Taming Fear with Art Journaling

 The last few weeks have been super duper uber intense as we prepare for ReMe Retreats, May on Ocraoke Island.  I've been going back and forth between the retreat preparations,  working in my outside studio, working at my home studio, working on another big project coming up in May,  and of course keeping things together here at the 'ranch' with my 14 1/2 year old.    Whoosh. Makes my head spin in the best possible way.

To relax and unwind, I've been finding myself diving into my journal and escaping or relax in my own way.   Today I'm showcasing another journal I started not too long ago. This one is also a Dylusions Journal but it's the smaller version.

As much as I love the large Dylusions, once you get it really filled up...it weighs about 20 lb.s haha!! There's so many pages in it!

This one also has a lot of pages but not as many as the larger version, and they are about 1/2 the size which is nice for some quick evening doodling or collage work.

Many times I jump all over the place putting collage here or there,  going back and refining this or that, then moving on to the next spread or page.

 There's hardly ever a theme for my journals as a whole. I can't seem to stick with one theme, rather I just go with whatever the mood moves me for each individual spread. Most of the time it's a bunch of random thoughts!

I guess when I have a lot on my mind, I need a way to get it out without having to worry about the composition as a whole...just play around and communicate with myself through my visual journal.

Sometimes the pages do have accidental threads of similarity. That's often because I have my journal next to me as I paint almost all the time..so left over paint lands on the page or pages. I'll go back to the page in the evening or early morning when  I am ready to relax or begin the day in a quiet way.

If there's not a lot to say,  I'll look for a quote that has a bit of meaning or sparks my interest.   I've noticed that my pages are rather busy lately...that could be attributed to my state of mind. I constantly feel like I'm juggling everything at all times and rarely wind down.  Until I force myself, and that quietness sometimes comes in the form of art journaling.

Before I do a big project....I always, no matter how many times I've done something, get a case of anxiety and nerves.  I recognize this in myself and have learned to tame in my nerves, I need to have a sense of quiet and peacefulness. I can't just roll into an event or project in the middle of chaos or exhaustion.    With less than 6 sleeps left before our big event, ReMe..I have to find that sense of peace quickly...and I have in many ways, thanks to the preparation that we've put into place over the course of the year for ReMe,  thanks to the sanctuary of my journal, and thanks to the place I've come to discover within myself.  I'm learning to listen to what my body needs, I've learned how to quiet my mind and ease my thoughts...but honestly the fear and anxiety never goes away 100 % and that's probably a good thing.

I've found the more you care about something, the more meaning it has for you which naturally causes a bit of  struggle internally.  You want it to be amazing.You want others to enjoy it. You want it to flow smoothly and without any hiccups. 

The truth is, there are always hiccups or bumps in the road. 

There are always unexpected occurrences that change the direction, big things and little things.

The only thing you can control is your reaction and actions I've learned.

You can tame the fear and turn it into wonder and excitement.

You can quiet your mind and ease your worries by doing something you love  and taking care of yourself.

You can be more confidant by preparing yourself ahead of time and not rush into your project or event.

These are just some of the things I've recognized within myself, I hope it helps you to know that you are not the only one with fears. 

We all have them from time to time.

Until next time,

Jodi Ohl

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Just 2 days left to take advantage of my workshops sale going on over at Creative Workshops!!

This includes my popular class, Podtastic!

Save up to 25% on my classes

*Classes have unlimited access,  work at your own pace for and return time and time again to the workshop.  

New Workshops and other Announcements!

 As many of you know,  Create Mixed Media Retreats has decided to 'retire' their mixed media retreat offerings going forward which really breaks my heart along with many of my fellow instructors and all of our students.   In addition, due to a scheduling conflict and a change on the teacher line up on the East Coast,  I will not be teaching at Art Is You retreats in 2015... but with that said, I am happy to announce a variety of my workshops you can attend at several of our favorite shops and galleries locally and around the country.   I will also be offering some fantastic new online classes,  projects, and full 'extreme' courses in 2015.  Stay tuned for some exciting announcements. We are sad some doors have closed, but we are excited to see what  new and amazing opportunities the future holds.

