Artful Gathering Class Sneak Peak!

If you have been wondering what I've been up to---be sure to check out this sneak peak at my upcoming workshop at   Artful Gathering that starts July 16th and runs through August 27th.  The class I'll be teaching is called "Fearless Faux Encaustics".  We will be experimenting with background techniques, image transfer, some photographic inspiration, and using various gel mediums to create a layered look that mimics encaustic painting.   I have compiled 16 videos, over 4 hours of instruction and inspiration as well as 6 pdf files to work along with and a free photographic collage sheet...plus....I always like to  have giveaways for my students so in addition to contributing to the site promotional giveaways I'll be sending to them along with the other instructors, I am also going to give away a prize pack that will be worth over $100 to one lucky student!!  I'll include one of my smaller original paintings along with a ton of art goodies to play with and experiment with,  a couple of prints, and a gift certificate to my etsy shop. WHOOOHOO!!  Now that's a deal you don't want to miss!  All of my students will be automatically entered to the drawing.  If you can't sign up for the class, then but want to get into the drawing for some freebies, then I will have a special giveaway for my blogger friends too coming up as soon as the registration for my class starts. I want to encourage creativity in all of your lives, and this is my way of giving back to all of those that have inspired and encouraged me over the last several years.

More details...Class cost $65.00

Duration of the class:  6 weeks, all class info/videos, etc will be available on day one so you will have 6 weeks to finish my class. I've organized the class in 6 parts but you can do everything at your own pace, not necessarily one part per week.

Registration:  Open now to get an invite to the class-- it is $5.00 not included in the price.  5.00 goes towards all the cost behind the scenes to organize the event.  We will have 16 other classes you can take as well as shopping and getting in on more giveaways during the event!!!  No travel, no time away from home....work at your own pace yet still have hands on feedback, encouragement, friendship via our forums in the 'classroom'!


Again, the site is called "Artful Gathering"  you can go HERE to see who else is teaching, view some of their work, check out their bios and pre-register for the event. 

As always, drop me a line if you have any questions!!!  jodiohl@hotmail.com

xoxo

Good Things (not like Oprah but still pretty darn good)!

Good Things
Here's some shots from my demo at Jerry's Artarama last Sunday, working on some Mixed media portraits.

I'm VERY excited and very proud of my new article coming out in the January/February issue of Cloth Paper Scissors, "A Beginner's Guide To Beginning", a feature chock full of tips, suggestions, motivation, gentle nudging to get your creativity on! Be sure to pick up the issue, it's FULL of great articles, fabulous art, and tons of inspiration. I also have a mini feature in their homework section, so be sure not to miss it!
You can see a few more of my pieces here as well:
Online Extras at Cloth Paper Scissors



Very cool--check out Jenny Doh's new venture, Crescendoh. Her new site is set debut in March and it promises to open a wide new world of artistic community. Full of Art Saves stories, links to limitless forms of inspiration, how- to's, hot products and more! And guess who is participating as one of the guest curators??? YIPPEEE ME--stay tuned during the week of May 31-June 5th where I will be one of 4 guests over the course of the week sharing a bit of me and my Art Save story, and pointing peeps to other creative sites to visit during the course of the week.

In January I have a new class coming up!

Jump into Visual Journaling-January 23rd from 4-7 pm $ 40
Location: Swank Handmade Market in Southern Pines, NC
Start your New Year off right by living artfully through a visual journal. During this relaxing and fun class you will create backgrounds, and jumpstart page ideas for your journal. Bring your imagination, a few supplies and be ready to create your way into a productive and peaceful New Year!

Suggested Supplies: Moleskine Journal , watercolor sketch book, or several sheets of water color paper (140 lb), variety of paints, magazine or other decorative papers, double sided tape, gel medium, scissors , stamps, sharpie pens, white paint pen, and any other art supplies you want to come and play with.

