Let It Go!

Hello, I haven't meant to stay away for so long!  It's kinda the theme of my life lately. I wake up and 3 weeks have passed. Time and balance could slap me in the face and I would not know what either looked like if I stared in 'their eyes'.  I wonder if I've always been like this or if I've grown into it as I have...ummm matured? I think I can do more than I can do and I will damn sure work until everything about breaks me having tried.

Among other things...I've been putting my nose to the grind to finish up and complete one of my biggest projects yet, well perhaps the 3rd biggest as it is my 3rd online class that I have created in the last 13 months. To me, that's a huge accomplishment! The work that goes in on creating an online class is not for the weak of heart..lol.  It's a big undertaking but one that I love to do...I love sharing tips and helping others find the joy that I've found through art...and the healing.....there's a lot of healing that can be discovered through creating, whatever it is that you love to create. It doesn't have to be painting. I just love to paint and collage and play and make a big, beautiful, luscious, mess.

It soothes me. It helps me breathe, and there's a great sense of pride that I have when I'm finished with something, no matter how hard it was to finish. This class was hard for me to finish because I have been sick for the last two weeks, getting progressively sicker but I was determined not to let anyone down-especially not myself because I made a commitment to a lot of people and a commitment means you have given your word that you will do what you say you are going to do...and do it to the best of your ability.  I'm really proud of this project because it's another turning point for me.  Another mountain I have climbed and stood up from the top and said, this is where I'm at--come join me and you can see through to the other side with me. 

The class is about faces, and within the class about painting faces--we work through phases of our life that have come to define who we are, where we've been, and where it is that we want to go....  Where do I want to go from here? I do  know, and I have been putting my ducks in a row for a while now. I have to be brave and continue on no matter how hard it is to get there. I will get there.  (I'm not sure when, and not that it matters...I just know I will get there:) So will you! 

The first piece shown is one of my girls I painted almost a year ago....I felt so shattered at the time I painted this...the tear of the girl was truly that of my own. Despite feeling broken and shattered....I knew that was just temporary....I wouldn't be lost forever. This too shall pass. I need to remember that, because there are days that I can be as hard on myself as the world is hard around me. I can cause my own stress and my own pain. I need to sit and breathe and tell myself....tomorrow will be a new day and I will be brave enough to face it!

Why is that we are harder on ourselves at times then the world is? Maybe we say yes to too many things that we put unrealistic expecatations on ourselves or allow others to talk us into things we shouldn't position ourselves into whether it be emotional places or things or true tasks and responsibilities that are best left to someone else.  It's okay to say no. I'm learning that.  By saying no to things that are no longer helping you be the person you want to be,  You can say YES to the things that will make your world a brighter place to live in. I'm heading in that direction, maybe when I get there it won't seem like 3 weeks have passed in just a nanosecond of time. :) 

What is it that you can say no to today that will relieve you from something that is tying you down from blossoming?   Think about it.  I bet there are at least 2 or 3 things that you can let go of so  you can move on to bigger and brighter things.  Let's do it!

*****

For more information about my new class, "Let's Face It", be sure to stop by Creative Workshops.  Class starts on September 27th, 2010.  $ 45 dollars for access to a 21 video collective presentation on creating 4 different style of faces using a children's board book as an artistic journal substrate for our project.  Come join the fun!  You can work at you own pace which is a great benefit of the open ended class!

Let's Face It.....Discover Yourself!

Facing who we are and who we'd like to be through exploring ourselves within the safety net of our journals created on a childrens board book. Are you looking for some messy creative fun?  Learn more about yourself and painting faces, creating funky backgrounds, and explore a variety of techniques in my latest online workshop!
"Let's Face It" is now available for purchase over at
Creative Workshops.

Class starts September 27th
Cost: $45.00 plus supplies

Let's Face It New Online Work Shop and a GIVEAWAY!

Let’s Face It
“A creative discovery of ourselves, using paint, collage, portraits, and journal writing as forms of expression”
By Jodi Ohl

"Let’s Face It" is a new online work shop offered by Jodi Ohl and hosted over at Creative Workshops on ning.  Through videos and written instructions, students will create their own visual journal on a children’s board book focused on exploring their inner selves through portrait painting using a variety of mixed media techniques. “Let’s Face It”, we are constantly reinventing ourselves, discovering who we are, who we were, and where it is that we want to go in the world. How do we want to be remembered when we are gone? What is it that we are truly searching for? We will work on answering some of those questions as we play in the safety of our personal journals. No experience required, just come to class with a healthy desire to learn, explore, and most of all, create! Be ready to get messy and feel INSPIRED!

Open date: September 27th, 2010

Cost: $45.00 plus supplies

Type of class: This class will be offered as an open ended workshop.

Support during the class: Students will have a forum where they can chat with the instructor and other students, share photos of their work in progress and finished work. The instructor will be available via email for private questions.

Time Frame to do the exercises: While all of your videos will be accessible at one time, the suggested time frame needed to work on each exercises depends on how quickly you work. It takes me approximately 2-3 days to work on one page, but that’s how I work, some people may work more quickly and others may need a week or more to work on a page.

Frequently asked questions:

Do you have to know how to paint in order to enjoy this class?

Absolutely not, but this class will use primarily use paint to illustrate the exercises and techniques.

What is an open ended class?

An open ended class means that while the class goes live on a specific date, there are no due dates or formal structure to how long you have to work on each video. The videos will be available on our website for your viewing 24hrs a day, 7 days a week other than any regularly scheduled maintenance on the website or internal maintenance from Creative Work Shops. While you can download the instructions and supply list, you will have to view the videos on the website.


Jodi Ohl is a mixed media artist residing in Aberdeen, NC. She has two sons ages 10, and 16 and balances a day job with her creative adventures as a mixed media artist, writer, and instructor. Published in a variety of internationally known magazines such as Cloth Paper Scissors, Somerset Studios, Studios, and Holiday and Celebrations, she often shares her distinctly textured and whimsical painting techniques and creative processes. Represented by Swank Handmade Market in Southern Pines, NC, Circa Gallery in Asheboro, NC, and Collector’s Café in Myrtle Beach. She also offers work for sale via Etsy at www.lucysweetlucy.etsy.com. She welcomes visitors over at her blog Sweet Repeats found at www.sweetrepeats.blogspot.com. Feel free to write to Jodi at johl3@windstream.net .

Exciting news!  I will also be offering a FREE Class as we jumpstart the promotion for my new work shop!
  How to enter?   By leaving a comment on this blog post  you will automatically be entered into the giveaway.  If you you help me promote this class by linking back to this post and snagging the promo picture, you'll get a second entry.  Simply come back to the post with a link to your promo post!
You can also enter by making a comment on my face book fan page found here to be considered for the drawing (I'll have a special post you must comment on :):
Jodi Ohl

If you sign up for the class during the time frame of the promotion, you will also be entered into the drawing automatically.  I would refund the class tuition if you were the winner.

*if I get over 100 entries, I will offer another giveaway so spread the word!!!

Entries will be taken from August 15th through August 30th.  Winner announced September 1st!

Like An Angel.....

There would be days when she would write poetry from the top of a mountain,

And sing with the angels

As the sun rose each morning,

Laugh with all the world's children 

And dance until Midnight come.

But it was painting that healed her

Broken heart

With each color of the canvas shining a light

That had grown dim.

Looking back now 

It seemed so easy to live

But so hard to smile.

It was the laughter of a child and 

The magic glow of her art

That saved her from

A life that was quiet and cold.

Her heart is full now

As She Waits 

For 

Next....

Like an Angel, Art Saved Her.