No Regrets. A giveaway and Video Blog

It was merely a week ago today that I was wrapping up the last video I was taping with the folks at FW media, and I have to tell you friends that it was probably one of the scariest things I have done yet. I mean really, really scary to me. If you could be inside my head while I was driving from North Carolina to Ohio,  you'd have thought I was on my way to an execution one minute and then the next minute you'd hear prayers of gratitude for this opportunity to do something I have wanted to do for so long!   How can one have such conflicting emotions about doing something so dang cool?

I think it has to do a lot with stepping outside of your comfort zone and putting yourself into a vulnerable position.  I don't like doing that.  Yet, I love doing that.   It's a crazy life to lead when you have introverted ways with extroverted tendencies.  Does that make sense?

I understand how emotionally up and down this can be so I can totally relate to those of you who go through something similar. That's also why you often hear me preach the sentiment- in order for one to succeed in life and live out your dreams, you must act on your goals...even when they include doing something that is scary as can be.  The belief in yourself and your vision needs to rise above your fears.

And you know what?  Most of the time, the fear is 99% conjured in your mind and so not as scary as you believe it to be. The advice I was given over and over again was to slow down and breathe.

Just breathe.  Simple words but powerful.  Next time you are about to take a big step,  a big plunge...remember to breathe and believe you can do it.  Even if you fall down, you will get back up.



  I also have to tell you that the first time I proposed the video outlines to the powers that be, they weren't immediately accepted. So,  I tucked them away for a few months while I sat down and rethought out my ideas...and then, out of the blue.....I just brought them back out and got back down to business and sent them in again revised with the suggestions. At first they accepted 3 of the ideas, and then they said...hey, let's  do one more.

Moral of the story,   a 'no' not now, isn't a 'no', not ever....and another moral of the story is,   if you avoid that what you fear most of your life, you will also avoid that which you dream about doing.

One of my fears is living with regrets.   I know I'll have some when my time is called, but I want there to be as few regrets on my list of wanna dos and wanna be's as I can possibly have.   It's not always easy getting past the fear of being vulnerable, but when you do....doors open and amazing things can happen.

So that's my preachy preach for today :) Hope it resonates with one or two of you, if nothing else, to let you know that no matter who you are or what you do...we all are made of the same cloth and have similar fears and anxieties deep within our hearts.   You can over come them and rise above!

Oh heck...let's do one more thing...how about a give away?    I haven't done one in awhile!
Leave a comment on this post and tell me something you have overcome that was fear based for you recently. We want to hear your story!

Winner will get a $40 gift certificate to my Etsy shop valid for the rest of June. (Use it or lose it ;)

I'll pick a random winner on Monday, June 8th.
And for those of you that want to shop now....I have a thank you coupon for 10% off my shop that is valid for any time between now and June 12th.

Use code "Hellosummer"

BTW---I do NOT have the birds or many of the pieces featured in the video blog in my Etsy shop, but if you see one you like, let me know and I can put it in there for you.  Most of my new work is going to several of my shops and for a teaching event in 2 weeks.

Prices if you are interested:

small wood birds:  30.00

6x6 single peeps  48.00

8x8    canvas  60.00

11x14  birds and watercolor 174

20 x 20 feathers  on wood  400

12 x 36 ( I believe there are 3 featured in the video) 445

You can use the coupon on any of these, too.

I

Update:

Sold-Top Right  

Sold  Middle Right

Sold- Bottom left

Sold  8x8 canvas  Wear your Feathers

*if you are interested in any of these remaining pieces, please email me at jodiohl@hotmail.com, or stop by my Etsy shop and message me. I am not going to list most of these as they are going to a show/shop--but as readers and followers of my blog I'm offering you first pic! :))

Here is a little snippet of some of my new work...hope you enjoy and are inspired.  Don't forget to leave a comment to get in on the giveaway!!

One last thing--If you are in Florida or ready to take a road trip, I'll be teaching at the Art More Place in Melbourne, Florida  June 19-21.   Check out my last blog post for more details.

It's All About Them Birds.

Can you guess what I've been painting lately???

I've been on a streak since last November with these crew of characters (plus tons of others that have already sold)!

One thing I've learned as a painter is that you don't have to constantly reinvent the wheel.  As long as you are interested in a topic/genre/style/theme..etc...and it lights your fire, keep doing it!.

While many are variations of one another,  I learn something new every time I create a birdie (and heck, some are even morphing into fishies).   

They make me laugh.

They make me smile.

They even sometimes make me a bit sad....what?  Sad?  Well, honestly, that's what art is all about, you create from your heart and in the moment you are personally in.  The pieces should bring you back or evoke a time or place someone else can relate to.  You have to take the happy with the sad.  The funny with the emotional. 

The bright and the dark.

Continue doing what you do..as long as you are called to do it.   

That's all I have today :)

I'll be off next week to tape some videos for a big media company!!! whooohoo...more about that later!   

Happy Memorial Day,  I am forever grateful for those who gave their lives in the line of duty, serving our great nation so that we may enjoy the life we do, day in and day out.

Thank you for your service.

You Never Know: Tips From The Studio and an Art Journal Flip Through

Hello and Happy Monday!

  I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and you were able to carve some creative time in your spare leisure moments.  I didn't do a whole lot in my studio this weekend other than finish up this project:

This is a 24 x 36 whimsical acrylic painting in my "Funky Little City Scape" style.that I started at the beginning of the month--while it didn't take me 4 weeks of non stop work to do, I would gather to say it was the better part of 2 weeks to do in full with a break in between to prepare for another project I was doing.   I just love the colors and happy vibe you get from this piece (which was inspired by a painting I did a few years ago that I loaded up to Pinterest). It is my most repinned pin and has inspired not only additional paintings, but even led to an opportunity to be on a book cover!!

 Here's a note card taken from a print of that above mentioned painting: 

(ps..if you like this style of painting and want to learn how..I have an online class called "Funky Little City Scapes" that you'd enjoy!   Click HERE to find out more.)

So..you see for my point today, you never know when one project is going to lead to the next, and the next---or for that matter, you never know where potential clients will find you.   My only regret and this is something that has happened to me before.... is that I did not capture a super high resolution image of this painting. I can create prints that are about 8x10 but that's the largest I can go and not sacrifice picture clarity.  

Don't do as Momma does...do as momma says: Take super high res images of your work before you send it off into the world!!!!  Saving your photos at 300 dpi also insures that if your image is used in a print publication, it will conform (ideally) to most industry standard printing publication guidelines. As you see, creating high resolution images is not just important for  for creating prints, you never know who may ask to use your work: licensed designs, fabric,  authors, musicians, stationary, etc...etc....the possibilities span far and wide!!

...I'll leave you with a little more inspiration today as I sign off--I've shared this before but for those new followers, I thought you might like to see some of my favorite journal pages of 2014.  I've JUST begun filling up a few new books for 2015, so stay tuned for a little preliminary look in a couple weeks (or if I get really ambitious...a couple of days!!). 




Artfully yours,

Jodi Ohl

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There's not much time left to take advantage of my sale on work shops over at Colourarte--all classes of mine are 15.00 off today!!

Have you stopped by my Etsy shop lately?  

See what's new! I've listed over 50 items since January!!!

'dirty flirty birds' one of my several new flat note cards/postcards now available in the shop!