*For those that do not have any supplies, I can offer a kit for decorative papers, water color paper, a gel pen, paint pen, and a few other assorted supplies for $15.00 Orders for the kits would have to be in a week before the class to allow time to gather and assemble the supplies.
For more information--please email Jessica or Petra at swankgirls@gmail.com


***Stay tuned, behind the scenes I'm working on a new online class for Creative Workshops!
*pssst** take the class and it will feel like you are coming HOME!

In the meantime, if you haven't taken my Fun with Faux Encaustics class, there's still time to participate.
Click here to find out how!

***

Stepping back, reading all of your comments in the last post and thinking about so many of the events of my life over the last 6 years, has really given me so much inspiration to make some drastic changes. Someone mentioned to me in their comments, You can't move forward if you are still, holding on. So true, indeed.
Brushing off those knees and getting ready to ride back out into the road with the wind at my back.

Thank you again--I'm overwhelmed by your support.
Thank you, thank you.

Happy Holidays to all!!

Questions and Answers about Fun with Faux Encaustic Workshop

There's still time to sign up for my giveaway of 1 free class of my newest online work shop "Fun with Faux Encaustics". How to win? I will be picking randomly one of the paid participants that sign up through 6/15 for a full class 'tuition' refund. It pays to be an early bird!

Class Details:
A beginner to intermediate mixed media course that explores an exciting new technique that mimics encaustic painting
The picture above is simply a representation of the class and not the actual projects taught

Workshop description:

Are you intrigued by the layers of sweet beauty that encaustic painting offers but intimidated by the process and hesitant to invest in another assortment of art supplies? Or, are you looking to try some new techniques that explore the usage of acrylic mediums? Perhaps you simply want to begin your journey into the mixed media art world. If so, then we invite you to join this delightful online workshop. Students will be led through a fascinating process of mimicking encaustic painting by incorporating acrylic mediums, layers of collage, acrylic paint., and enhanced with light journal writing on stretched canvases. Students will be provided with videos, still pictures, and written directions to utilize during the work shop. By the end of the course, students will have completed four faux encaustic pieces. We also have a coupon code for 10% off regularly priced items at Jerry's Artarama for those that register for the class!

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Frequently Asked Questions:

1) I will be away the week of July 15th. Will I be missing out on any live session or get too far behind if I start late?

This is a great question and one that we are pleased to say that we've thought of your busy schedules this summer as we presented the work shop and are offering it as an open class where you can work at your own pace and not worry about missing out on something if you can't start working on the projects on July 15th! This is a self paced workshop so you can view the lessons at your leisure.

2) How will the lessons be structured?

The lessons will be presented in an easy to follow format broken down in several steps via video and again via written instructions. We will open up a forum for student discussions as well as questions. For fun, we will also ask the students to post pics of their works in progress & finished pieces.

3) I've never painted before but I want to learn, I'm just not sure if this will be too complicated for me.

Another great question! A desire to learn and a willingness to explore is really all you need to get started. We will supply you with the foundation to create wonderfully layered mixed media art that mimic encaustic paintings. While true encaustic can not fully be recreated, we will show you how to achieve a dreamy look like encaustic painting through a whimsical series of paintings enhanced with acrylic mediums.

4) I really can't draw, I'm not sure how I will be able to paint!

Have no fear! We will help you explore your creative side that is exists within everyone! You WILL be able to do this!

5) I don't have many paints & suppplies but I want to play along. Where do I get the materials to complete the projects.

I tend to work in a limited color palette and I suggest that you do the same for this class, so you will only need a few colors, craft paint is fine if that's what you have or you can purchase a few colors t at local craft store inexpensively. As far as the rest of the supplies, visit Creative Workshops to download my supply list. Jerry's Artarama is also offering a 10% discount for your order for anything you purchase through their website. We have a coupon code for all paid participants to use. Once you sign up and the class beginss, if you opt to watch the videos, I give you lots of tips for items around the house you can use as well! I can supply collage packs for those that do not have many collage supplies available at a nominal fee.

6) Is the workshop web based or in person?

