Lifebook 2018--Save 20% Now!

Hello Friends!  

What a great ride Lifebook 2017 has been, it's been such an honor to be among this trip of instructors and amazing students. I've enjoyed every minute. I'm so grateful to my friend, Tamara Laporte for having me for the second time!

While I won't be partaking as a teacher in 2018, I will be as a student and champion of all things Lifebook. In case you are interested in joining in on the fun, check out what is changing for the better & enjoy!

Life Book 2018

New & Improved, Bigger & Better! 

2018 is a special &; exciting year for Life Book because the launch of LB2018 coincides with the publication of Tamara's new book (all about Life Book) AND she is going to make the Life Book offer more holistic by opening the course up to other art forms (like clay work, photography and writing) plus she is also bringing in some more wellness experts that will support you on your wellness/ personal development journey!! It’s very much in line with her very first vision for Life Book when she started dreaming up the concept in 2011! :)

The key differences/ extras this year are: 

• Virtual Life Book Gift (or Swag) Bag!!! :D Everyone who signs up to Life Book gets a virtual ‘goodie bag’ filled with things like: high res prints (for you to print out), exclusive discount codes from teachers and sponsors, free ebooks and ezines and other awesome stuff! yay! Click here to find out what is in the gift bag!
• Additional healing AND art disciplines (Tamara has invited several other experts who do things like yoga/ aromatherapy/ NVC & mindfulness etc plus other art disciplines like sculpture/ doll making/ photography & writing etc to make the entire healing/ wellness aspect of Life Book more holistic (these offers are on top of the art lessons not instead of).
• Tamara will run several Facebook live sessions (first year she is offering this), these will be in the form of: Check ins/ FAQs/ Impromptu art sessions & They will be recorded and available for those who can’t make the live sessions.
• Life long access to all content (this is the first year she is offering life long access to all content, yay!!)
• She is holding a huge prize draw with 20 prizes or so combined worth of £3000 GBP for all people who sign up to Life Book (not part of the blog hop) – This prize draw can only be entered if you sign up to Life Book, prizes include huge bundles of art supplies and other cool creative and wellness items!
• Price does NOT change from last year!! Even though you’re getting SO MUCH MORE !!! :D

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In a nutshell, this is the Incredible Life Book 2018 offer:

◙ A minimum of 6-8, in depth, Mixed Media Art Lessons plus a Minimum of 4 Bonus Sessions by Tamara  (it usually ends up being more than that though because she gets excited about all the new things she learns and finds it difficult not to share haha!)
◙ 21, in depth, Mixed Media Art Lessons by Spectacular Guest Teachers (see below who the 2018 guest teachers are)
◙ Between 12 – 18 additional arts & craft and wellness sessions with experts in this field (check the teacher profile doc to see what each expert has to offer)
◙ 21 (Smaller) Bonus Activities like: extra PDF prompts & step by steps/ artist interviews/ ATC swaps/ give aways/ audio meditations/ writing prompts etc by Tamara & Guest Teachers
◙ Between 4-6 Facebook Live Sessions with Tamara

Early Bird Discount Code!

If you join Life Book by the end of this month, December 31st, you can get 20% off!!!

Click HERE to join now!

A Week of Thanksgiving and Specials from Jodi Ohl

Happy Early Thanksgiving!

I hope life is treating you well and you are healthy, happy and surrounded by those you love!

It's been a whirlwind few months as you can probably tell by my blogging absence (something I vow to do better with in the New Year).  Tons of travel, several classes and the biggest news of all, I have a new Granbaby-Elena, who was born on October 30th.  I was blessed my son and daughter in law allowed me to be in for the whole birth, what a miracle!

Shortly there after, I shot a short video for a new project coming up in the new year-more details on that later, did a weekend of painting demonstrations at Art of the Carolinas last week, and now I'm rolling into working on holiday events, small art, new collections, a big article for the spring and many other special new things that are all to revealed in the next few weeks!

I know time is precious so I will just leave you today with a few highlights of what is to come. As my valued readers, I want you to be among the first to know when I have specials and new products so here is what's on the agenda!

11/20-11/24  20% off Zen Paintings and Zen Houses online Workshop

11/20- 11/27  Free shipping!  Signed copies of my book, Abstracts in Acrylic and Ink along with a commemorative postcard.

11/25-11/27  15% off my entire shop!

PS-some new art and gifts  will be added this week!!

Ohh...BTW-, while I'm finished traveling for the year,  my next away workshop will be in New Mexico, hosted by Annie Hooten.  Two classes spanning 3 days. 

