc projects.   After all, if it's too hot to play outside, then we might as well art it up this summer, right?  Here's a peek at a couple of things I've done recently in case you want to see:

I'm obsessed over patterns and rocks as you might have guessed based on some of my latest  paintings!   I really think I'm going through a 'grounding' and foundation stage of my life and art. It seems to keep coming back to me in a variety of ways no matter what my original intention was.

The first rock painting above was a sampler for the larger painting right here.  Many times I like to test out ideas on small surfaces before I go big.  Not always, but sometimes. It's a great way to work out ideas or to practice techniques before becoming overwhelmed with a large painting.

I took a little side trip with a friend of mine in search of inspirational houses for my paintings along with texture and patterns.   When seeking ideas,  sometimes it's best to get beyond your 4 walls and  see what's happening out in the world.  I can play with this picture in photo shop or some other editing program and really get some interesting colors and  texture to inspire me for some future paintings. I also like the faded lettering peeking out on either side.  Be observant!

My friend and I also took a rode trip back to our home town in NY together for the holiday.  Knowing that I was looking for houses, barns, and landscapes that were interesting...we made a few stops to take in the sites and gather up inspiration.   The trip took extra long but who cares, right? Stop and find the barns ;)  It's all good.

I still need to finish packing all my supplies for the classes this weekend--that's an overwhelming task to me when I fly.  Oh my goodness, I've been procrastinating doing it because I'm afraid I will either forget something so I want to be doubly triply sure that I have all I need, and also because I am still using some of the supplies I need for the class in my work this week.  I have to draw the line in the sand and I think today is it kids. It gets packed and I need to move on to something else.

Have you ever obsessed about something so much it put you in a state of inaction?  I've collected everything, It's all staged, but I have yet to pack it despite it needing to get done like yesterday!  Something crazy is going on in my mind is all I can say! lol   Anywhoosers, this is what I've been up to in part over the weekend and in the past few weeks.

Now for my other announcement today, I ran a little contest over the weekend which I am giving away a spot in my upcoming workshop,  Zen Houses and boy oh boy, did the comments come in with some GREAT tools you all are loving!  I could go broke just reading what you favorite new supplies are on your table!  If you missed it, go back and check it out! The drawing is closed however and the winner is....tadahhhhh:

Lori Bradford said...

Tough choice, picking a favorite, but I'm going to go with my Gelli Plate. It's so fun to lay down paint and stencils and just let things happen.

Im going to share your post on my facebook page Lori Bradford's Art and my Instagram. I enjoy your classes a lot and hope that others will too.

www.loribradfordsart.com

10:26 AM 

Congratulations Lori, I'll try to contact you but if our paths cross, email me at jodiohl@hotmail.com to claim your prize!

Now, for the other announcement,  I did a bit of soul searching and made the decision to shift the launch date for my new class to September 6th.   Some unexpected things have come up personally and professionally (some good, some not so good) that are going to compete for my time over the next couple of weeks and I just knew in my heart of hearts that I would not be able to finish all the post production parts on time and deliver the quality product I aim too.   I've already sent messages out to the students that have registered so far, so hopefully you saw the email from me yesterday evening. That is in part why I didn't get the blog post up yesterday with my winning announcement, I wanted to get the class and student information out to those people first as soon as I made my decision.    Thank you all who have reached out to me, you all rock!  Such kind and understanding hearts.  I swear.   I'm so grateful to all of you!

I also decided to extend the pre-sale for a few more days at the $90 price until August 1st, it'll go up to $99 after that so if you want in at the pre-sale price, be sure to register soon!   

I'll leave you with something I wrote in my journal to remind myself,  things don't happen over night and they don't get fixed over night.   

"Start Where You Are.  Just Begin Again". 

  We need to be kind to ourselves when we are struggling.

Until next time, 

Jodi Ohl

That Happy Place

Happy Sweet Saturday!

I hope its a gorgeous sunny day wherever you are and you are enjoying a moment with your family and friends, or are tucked away blissfully in your art studio or perhaps a quiet moment with a good book.  

I'm not quite sure what's on my agenda today. I have tons of work to do  and a project to finish before Monday but I also want to just chill out and take a breather. :)  I think I'm in an ultimate nesting mode lately.   

After reading all the comments from my post earlier this week (which BTW I'm going to announce the winner in just a bit and an extra bonus!!),  I'm reminded that the places that give us most comfort and joy, happiness and a sense of peace often has to do with our family and friends, a trip to the ocean or a drive to the mountains. There are certain places that bring back memories that will forever wrap us up in a blanket of comfort and joy.  I'm not advocating giving up work to play all the time but yes...play...sometime.  Take a breather.  Take a walk. Drive to the beach.  Hike to the mountains.  Visit that thrift store.  Grab an ice cream cone at the corner Tasty Freeze.  Eat a blue plate special at the local diner with some friends.  Grab a book and your favorite hot beverage and sit at the coffee shop for 30 minutes.  Take a 3 day vacation if you can't set aside a whole week.  

No one wants to be remembered as the Mom, Sister, Wife, Daughter that just worked a lot. I think we want to be remembered for the memories we create with one another.  Our laughter. Our silliness. A kind heart and gentle smile.

Life can be overwhelming if it's just go go go. I'm realizing that more and more over the last 10 or so years.  

This weekend, find that happy place of yours once again and take a few minutes to enjoy the moment and make some memories:)

Congratulations to Annette (who I don't have an email for so if anyone knows Annette, please let her know she won my giveaway!!!)

Art4me said... Jodi, anyplace I go, with my husband in tow, is the place that makes my heart glow!

Thanks for the opportunity to win a piece of YOUR art . . . . . . . WOW!

Annette

*******

Here's the bonus: 

Because I had over 100 comments and visitors to my post, I decided to upgrade the prize to a bigger piece so Annette, You can pick one of the shaped houses posted on my etsy shop or one of the square 8x8 pieces in this mini collection. Just let me know which one you'd like and it's yours!!

Until we meet again, Artfully Yours,

Jodi