 You can also sign up for my newsletter  to keep informed on the latest classes,   to read reviews of cool products, and be the first to see new work revealed as this next chapter of my artistic career unfolds.






Random Arts

Grunge Ink

February 27th.  One day 'Grungilicious' extravaganza! 

$125.00

Registration Open--best way to register right now is to contact Jane at Random Arts:

randomarts22@gmail.com

Extreme Portraits

February 28th-March 1st

First time offered in person---2 days of Extreme Portrait immersion.  Learn to cross the path from whimsical to realistic but with an edgy take on portraiture.  We will cover everything from drawing, to collage, to building up depth through glazing and texture creating in our portraits, plus more. 

Yes..2 days.  You will be amazed at the portraits that will come to life from this workshop!

$230.00 for both days

Registration Open-best way to save your spot and register is to contact Jane at Random Arts:

randomarts22@gmail.com

Jerry's Artarama:  Raleigh, NC

Sunday, March 8th

I'm excited to be back teaching at Jerry's Artarama in Raleigh, NC.  I've had tons of people ask me if I would be teaching locally again and low and behold--we made it happen!  I'll be at Jerry's for 2 different dates in the early Spring, 2015.  First up:

Angelic Inspirations-a short 3 hour course jam packed with techniques during this workshop as we compose whimsical and inspirational Angels.

$60.00

Register HERE

Funky Little Cityscapes

If you've been a fan of my work for awhile, you'll know that creating funky little city (or beach) scapes are some of my favorite themes for compositions.  This course is much much more than just a few doodles on canvas,  you'll walk away with a plethora of techniques on how to use layers of acrylic paints combined with drawing medium all the while letting your imagination run wild in a child like manner (deceptively child like as the depth of these paintings will go as deep as you wish them to but still be fun and loose)!  One day only at Jerry's: April 18th.
$120.00   Register Here!

ReMe (3 all inclusive events on Ocracoke Island).
This is much more than just a workshop. In the words of one of our recent students, we have put "Retreat' back into a retreat!     Join us for our experience at the end of April, May or cozy up with us in October.   Spaces are limited to 8 students for each event with the workshops so don't delay, register today.  We are offering flexible payment plans including monthly payment options!

For more details on our ReMe events,  please click HERE


Stay tuned for this page to be updated in the coming weeks and months with more wonderful opportunities to learn how to infuse creativity into your life,  sharpen your artistic painting/drawing/collage skills, and simply live a life that is well balanced and full of positivity!

Sign up for my newsletter here.


Check out what is new in my Etsy shop HERE.

Would you like to host a workshop? I'm always interested in new opportunities. Let's work together!

Perhaps you'd like a custom painting, such as this funky town above with your street name/number or family name on it? I'd love to do commission pieces!

For more workshop information or to request a custom order, please email me at:

jodiohl@hotmail.com

Renew...The Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Hello and Happy Friday EVE my friends! 
Yes, I am a few hours early for once in my life!!!!!
Normally our blog hop posts go live Friday but all of us at ReMe wanted to get the party started a little early and celebrate with you!

                     Welcome to Week 3 of the “ReMe” Blog hop! 

 

  Over the last couple of weeks we have met 2 of the instructors and hosts for ReMe Retreats. Jean Skipper and Penny Arrowood ,   have taken us on an insightful journey, showing   how the ReMe motto:

 

Photo courtesy of Jean Skipper's Originals

                                                                "Rest, Relax, Renew"

 applies to their personal life and how it will apply at our destination retreat in Ocracoke.  Through our musings we hope  you can truly see how our motto, is actually a mantra that can feed one’s life and creative muse in many ways (personally and professionally).  If you didn’t get a chance to visit their blogs during the hop, please stop back when you have a chance as both Jean and Penny really dug deep and poured their heart into their posts.  BTW…I have a couple cool prizes to give away as well... so read on and find out how you can enter to win!