Flowing Features-Evening workshop

2 Day Zen Houses class

For more information, please contact Annie by clicking 

HERE

Rest assured-I have more great events coming, lots of NEW art to be loaded in my shop,  special deals and new project that expands on my year long stint as a guest columnist at Cloth Paper Scissors.  Those details and more will be unveiled over the next few weeks so be sure to stay tuned!

In the mean time, thank you so much for following my art, learning creative techniques with me and for your overall friendship as support. 

I'm blessed beyond measure for it all.

Fondly,

Jodi Ohl

The Fun Has Begun! Art, Black Friday Specials and MORE!

It's that time again!  Turkey Day is almost here! Prepare yourself for fun around the dinner table--I can only imagine the conversations that we are all in store for with our beloved family members this year!   Better bring extra Turkey Cocktails :)))) 

Seriously, thank you guys for all that you do-following me on the blog for all these years as well as for all the encouragement along the way!   Would you believe that this blog is 10 years old this year???  Holy cow!  

I'm grateful beyond words!  Many thanks..many thanks!   With that said--here are some of the Black Friday treats I have in store for you this year.  (If you are a newsletter subscriber, there just may be some extra EXTRA bonuses!!  If you aren't one yet-be sure to sign up today!  

Black Friday Specials:

Creative Workshop-  Sale prices:  11/23-11/29/2016

Zen Painting:  Save big!  Regular 109 now $95

Dirty Flirty Birds:  Super Special!  40% off!  Regular 99.00  Now $59.40

All other workshops, 30% including:

•          Podtastic
•          Grunge Ink
•          Sweet Art
•          Who Are You
•          Fun with Faux Encaustics
•          Fearless Faux Encaustics
•          Behind You

Colourarte    Sale prices valid  11/23-11/29/2016 

All workshops 30% off:

Including:

·         Texturize This

·         Twinks on Yupo

·         Painterly in Pink

·         Extreme Portraits

·         Funky Little Cityscapes

Let's end this post with a fun giveaway!!   

Last July, I had the honor to work with Mary Beth Shaw, Nathalie Kalbach, and Gina Rossi Armfield at Art Journaling Live 3 at the Great American Scrapbook Convention. Boy did we have fun!  4 different approaches to art journaling, tons of laughs,lots of creating went on between all of us and our fantastic audience of students.     This event is now available on DVD  but for one lucky blog follower of mine...well this fun dvd could be yours!  But wait...there's more!!

 I also have one brand spankin' new set of 24 water colors for that same winner...I love these water colors as they are highly pigmented and the biggie...affordable!   Both of these items together are valued at just under 100.00! Wahooohoo!  What a great way to start off the holiday season!!

How to win this giveaway?   How about tell me something you are grateful for this year.  We could all use a dose of positivity along with creativity!   Leave a comment for an entry,  share this post and come back and let me know you shared with your friends and followers and you can get one extra entry. PLEASE be sure to leave your email so I can contact you.  I'm a pretty good detective but it takes a lot of time to hunt folks down needlessly :)))  xoxo

**Winner will be chosen at Random on Wednesday, November 30th.******



Thank you so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and family!  

 Please keep checking the blog over the next several weeks! I have tons of great things coming up that I think you will LOVE :) 

 Drop by my Etsy shop if you are in the neighborhood!!  Tons of great items available in all price ranges for you or the art lover  in your family!

I Want To Run Away!

I've always wanted to go away by myself just to think.

 After I'm in a good place, take out my paints and dive in deep. I can picture myself  tucked cozily  away in the woods, hugged by a mountain and soothed by a trickling creek.  It hasn't happened yet but I feel the solo sabbatical coming soon.  I'm not even sure why I feel this way. I think that (probably like many of you), I just don't want to do laundry, or  mop the floors; or be on for cooking dinner, or answer the phone or reply to messages. I just want to hear things clearly and make decisions without the guilt of having chores to do. Not forever, God no! I love my life, yet I crave the solitude so to speak.

I imagine what  that scene would look like, and this picture although not really what was in my mind, can kind of take you away for a moment to that sanctuary I envision.

Or perhaps it looks a bit like this:

I could sit out on one of these big rocks with my journal and pen and write for awhile before I grab another cup of hot coffee and begin my day with a clear head and peaceful heart.    I know it may be awhile before I can go on that trip by myself to find my way again (finding my way needs to happen every couple of months btw...it has nothing to do with mental status, just my quest for clear direction :)  Instead of escaping somewhere, I have been doing these morning rituals that have helped me quite a bit. Maybe not as quick of changes as if I could sequester myself for 4-5 days at a time, but taking 45 minutes to go outside very early in the morning and read, drink coffee, then write in my journal, well that simple morning routine has lead me to some really amazing breakthroughs this summer.