This class is completely online. I will be available to answer questions from my students for as long as they need me via the forum on Creative Workshops, or via email if the student would rather ask something privately. The forum is ONLY open to paid students, so you will not have to feel funny asking something, we will all be doing this together!

7) What skill level is this class?

I feel that anyone from a true beginner to a more advanced painter who wants to explore mixed media will be able to take this work shop and not only learn some new techniques, they will excel with my easy to follow directions and step by step videos and written directions.

8) If I can't take this class will you be offering more in the future?

I certainly hope so. It's my dream to create full time. Currently, I have a full time day job and am a single parent so until my situation changes and I am full time working artist, my class offerings will be limited but I do intend to offer others in the future! Why wait till then though?? This is an OPEN class, so you can work at your own pace!!!

9) What exactly is encaustic painting? Your workshop looks interesting but I have never heard of encaustic painting!

Encaustic painting is an age old technique that has been around for centuries and used by many of the masters. It is a form of painting that utilizes bees wax, damar resin, and pure pigment. Layers are created by melting the wax and resin (using pigment if you wish) and painting on with a brush, reheating and painting with an iron and other tools over a collage or oil based paint. The resin aids in stabilizing the wax. The result is a deeply layered dreamy look, the wax is almost like a frosting on the painting. Sounds like fun?? It is, but it's also expensive form of painting. You may not want to invest in this medium if you are a beginner or even if you are a skilled painter but yet you desire a look that achieves a similar effect. This class will show you how you can get a cool effect that mimics encaustic painting using collage techniques and acrylic mediums with paint. While you CAN simply add beeswax to acrylic painting, it is HIGHLY recommended that you don't. Wax and acrylic are not stable when adhered together. Your work of art will not stand the test of time nor heat! You don't have to worry about this with our technique as the formulas will enable you to paint over acrylic paint and paper w/o having to worry about anything sliding off or cracking! To learn more about true encaustic painting, click HERE.

I hope that clarifies a few questions, if you have others that I have not addressed, please email me at: johl3@windstream.net!

Quick Sale and Other NEWS!!

I'm finding when I don't have the energy to paint, I am immensely enjoying playing with Photoshop! This is a photo I hijacked from my lovely niece, Bianca on her facebook page and then I altered it a bit to create cool layers of her portrait. Love it! Isn't if fun to learn a new skill? I am just imagining the possibilities as I explore what else I can do with my art and my amateur photos!

*****Learn the same techniques I used by visting Gail Schmidt's Creative Workshops website and sign up for her class, "How to Create a Digital Collage"!!



Speaking of photos/prints--Tonight ONLY I am having a 50% discount sale in my shop for any PRINT or ACEO!!! Simply Convo me with the word SWEET REPEATS in the message line after checking out and I will send you a revised invoice with your new price.



Other news---Don't forget to check out my post below for my new and exciting work shop that will be offered starting July 15th!! I'm really looking forward exploring new techniques and helping others find their creative side through my work shop. Fore more details on this work shop, visit Creative Workshops hosted by Gail Schmidt! I will be offering a free class to one random winner among those that sign up early--prior to June 15th! Spread the word!!!!

In addition to this class, I will be hosting a 1 day workshop at Jerry's Artarama in Raleigh, NC on March 6th, 2010.!!!!! Whoooohoooo. I'm really honored to have been invited to do this project! I'm even more excited because I was invited rather than applied for the opening! My creative world seems to be coming together in so many ways, it's really amazing and I truly feel blessed to have this opportunity as well as many others I have been afforded. The other day I got a call from one of the owners of a shop that I am in to tell me that I had a HUGE sale--I sold my big piece, Spring Journey along with 5 other original paintings to a new collector!! Oh my. To say I about fell out, is an understatement!!!

One thing I have been falling behind in is my blogging and visiting other blogs. There never seems enough time to do it all but I'm trying my best to keep up! To the hell with the laundry when there is so much goodness around to discover...lol!
Hope your week is a creative one!