Getting Down To Business with Jeanne Oliver

{E-Course from Jeanne Oliver}

A few months ago, I took the Creatively Made e-course by Jeanne Oliver and absolutely loved it because it has opened my eyes to a lot of things that I was finding so hard to understand about myself and what I desired as an artist. Most of my life, I have struggled with self-doubt and insecurities. I knew I wanted to be an artist, but have been so afraid of taking myself seriously for fear of rejection. Or I simply didn't think or believe I could achieve anything great with it. My lack of confidence was limiting my growth and caused me to feel stuck. Deep down, I wanted so much to reach my dreams and just be who I knew I was meant to be. I'd ask God over and over, where am I going in life? What is my calling? I knew that first and foremost, I am a mom and a wife. Yes, I am fulfilled and complete because they mean everything to me and I value my role and purpose to love and care for them. But, I also knew that as a very creative person, that there was so much more I needed to do in life that served a bigger purpose using the gifts I have been blessed with. Finally, I can honestly say, I KNOW (not think) who I am and what I was born to do and now I'm more than ready to take it further and let my destiny unfold... This time no more holding back by fear! Yeahhhh!!!

So in regards to finally taking the step to realize my gifts and creative abilities, one of my dreams is to really build and grow my own brand and sell my art to retailers and wholesalers. I know that I can't do it alone and need the help and mentoring of others. Unfortunately, I don't have many people in real life that I can talk to or call upon for business advice or anything related to it. Thankfully, there's some wonderful people out there who are willing to help and share their experiences with others. When I heard about,  Building A Creatively Made Business, I knew I had to go for it. Jeanne Oliver has been so generous with her life to offer this course to those who are searching for the support and guidance in starting their own creative business. Her genuine and honest approach in what she shares and teaches are exactly what I believe has made this so invaluable and empowering. I look forward to discovering the things that has helped her build and grow her creative business. So thankful and excited to complete this workshop which started yesterday! And it's not too late to join in if you're interested!

  Being a SAHM for so many years, I am extremely grateful for having found so many creative and inspiring connections through the virtual community, many who are willing to share their advice, insight, and experiences with people like me who need direction and guidance. Otherwise, I don't think I would be where I am today. It feels good to be able to connect with other artists from all over the world who share in the same passion and creativity as I do. The beauty of it is supporting and learning from one another and watching each other grow. I truly hope that I can even meet some of them in real life one day :) So, if there's any creative artists or crafters reading my blog that is in my area, please do not hesitate to contact me! 

xoxo,

Doodles Unleashed : Inspired By Traci Bautista

Traci Bautista's Doodles Unleashed online workshop is a free class on Strathmore's website that I am currently taking and because I've been so inspired by her work already, it was a great chance for me to get to know Traci and learn from her. Doodling comes so naturally to me already which is why I was so excited to join in and I'm so glad I did because I am having so much fun with it. So far, I've created a few pieces from the last two lessons that were posted and wanted to share my take on them as I applied some of her cool techniques in my art work. There are two more weeks of her workshop and I will also be posting about that as well, so don't forget to come back and check out my blog!

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Lesson 1: Playful Printmaking

In lesson 1, it was about printmaking and creating doodles shapes for the background, but I didn't really create too many doodles because I was more focused on creating a theme for an art journal page and wanted to incorporate a title as you can see above and some writing onto the page. However, I did love this lesson because one of my favorite things to doodle, are flowers and botanicals. 

Dream: "Never let go of your dreams...you and only you can live out your dreams."

One of the dreams I have is to 'write a book' and to 'teach'. 

I know that these dreams can bloom, grow, and flourish if I hold on and never give up.

I used a white gel pen to journal with, but Traci has a list of her favorite white ink pens + markers on her blog which I want  to try out in the future.

