Texture Tutorial-A Free Exercise From My Book!

Hello Friends!  I hope you had a great holiday with family and friends!  I'm still coming down from my sugar and family fun high!  I have lots of new blog posts planned for the coming days but first, I wanted to share an article I wrote for my friends at Cloth Paper Scissors where I have been  'moonlighting' as a guest blogger and soon to be guest columnist in 2017 for the magazine!   This tutorial has a clickable link that includes a downloadable tutorial taken straight from my book,  "Abstracts in Acrylic and Ink".  If you haven't received it yet or wondering about the projects included--here's a variation of one of them!

Some of the supplies you'll need include:  Silks Acrylics  (any colors),  Ampersand Claybord , High Powered Heat Gun,  Golden's Tar Gel (or Self Leveling Gel, or Pouring Medium), and to get the black marks on the bubbles, Staz on Ink.  You'll see in the project featured I also use a bit of Titanium White and a Brayer.


Let's Get Started:  

Do you have an affinity for texture? I know I do. I love it so much that I’ve come up with a couple of classes where texture is the star of the show. There’s just something about a piece of art that has imperfections or clearly has an uneven surface that begs to be touched.

I have long used many gel mediums in my work but when you’re teaching a one day class, it’s hard to use many of the commercial mediums to teach with because they simply won’t dry in time. I came across this technique by accident when I was trying to speed my painting for a class I was teaching, with not just a heat gun, but a heat tool—you know the one that looks like it should be used in a factory or welding shop? Needless to say, it didn’t just heat up my gesso/gel medium—it also burned it and bubbled the surface. The look was actually fascinating.   

......Read on for the rest of the article and to download the tutorial!

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I'm so thrilled, my book is trending #1 in Mixed Media and on the Hot New Release list!  If you haven't bought it yet,  you can get it a variety of different ways!   

Through Amazon by clicking this link or image:

Or, if you'd like a signed copy of my book, I'm offering 3 different package deals that you can check out here!

Most major book stores will be carrying it, too!  If your local shop doesn't carry it yet, please recommend it to the manager/owner!!  

Here's a few of the reviews that have come in so far!  (BTW...after this week, I'm going to try not to read the reviews...lol as I know someone is going to not love it and I don't want the bad reviews to hurt my heart..but in my head I know it's coming).  For now, I'm going to ride the high and pat myself on the back for doing the best job I could do for the place I was in creatively, and so far...that job looks like it's resonating with artists who have bought the book!   Thank you all for the emails, texts, and Facebook posts!  Keep em coming if you have bought the book yourself! I love seeing them!     I'm already thinking of what's next and there will be a next!! :))

 Order this now! Fantastic book.I buy many, many art books and mostly mixed media oriented topics -- and I am picky, and I don't often review books. But this book is worth more than 5 stars to me. Everything about it is wonderful and I think it is a perfect combination of attractive (to me) projects and techniques. Although it is step by step technique, it isn't a "make this" crafty project book nor do I find myself not finding the techniques approachable. I am excited to dive in and see where it takes me. Wow is all I can say --- and I hope to someday take an in-person workshop with Jodi.  (M. Shea)

It is a beautiful book, the pages are fantastic qualityI have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this book since I pre-ordered an age ago. It arrived yesterday and I couldn't wait to delve in. It is a beautiful book, the pages are fantastic quality, full of vibrant color. I have been following Jodi for quite a few years now and have several of her online courses. I had the good fortune to attend one of her workshops in Florida last year, which was amazing. She is a lovely lady who very generously shares her techniques and unique ideas with everyone. Her playful style is super easy and there are no mistakes....everything is an opportunity. Love this book. Super inspirational. Buy it, you won't be disappointed!  (M. Scales)

5.0 out of 5 starsAwesome Book For Beginner to Advanced"Highly Recommended"There's an old saying, "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear". This is my book-of-the-year! I'm a trained, skilled artist and this information has taken my study to a new and exciting level. A great tool for those beginning and experienced.  (V. Phillips)

What a wonderful book. Was delighted when it came. Easy to follow with great illustration. The author has years of experience teaching and it shows. I highly recommend this book for beginners to advanced, something for everyone.  (D.Belica)

Deals, Deadlines and News Part 1!

As per my usual MO lately, I have more on my check list than can humanly be finished in 3 months but I try to pack it in a week or two's time!  Is anyone else like that or am I the only crazy person here?!!!  Well I figured I'd update my bloggedy and Newsletter family/friends/fans in small chunks with all the big news of the last month and upcoming months in my mini series (haha):

Deals, Deadlines, and News!!!

Okey dokey...so my first dealio has to do with my NEW online class. Oh my guys. I have been blown away by the response to it. It has fast become one of my best selling online classes and it just opened today!! whooohooo!       Because of that response and because I didn't get to advertise it on my newsletter just yet, we are extending the early bird price through Sunday, 9/14/14  (which is also my big baby boys 20th Birthday...Happy almost Birthday, Zach!!!!!)  

What are we going to be doing in Grunge Ink?  Well, first off we learn about some super cool shizzle we can do with the Inks, Fluid Acrylics, High Flow Acrylics, and Yupo paper; then we move on to several additional and more complex combinations of layers before moving onto 5 process demonstrations where you see how to create some cool bean paintings from start to finish using this "Grunge Ink" process.  Including this final piece here (a sneak peek).

I'm already thinking about a part 2 to this class so get in now, learn the techniques and then we can move on to an intermediate class and make even BIGGER and crazier grungy paintings!! ;)

Access to the class: Open ended and ongoing, no closing date scheduled for this class so as long as Icreateflix will host the class, it will be open for your viewing pleasure. Actual time it will take to work through the class? I suggest taking 3-4 weeks but you can work at your own pace/faster/slower whatever floats your boat.