One....I've started another new body of work.  My abstract collection is growing and becoming a huge part of the direction I want to take in the future.  It's something I've been cultivating over the last few years but this new collection is different. It's more mature in a lot of ways.

So to my point about wanting to go away to my safe little place in the woods,  the morning routine is actually a good compromise.  After all, once I get my inspiration and motivation in check first thing in the morning, what comes out of my painting sessions afterwards has been amazingly clear.  

Take 45 minutes at the beginning or end of the day to get yourself  into a state of clarity.  It might include exercise,  meditation, reading, walking,  music..whatever your vice is, after developing a routine you will be amazed at how your are able to cope, actually not just cope, but thrive the rest of the day.

You still will encounter obstacles.

You will still have to do the laundry.

*haha*

You will feel more equipped for what's to come.  

It's a practice of clarity by doing what brings you peace.

Try it!

Do you have a morning routine or a way to seek clarity in your everyday life?

I'd love to hear !

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Before I let you go--don't forget I'm having an awesome sauce Back to School  (ART SCHOOL) sale over at both of my online workshop venues.

Save on all my online classes from now until the end of August. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/219035012/until-you-try-18-x-18-abstract-pod?ref=shop_home_active_10

See what's on sale over at Creative Workshops!

See what's on sale over at Arte Village!

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Tons of new work up in the shop over the last month!

Stop by and see!

Create in your Jammies :)

Now I'm on a roll....Online workshop page is updated!

 I will have a few more classes to add soon, so please save the link and check back! As a sweet treat for my students, my Sweet Art Class is on sale now thru February 6th. Save 15.00! Perfect timing for Valentine's Day or any other SWEET event coming up in your life. Create your own gift for someone or keep and be inspired by your work in your own home. Take a look at all my current offerings! Online workshops are a great way to work at your own pace on your own schedule yet still partake in a community full of amazing students just like yourself from all over the world. I host a variety of workshops, some open ended and some that have a subscription that lasts for a period of time (usually 6-12 months) after the initial roll out starts.  I pride myself at delivering content rich lessons, in easy to understand format (video) that you will take away a variety of traditional and contemporary techniques, tips and tools in each and everyone of my classes.  I strive to answer all questions and give feedback within 24 hours unless an unusual circumstance happens. :)



Find me at Creative Workshops:

Who Are You

Sweet Art

ON SALE!! Now through February 6th, save 15.00!

Fearless Faux Encaustic

Let's Face It

Art Journaling....Your Way

Fun With Faux Encaustic

Come Join Me over at Dreaming Color:

Twinks On Yupo

Painterly in Pink Session 2

Partner Projects:

Wahoooooo I'll be teaching at the 2013  21 Secrets workshop which begins in April 2013!

This is an awesome grouping of 21 lessons from 21 teachers from around the world, you will have complete access to all of the teachers workshops hosted at 21 Secrets for the low low price of $59.00!

To find out more about this workshop,  visit 21 Secrets and sign up today!

Lifebook 2013

2012 was the first year the amazing Tamara Laporte gathered a group of teachers for her year long Lifebook project and I had the honor of teaching 3 segments over the course of the year.  This year I'm enjoying being a student and have to say already 2013 is starting off with a bang, so many awesome projects already from a 'star studded' line up of teachers. As an affiliate of Lifebook 2013, I invite you to check out the website and  join in our fun! It's not too late to join in!  All workshops on Lifebook are downloadable or accessible to March of 2014

It's All About the Possible Art Everyday Month Day 27

Even when the rest of the world is going crazy.....and the truth is hard to see, when you make time to create, all the nonsense goes away.  You can go anywhere in the world or in a land of make believe and get submersed in a garden of possibility, if you allow it to come to you.

 

Really, it's okay to believe.

Be brave by putting one foot in front of the other to get to where you are supposed to go.

Don't let anyone tell you your dreams are impossible or you're not going to make it.  It IS possible.  

Even if your dreams turn out a bit differently then you originally thought they would be, or the road you take has a few turns and detours along the way...it's all meant to be so you can be the best at what you do, and build a solid foundation for all that is to come.

You need to start somewhere though.  The beginnings don't always have a lot of direction but they are exciting and adventurous.    You know you are going on a fantastic journey and have a vague idea of where and what you want to do along the way....

And then it begins to come together and you see the magic
happen, some parts are not as clear as they started out to be but yet
they are there and you are  building the foundation,
wondering whats next and hoping it'll turn out like you intended, but you
don't know and are a bit fearful that you might not make it.

But you do.  And for the rest of the world who didn't believe you could do it, and didn't have what it takes to stick with it and make something of your dreams, tell them just look at you now...because you were brave and did it anyway, and saw all the possibilities...you conquered and made something imaginary , something in side your head come alive.

