Hello Friends!

Welcome to my creative corner!

For today’s issue, I’m passing on nuggets of wisdom, special events, and all things artsy and creative I’ve been involved in or have enjoyed over the last several weeks.

For something new and fun, I thought I’d share a monthly recap where I dish on what has been sparking the creative muse in me.

What I’m listening to:

Podcast with Father Bronques “Make Art Not Content” is a new favorite! If you haven’t heard of this podcast, it’s a quick 8-15 minute shows about being a creative with some tough love advice and real world stories. There’s so much valuable insight about overcoming the biggest obstacle in your creative life, yourself.

Grab a pen and paper, you’ll want to take notes!

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@makeartnotcontent/featured

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2RYqdOdca8BinN0Jc9Zind?si=578cad6f3f8e4c52

What I Just Read:

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

I’m enjoying suspense filled dramatic novels lately and this one entertained, kept me in suspense, and opened my eyes to a world that I really have little understanding of but feel that I walked away with a greater appreciation after reading this novel.

From the Amazon description:

Mad Honey is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves.

*I’m loving my “Audible” membership, it’s helped me go from ‘reading’ almost zero books a year to upwards of 18-24 now.

I honestly feel like it’s helped me be more expressive in my art, too. It’s almost as if the scenes I’m imagining in my head while listening to a book help me manifest my own stories onto the canvas. If you are interested in a membership, give it a try over here: https://amzn.to/3vDOJ14

What I’m Creating With:

One of my new favorite brushes that is perfect for blending is the mop brush. I honestly have never used one before, but I was curious to see if it could help me be looser with my transitions as I blend, and it really does work wonders. If you have trouble blending out your edges or adding areas of softness, give a mop bush a try and see if it helps you achieve a more ethereal look.

Have you tried this style of brush? I’d love to hear what you think and how you use it.

What I just Made:

I’ve completed a lot of small pieces over the last several weeks with the intention of having a “Mini’s in March” release. Well, the plans shifted after we had some unforeseen personal circumstances arise, but the good news is that it’s still MARCH! It may not the beginning of the month but I made it before the end of the month! Just Barely. I intended on having a big splash but time is slipping through my hands and I’m leaving soon for a teaching gig so I decided to do a special offer for my followers (it’s only for 2 days so read on for the limited time code).

Here’s just a few in the “March Minis” release.

If you’d like to take a look at the rest of my newest ‘little’s, check out the new section I created in my shop:

Small Abstracts

And if you are here on March 29th or 30th—be sure to use my follower special code for an extra 15% off my new small abstract section!

Mini’s in March-Discount code valid for 2 days only-Ends 3/30

15% Subscriber bonus coupon: marchmini15

See them all by going here.

Shop my entire store here https://jodiohl.etsy.com

Where I’m Going Next:

It won’t be long now and my next two big adventures will be coming up soon!!

Up first is my 5 day Abstract workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico hosted by the Madeline Island School of Art in the West Campus. Santa Fe is both an artsy haven and an incredible home to delicious Tex-Mex food. You will have ample time to explore in addition to creating. We have a couple of spaces left if you are up for SW adventure creating contemporary abstract art! Learn more by going HERE.

Another amazing “bucket list” creative retreats I’ll be guiding other abstract and beginning abstract artists on is in the gorgeous and wild West Coast of Ireland. I’ve always dreamed of going to Ireland and I’m so excited to be not just going, I’m going to lead others on a weeklong retreat as we work on “The Inspired Landscape and Beyond”. We have room for one or two more artists if you have Ireland on your bucket list, or just want to have a creative getaway—come along for this adventure! For more information, check out “The Inspired Landscape and Beyond” hosted by The Essence of Mulranny.

We have room for one or two more artists if you have Ireland on your bucket list, or just want to have a creative getaway—come along for this adventure! For more information, check out “The Inspired Landscape and Beyond” hosted by The Essence of Mulranny.

What have you been up to in March?

Win a PRIZE!!

Please drop a comment below of some of your recommendations from the month and you might just win a prize!!

I’ll be giving away this 12 x 12 Print to one lucky commentor on April Fools day---and this is no trick believe me!!

“Be Your Best Self”

***My next release of gicless will be coming up Mid April—stay tuned! In the meantime, if you’d like to see what we released in March, stop over to the shop by going here.

Until next time,

Jodi