My interaction:  I try to be ACTIVELY involved with all my classes the first 6 weeks on a frequent basis and then after that on an as needed, so if you need help and sign up 3 months after the class opens, no worries, I will still be there to guide you :))

Price--super duper reasonable,  85.00 is the regular price for a HUGE amount of video demonstrations and discussions (21 in all) and approx 4 hours of footage and 5...yes 5 main projects (you may want to get several pads of the Yupo paper and even perhaps one or two of their big daddy sheets as this process is addictive!!!

  SALE price:  70.00.  Don't delay though, that price ends this weekend!  9/14/14.   I strive to keep my prices affordable but to be honest, I am going to have to raise them slightly in the new year, so get in NOW at the lowest price it will be going forward!!!

That's about it for Gunge Ink!  Join us today!  OH no, one more thing---My WINNER for a free tuition to the class is Sara Schilling who won the spot out of my newsletter signups!  Congrats Sara!

More info and to register, click here:  GRUNGE INK

On to the next update:)  

Jodi

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Is There A Right Answer?

It was recently asked of me by a business coach,  am I an Artist who Teaches, or a Teacher who is an Artist?  My first response was that I am an Artist who Teaches but then as the discussion dug down deeper about what I do and why I do what I do...the question surfaced again,  "So I ask you again, are you an Artist who Teaches or a Teacher who is an Artist? Because you do realize all we have talked about for the last hour is about your teaching!"   I never really thought about it in those terms before and I'm not sure that there is any one right answer, but I do know that I thoroughly enjoy teaching art to my students who after several years of doing this --are all scattered throughout the world.  Some, I'm lucky enough to have met in person but even those who I connect with online are are ones that I'm blessed to have in my life. I'm lucky all the way around, whichever way you look at it and whoever it is I am, or whoever it is that I've become. I enjoy both creating art, and teaching about it.

I love seeing my students smiles when they are having fun and in their element. Or hearing about a breakthrough when they create something they didn't think they could do when first walking through the door.   I enjoy  them quietly (or not so quietly!!! )  share stories and getting to know one another as the day(s) progress during a workshop and retreat.

I feel compelled to share my own stories so that the students feel that we are connected in ways that they hadn't ever realized so that they know that they can do this or that too!   It isn't that hard once you roll up your sleeves and dig in.  You took the first step by showing up, now allow your muse to appear on the canvas. She may not be pretty at first but as you work through that awkward stage, you will come out on the other side to something amazing!  There are always many breakthroughs, some easier than others to work past but they are all, they are ALL....worth it!

Admittedly, I don't know all the rules or even all the answers but I will share with you practices and techniques I've come to favor and employ in my own work-the why behind what I do, what I use, and how I do it is shared and broken down so that you feel empowered to create from whatever stage in the journey you are on. There is something for everyone to learn, every day, and every time.

I teach you how to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes because Lord knows I make enough myself but I don't give up. Even when I give up, I don't give up if that makes sense. I figure out how to move past a slip up and turn it into a "Holy cow, I can't believe this worked or look at what this turned into now!".  Some of my best discoveries have come from mistakes or some of my best paintings were ones that I renovated the second or third time around.

Honestly, it is hard to master anything in one day or a several hours but I strive to give you the tools that you need when you walk out  of the classroom (or finish an online workshop) to lay the foundation to mastery, and the knowledge to realize that mastery is hardly ever found because we ALL continue to grow and evolve the more and more we do something.     I hope I give you, the student,  confidence to know that you are more than capable of greatness.   That is a secret sauce that goes into what I do when I teach.

I hope that when I teach you, you see that even seemingly simply design has many layers of love and time put into it. That good things don't just happen immediately but they do happen with more work, more love, more details, and more time put into them.  I hope that when I ask you to find that place that makes you happy when you create, you dig deep and find somewhere you can build on as you compose your own mini masterpiece that makes you smile while you immerse yourself in the process.

Going back to the original question, am I an Artist who Teaches, or a Teacher is an Artist--I think the answer is clear. I am a Teacher who at the core of her being,  couldn't do what she does without being an artist first and foremost.  They are all connected. I hope I can connect with you if you are ready to be one of my students now or in the future. Either way, we are connected and not that different from one another, I've seen and heard it many times over.   I know this above all, I enjoy what I do immensely and I have passion for who I've become and can't wait to share it with anyone who is willing to participate, listen, and create with me-or on the flip side, collect and cherish the art I've brought into this world.

That's the mark I've made so far in this journey.   The calling, the purpose after the main purpose which is to be a mother to my boys.  It's all connected in many ways. :)  I hope you find a calling or purpose that fills your heart with passion.



(All the above pictures feature classes I'll be teaching at Create in Dallas Texas in about 2 weeks!!!)

Waterflowing Selfie,  Mini City,  Glazed and Not so Confused, Angelic Inspirations,  and Ornamental--can be purchased through the Create Texas Website. Stop by HERE to find more information. PLUS I will also be vending at the artist faire that Friday evening. 

Dates for the event are September 17th-21st , 2014.

There are many opportunities to learn and enjoy yourself in one of my many classes over the next few months both in person and online! I'm going to feature some of those events/classes over the next few days so stay tuned!!!    My newest online class is being released,  September 12th.  We are offering a pre-sale price on this workshop  "Grunge Ink" through the opening so don't miss out on the opportunity to explore contemporary abstracts on a unique surface!

Stop here for more details and to register :)