It's okay to believe in yourself. 

It's okay to let the world go and just concentrate on yourself and your immediate surroundings for a bit.

It's okay to be brave, in fact, it's necessary to stay on the path you were meant to be on.

It's okay to get to the middle and not know if it's all going to be okay.

You get thru the middle part and the not so pretty and fun part, trust me.

And then at the end,  you can sit back and say, yes this is exactly where I was meant to be.

No Place Like Home Art Every Day Month Day 25

No matter how far away you go....

There is no place like home.   Thoughts of my loved ones far and away, it doesn't get any easier spending holidays with out you even though it's been many years since we left.

Here's to the many things I'm grateful for...memories, family, friends, happiness, health, peace of mind, opportunities, and being blessed with children who make me proud to be their Mom.



I hope your Thanksgiving is spent at home no matter where that is, surrounded by people you love.  It's not what you are thankful for...most of all it's who you are thankful for :)

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To my blog readers, thank you for checking in and following me, for commenting or emailing me with your kind words and common stories.  I gain insight and inspiration each and everyday from so many of you. Thank YOU.

Break Time

I've been up to my ears in pink lately---just checkout my flickr photo stream to see all that's new and pink in my life :) This sweet little painting is a custom order for one of my repeat customers who wanted me to recreate (somewhat) a painting I had done previously. I had someone ask me that if doing something like that bothered me as an artist. That's an interesting question, because as an artist, you are supposed to create because you are inspired to create by something in your life, an event, a moment, an opinion, or a voice that drives you do so. But what if someone decides for you or asks you for something specific....should you, can you comply? I think the answer to that, is absolutely! Afterall...if it is your desire to sell what you create, the voice of who keeps you in business should be listened to as much as the voice inside of you speaks to you to create in the first place. However, not everything can be recreated exactly....in fact, it's probably a good thing that it can't be exact, otherwise you'd mainly be doing production work and while that may be good to a point, it's not quite as inspiring. I don't know...how do you feel about creating on demand? I might change my tune if I was asked to do one thing a 100 times over, but a few....ya, I can handle that.

Other news--I am honored to have been asked to do an interview over on the ACE Team Blog (Artists of the Carolinas on Etsy). I've done a couple of interviews over the last couple of months and the interesting thing about doing them is that I seem to learn something new about myself each time I reply to the questions. Sometimes it takes someone else to ask questions about ourselves to have us dig a little deeper into our motivations and history.

I better get back to work, there's more painting to tackle and dinner to eat (wow...I am eating late...not good)!

Carolina Blue Collection by Sweet Repeats

Random thoughts.....

Carolina Blue Collection--my largest artwork yet, 24 x 48

40---an age that is quickly approaching in 2 months. Where did the first half of my life go? What is to come in the last half?


It's hard to believe that 10 years has passed since we moved to North Carolina. It's been a good move overall, but it's taken me several years to even feel like I am part of a community. A lot of that is probably my fault and my lack of involvement with anything other than work and home. This last year though, I did step out and join a few groups that I have a lot in common with and it really has opened many new doors for me, both in the sense of community and in the sense of bonding with others which is really necessary especially when we don't have any family within several hundred miles.


It's funny, the community I've found isn't just outside of these four walls in the town around me. A big portion of my feelings of belonging and bonding has come from those I have met through my blog and a couple of other online groups I've joined. It definitely is a 'sisterhood' of sorts.


It makes me think that I should have unlocked these doors and wandered down the path much sooner than I did. It might have made the last ten years a little less lonely. That's my fault, I don't know what I expected--for people to magically find me at my house making a cake and invite themselves over for coffee and conversation?

To the naked eye, you might not realize the many, many layers of an individual.
But it's there. Peel the layers, look underneath and you will find some amazing things. Some amazing people. (pic is a before shot of the section that has 'home' on it).


You definitely need to wander down many roads to find exactly what you are looking for in life. You'll never get there if the journey is not started. Things are happening fast because I started to step out, to experiment, to discover, to network, to bond, to push myself in areas I'm not so comfortable and to explore what is within.

Two things that are very important in the journey of discovery, Friends....


And of course, family.

discover

explore

network

enjoy

peace

aspire

inspire

soar

dream

.....still have doubts, still have worries, still have anxieties but what's different now is that I'm not as alone during those days. It's good to be able to call Carolina Blue Town my home.


((To see the complete set of my Carolina Blue Collection, please visit my flickr page! These pieces are only available locally in Southern Pines, if you are interested in any of my collection, please email me at johl3 at windstream dot net ))