   For those of you who don’t know me and are stopping by from a link that led to another link,  allow me to introduce myself! My name is Jodi Ohl, and I am one of the instructors and founders of ReMe Retreats. I wear a lot of hats on a day to day basis from taxi cab driver (okay carting my 13 around to his various practices, friends, school, entertainment), to maid…haha…sometimes I feel like one…to full time artist, business woman, teacher,  and of course my most important role as a Mother to 2 boys, ages 13 and 19.   I’m also a single parent who never knows if she is doing things right or enough of the right things.  Admittedly, life gets amazingly rough as often as it is smooth sailing because of my own personal doubts and worries (insecurities more than likely). I can go from zero to homeless in about 60 seconds. When I’m at that point of no return or recognize the signs that I’m going there, I know I need to incorporate some self-love into the mix. That's where my word, "Renew" comes into play. Truthfully, I am a very positive person. I want you to know however,  that even the most positive or energetic people need to reel it in from time to time and simply breathe, refresh and well, renew.

 I am going to talk a little bit about how I “Renew” myself while in the midst of running my home, and business, and still stay (somewhat sane). So thank you for joining me in this little ‘musing’.

                                 My Top Ten Tips for ‘Renew’ing My Inner (and Outer) Self:

    1. Change up your routine.   We all get into a rut running mindlessly at times going through our day to day routine. If you change just a little bit of that routine, you will be amazed at how it can give you a new perspective on your daily activities.

   2. Get some sunlight and feel the wind on your face.  Maybe you are already an outdoors person but if not,  there is a lot to be said about just feeling the sun on your skin for a few minutes each day.  I truly believe in the winter blues, I used to live in the snow belt where sun is few and far between for 6 months every year. Now  that I work from home and live in the South,  you would think that it’s easy for me to get outside and enjoy fresh air every day, and it is…IF I make time for it! 

       3.  Exercise.  Okay so this is one where I am re-discovering the benefits of daily exercise. Without a strong body, it’s hard to have a strong mind.  I’m still a work in progress, believe me, but I feel much more capable of handling life in general than I did say 6 months ago when I started to re-incorporate exercise into a daily or somewhat daily routine.  Bonus, I've lost 10 lbs and several inches...just wait to the summer baby...just wait;)

    4. Swimming. This goes along with #3 but even if you hated exercising,  being surrounded by water and just floating or doing laps,  it almost encases you and transports your mind to another time. I can’t explain this to you in any other way but to say that it is one place that I feel unplugged for a little bit and incredibly peaceful. Lucky us, our first retreat is on the Outer Banks in Ocracoke Island...not sure if will go swimming but the same transportation to another world happens when my toes hit the sand or I see and hear the waves of the ocean lapping onto shore.
Sighhh..
(no picture in my swimsuit..sorry. I know you are disappointed ;)

5
    5.   Drive. I love to drive and it doesn’t have to be to anywhere in particular, however once I’m heading out on the open road (back roads are best whenever possible), I try to take in what’s around me and get lost in thought. Even better if I (or we) find a cool little shop or a local dive restaurant that only the locals know about with the best food/books/trinkets/treasures to be found...or even a drive to a scenic look out that you shouldn't miss if time allows.  Totally renewing to me.

      

Read On for the Rest of the Story and a chance to win ANOTHER Giveaway!!!
 Here's a sneak peek at the ReMe blog giveaway:

 (an original painting I created especially for this blog hop).

For stopping by my blog  you can get one entry into my personal giveaway of two of my 

Renew pieces:

"Renew" everyday inspirational ornament, and a "Renew"  Sweet HeART Magnet

Simply comment here and tell me one way you find a way to Renew in your life.
I can't wait to hear what YOU do.

Don't forget, stop over to ReMe for the rest of my tips and another chance to win a 
10x10 original painting!!!!! (Share this post or ReMe's post for an extra entry, just come back and make a second comment to let us know you shared the love!)
 

ReMe Retreats Blog Hop---Giveaways, Inspiration and MORE!

Every once in a while, an opportunity come along that allows you make your dreams a reality. A vision  that  turns into something tangible. Today I wanted  to share with you a vision and a dream that has materialized into something so exciting, I can hardly believe it’s going to be happening soon! 

 Some of you may or may not know that myself, along with 2 other of my best friends, Jean Skipper and Penny Arrowood,  who are among the most creative people I know, have started a new business which will offer a variety of creative retreats and workshops called" ReMe Retreats".  We say retreat but it is much more than just your normal artist retreat, each event will be unique and an experience that we feel will be life changing for you. 