As I was experimenting with letters, the letter 'd' was actually not freehanded like the rest of the word. I used a chipboard letter as a mask when I sprayed ink over it and then traced and painted it. I think I will do that with all the letters next time to give it a more cleaner look... But, it is what it is and that's okay :)

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Lesson 2: Creating Spontaneous Watercolor Backgrounds

Lesson 2, was all about playing with watercolor and creating watercolor backgrounds with doodles and stamps. I particularly LOVED this lesson since I primarily work with acrylics in my art and never really use watercolors very much. But, I think this class turned it all around for me and I absolutely love the whimsical, dreamy feel to this project. I used watered down acrylics and watercolor crayons.

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY

I used a butterfly rubber stamp and inked it up with my paintbrush, being careful to not mix the colors on the rubber stamp before applying it onto the page. It came out beautifully.... When everything was dry, I went in and added some detail with a white gel pen and black india ink pen.

Of course, I had to add journaling... "With God all things are possible."

Hand painted the words with watercolor took some practice.

Used a round metal cap to add circles. Then journaled, "Spread your wings and fly away."

Close up on the butterfly.

I went in and splattered paint in different colors...

The splatters left a trail in the right place which I think gave the butterfly a sense of movement and direction. 

THANKS to Traci for being an amazing inspiration to the art community. Looking forward to creating a stylized face in the remaining lessons of Doodles Unleashed online workshop :)

2012 Round Up : Art Journal + Mixed Media Workshops Galore

I will be participating and learning in this truly inspirational, 4-week workshop by Jeanne Oliver -- Creatively Made, beginning today, Monday, January 9th. After watching her intro video regarding the e-course, I just knew I had to take her class. So excited to begin this journey into learning and growing, but also how it relates to my spiritual journey as well. My goal is to really reflect my faith and the wisdom I have learned through my experiences, within my art and writing. So, this workshop is going to be something that will spark my creativity in that sense. I will definitely be posting about the entire process as I am learning from Jeanne, on my blog, so please don't miss out and check back often....

Also, I am being totally overwhelmed with so many other workshops being opened up in 2012 that I am anxious to be a part of. But, I really, really, really don't think it's within my budget especially with so many financial obligations that I am facing at the moment. It is so tough right now, but I have faith that things will work out once my hubby and I can begin to really focus on our photography biz and hopefully our individual passions with his plant nursery (which you can learn more about here.) and my artwork. Of course, I can't help but feel discouraged and a little apprehensive that what if it doesn't work out or maybe we can't be successful like others?!? That mindset needs to STOP. I need to remember that if others can make it, so can I. I have to try, I have to work hard, and I have to keep believing... With the adversities that I am facing at the moment, the setbacks and disappointments, the lack of finances, all these obstacles can easily deter me from reaching my dream and achieving my goals. However, it only pushes my limits to work with what I have and challenges me to take some chances on working hard at it or opening up an ETSY shop (currently under construction) perhaps? But, do I have the confidence and the determination to? I think so... wait, I BELIEVE SO...(gotta have faith, right?) I have to start somewhere and find out!

Out of all the workshops that I am dying to take, here are my list so far:

I love Julie Balzer and love her fun blog! Most of all, she is always sharing something new and fresh and so creatively inspiring on her blog in so many aspects of art--mixed media, scrapbooking, stamp carving, quilting, etc. Seriously, there isn't anything this woman can't do, she is LEGIT! And being a rubber stamp addict since a little girl, I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was to hear that she has this course available!

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Christy Tomlinson has been a vital part of my creative journey since day one of my mixed-media adventure... I don't know where I'd be without her presence in this world! She is genuine, sweet, honest, and full of creative inspiration! My first workshop was She Had Three Hearts which I took last year and it has literally changed my life. This year she has a new type of workshop -- The Art of Wild Abandonment -- is one which she will be co-hosting with some her favorite artists. This one is with Junelle Jacobsen and from the looks of it, I am dying to learn from her! You can learn more about Junelle, here.

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Okay, now at first I was thinking that this workshop only involved one person teaching 21 secrets, but lo and behold, there are 21 of some of the most talented, professional artists... All contributing their unique approaches and creative techniques to help broaden and grow your skills. Talk about creativity overload! This is the 3rd annual 21 Secrets online course hosted by Connie Hozvicka of Dirty Footrpints Studio. More details about it here.

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Alisa Burke, is phenomenal. Enough said. Love her style. Its eccentric and lively, full of color and her expertise with sketching and doodles is out of this world. I feel giddy whenever I see her work, especially her graffiti style art. I wanna be like her when I grow up! Ha! Definitely going to take advantage of her courses this year, one way or another, even if means I need to save my pennies. 

This is one of her online classes that recently opened up January 1st-- CREATE DAILY. :)

It is a course that will help incorporate simple ideas and prompts to get creative every day for 30 days and exercises that should jump start our habits and instill some creativity in our daily routine despite our busy schedules. Something I know happens to myself with the many priorities and responsibilities that comes with being a mom and wife. I love that I can relate to her approach for this course, because I know that it can be so easy to get caught up in life in general and be too busy to create to feed our creative souls.

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Traci Bautista, is more than just an artist... She is a creative entrepreneur, author, teacher, just an overall amazing person. I can totally identify with her style because growing up a city girl, I have always been a lover of graffiti and street art, which I immediately knew that when I saw her work, I connected with it in a strong way. I love her sense of boldness in her use of colors and dimensional shapes and colors. It blows me away! Although she has several amazing online workshops available, her current release is one catered to those, like me, who want to really take our art and make it a successful creative business. I am totally inspired and motivated to really make what I do as my life's work, my career, my calling... If I'm going to begin towards that path, I know I can't just do it blindly. Big steps like this, need guidance and direction and who else is more than qualified than one who has been highly regarded and successful in this industry... So, if possible, I really hope to take this DREAM BIG 2012 course from Traci and make 2012 all about making my DREAM COME TRUE. 

**She currently has a FREE online video workshop along with a few other artists over on the Strathmore website, and registration is now open**

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And if I could travel, INSPIRED WORKSHOPS would be the ultimate workshop retreat that I would absolutely LOVE to go to because who does not love Donna Downey?  I have been secretly admiring her work for the very longest time, since my pre-mixed media scrapbooking days. This woman is insanely one of the most gifted peeps in the industry... I've always heard and dreamed of going to one of her Inspired workshops located in Donna's very own studio not to mention be surrounded by other creatives like myself in one setting. Donna is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. It's an entire weekend of mixed media and art journaling with a limited number of 20 students and these workshops usually are sold out super quick! For this year, it will be for the weekends of April 19-22 and November 8-11 in North Carolina. I'm probably guessing that it will be sold out soon like it usually does, but if I suddenly have the means and the provisions to go, I am jumping on this for sure, probably more towards the November class. Anyone else going???

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CREATE | MIXED MEDIA RETREAT is another event coming up for May 30-June 3, but this time much closer to me!!!! Irvine, CA is down south from where I am and is only a 5 hour drive from where I live. So, I don't see why I can't make it to this one. What is so cool about it is that you can select the workshops you would like to take on the given day and also by the instructor that you'd like to learn from. One very unique class that I am longing to learn is BOOKMAKING. You know, it would be so incredible if I could learn how to effectively bind my own art journals or even create them for others! I'm going to have to bug my hubby to allow me to leave him with the kids for the weekend!! There is also an Artists' Faire where vendors sell their unique art and crafts. I would love to browse and get a glimpse on how things are set up, network with like-minded entrepreneurs, and be inspired by other artists who have the experience of making their dreams come true. Find out more details about this retreat, here.

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Okay!! Well, I know there are probably many more workshops, classes, and retreats out there to choose from and I'm sure there are lots of inspirational artists that are wonderful teachers, but I wanted to share ones that I have been inspired to learn from and workshops that I am strongly interested in. I could probably drive myself crazy with wanting to take so many classes and workshops and perhaps drive my husband crazy with wanting to spend all our money, LOL.. So, it's one thing at time for me and hopefully I'll be able to fit some of these into my schedule as the year goes on as I continue to grow and learn new things...

Thanks for reading and letting me share! Hope to meet some of you online or at a retreat in one of these workshops!