Our goal for each of the retreats is to give each of our guests, that individual attention and care that is so often overlooked in other bigger events, while  in a caring, gentle, fun, and inspiring atmosphere.

  Our motto for ReMe is: “Rest, Relax, and Renew”,  and it’s also a major component for our mission statement for this creative endeavor.   We want YOU to be a part of ReMe as we grow and begin this exciting dream, because we know you need it and will benefit from the investment in yourself, whether you join us in person or just glean some inspiration from our experiences that we will be writing about and sharing throughout our many journeys.

 (did I mention at retreat for May and October that there are 2 outdoor or somewhat outdoor bathing areas to immerse yourself in? Now that's relaxing!!!!)

   To introduce you toReMe, Jean, Penny and I are doing a blog hop over the next few weeks so you can get to know us  a little better and have an opportunity to discover more about our next events and how you can participate.

Over the next few Fridays in February, we will be hopping along to each of the instructor’s blogs and to the ReMe blog so that you can partake in the beginning of this journey with us. Extra bonus, there will also be prizes donated by each of us over the next few weeks and then one final GRAND prize on our last week.......Believe me, you won't want to miss any of them!!! Who doesn’t love prizes??

(Schedule will be listed below with links to each of our instructors blogs so you can book mark this page and then come back to read about the instructors, the retreats, and of course enter our giveaways!

 Get lost in the view....enjoy a book, chat with friends...take a nap.  Just soak in the moment with us. 

How to enter the giveaways?

Simply visit the featured instructor on the following days then visit the link the instructor provides for the final post on ReMe.   Leave a comment on their ReMe blog post to be entered in the giveaway.   The winners for individual prize will be  drawn randomly from all of the entries and announced over  the next three Mondays in February, and then the grand prize will be announced on March 3rd.

Bonus Entries:  You can get a bonus entry each week if you share the ReMe post featured on your social media site such as Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.  Simply stop back and leave another comment to let us know you shared the post!

Schedule:

Rest by  Jean Skipper on "Jean Skipper Originals Blog"   February  7^th

Giveaway winner announced, February 10^th.

Relax by Penny Arrowood on "Thoughts Askance Blog" February 14

Giveaway winner announced, February 17^th.

Renew By Jodi Ohl on "Sweet Repeats Blog" February 21^st

Giveaway winner announced, February 24th

Final Stop on the Blog Hop by  ReMe on "ReMe Retreats Blog" February 28th

Grand Prize winner announced, March 3rd.

You can't help but to smile and feel refreshed after a week with ReMe.

Next ReMe Retreats:

May 5^th-10^th , 2014  Ocracoke Island , NC

4 1/2 days, 5 nights of creative immersion in the setting of the amazing Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks  of NC.  Enjoy cultural discovery, make new friends, be inspired by   intimate artistic workshops offered by our  three instructors,  make memories while sharing  laughs over meals together, engage in  special events and more.

*ReMe Ocracoke, is an all-inclusive event other than your travel to our location.   We have it all covered, so just come as you are, leave a Re-Newed person!

**BIG NEWS…one space has just opened up for this event.  For more information, please contact us   at  reme@remeretreats.com      Requests for registration will be taken in the order that they are received.

SOLD OUT!!!

October 20^th-October 25^th 2014,  Ocracoke Island, NC

 4 1/2 days, 5 nights of creative immersion in the setting of the amazing Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks  of NC.  Enjoy cultural discovery, make new friends, be inspired by   intimate artistic workshops offered by our  three instructors,  make memories while sharing  laughs over meals together, engage in  special events and more.

The Outer Banks in the fall is truly a beautiful time of year to enjoy the tranquility of your surroundings, and it’s sure to be even more so when shared with new friends you have yet to meet.     We only have a few spots left for this event so be sure to secure your space by registering today on the ReMe Blog onthe left hand sidebar.

*ReMe Ocracoke is an all-inclusive event other than your travel to our location.   We have it all covered, so just come as you are, leave a Re-Newed person.