Day Seven - A Holiday Crisis

I write with a heavy heart. Mike's Dad is in the hospital. He has been declining for some time and has taken a downward turn. I normally would not post something so personal, but I've committed to blogging everyday and going where this journey leads me. This situation fills me with gratitude for the people in my life -the fragility of our existence and the importance of living earnestly.

ox
Jenelle

Thank You Pam Carriker

Homage to Pam Carriker Coptic Journal

While I started keeping a daily dairy in fourth grade ( important stuff like --played tetherball after school, have a crush on Jeff Current and like Marcia best on The Brady Brunch) -- I didn't start art journaling seriously until 2010. 

First art journal page from Shades of Grey

 I read Pam Carriker's Shades of Grey article in Somerset Studio and was mesmerized.

I immediately ordered the Shades of Grey Pitt pens from Dick Blick and took my first online course. I was hooked. A few months later I learned how to make coptic journals and the addiction intensified. I recently made a Homage to Pam Carriker Coptic Journal and put all the journal pages that I created from her classes. The above picture is my first art journal page from Shades of Grey. I'm very grateful that Pam has been so generous sharing her talent and techniques. 

Christmastide Tea at The McCharles House

In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron writes about the importance of Artist Dates. Taking time to replenish our inner well, restocking our artistic waters. Lydia and I meet once a month for an Artist Date at the magical McCharles House. Today was extra special because ChristmasTide Tea was being served.

 Located in Tustin, CA - The McCharles House is a beautiful Victorian Home that is lovingly maintained by Vivian and Audrey - an immensely talented mother/daughter duo. 

Beautiful surroundings, incredible food, wonderful conversation -

the ambience captured the feeling of my childhood home at Christmas.

Greeted with loose leaf hot teas, eggnog and my favorite McCharles House lime sherbet punch- 

we progressed to Roasted Tomato Basil soup, Chicken Magdelena and Wild Rice.

Dessert, I'll remember for a long time: Chocolate Truffle (seriously decadent), Bread Pudding and Fruit Cake that tasted just like my Grandma's...

Then it was time for a stroll through the delightful gardens-

It went by all too quickly. Santa waved goodbye and we headed our to our cars - my artistic soul replenished with rich images of a wonderful afternoon. Need to go - I have to make my reservations for next month!

Happy Holidays!

ox

Jenelle

Getting this in under the wire

Ruben Barajas, myself and Nancy Rosa in front of a pic
of campers at Paul Newman's Rowdy Ridge Camp

Wow, I just hit the wrong button and deleted my entire post!! I am sliding this post in under the wire. It's 11:00p.m - which is quite late for a gal who gets up at 4:00a.m. So, I'm just going to share my day - which was actually pretty incredible.

Managed to get some pages in my Moleskin gesso'd, textured stamps and rubbed with oil pastels. Had hoped to do some watercolor sketches, but the day took off.

Attended the Holiday Party for Paul Newman's Rowdy Ridge Camp held at the Scott Newman Center. I'm so honored to be creating a Healing Thru Art Program for the moms of the campers (more on that in the next day or so) It was a wonderful party - I met incredible people all dedicated to making this camp a transformational experience for the kids and their mothers. Everyone had a fun time :)

I can't wait to get up tomorrow and create some art. Been thinking about it all day. Okay, I'm going to sign off. See you manana :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

ox
Jenelle

Day 3 - UFO Christmas Party

My Tuesday Morning Class (L-R) Jill, Dee, Jerry, Cynthia, Grace, Anna and Shelly

Once a quarter I host a UFO event - not to discuss Area 51, Roswell or the lights over Arizona--its all about UnFinished Objects. It's a thank you to my incredible students for painting with me. They bring their UnFinished Objects-canvases, glass items, journals, whatever - I host raffles, giveaways and food --and we all  have a blast.

Cynthia finishes up Christmas ornaments

This morning I hosted a UFO Christmas Party for my Tuesday class. This special group has been painting me with for a couple of years. It's been such an inspiration to watch their progress since joining the class as beginners. They graciously put up with my corny jokes and between the laughter and joking, we create beautiful art.

Grace working hard or is she eating???

No low blood sugar here :)

Anna gets ready to paint

A big thank you to my Tuesday Morning class.

Happy Holidays!

ox

Jenelle

30 Days 'O Blogging Day Two

From my Moleskin journal this morning

When I signed up for Jenny Doh's The Keys to Publishing and Building Creative Momentum class,  the phrase Creative Momentum leaped out at me. It got me thinking --where else in my creative life can I build velocity? Authentic blogging from the heart immediately came to mind. I committed to 30 Days 'O Blogging. Then, of course,  fear set in.

You see, I want you to like me. I want you to think my art is incredible and profoundly affects the planet--and as long as I come from that paradigm, I'm being inauthentic. It's also a very safe place --trying to do the right art to please you, writing to impress you ---as long as I indulge those sort of thoughts,  I am not living my truth as an artist.

The Artist's Way says "the need to be a great artist makes it hard to be an artist. The need to produce a great work of art makes it hard to produce any art at all". So, I am tossing all my "wanna be's" out the window. I'm sharing from the heart - good stuff and bad stuff. My art. My process. I hope you'll like it, and if its not your cup 'o tea--that's okay too.

I have no idea where this journey will take me - makes me wonder what your journey looks like. If you decide to share it (or are sharing it) please let me know:)

Thanks for stopping by.

ox-
Jenelle

30 Days 'O Blogging

30 Days 'O Blogging

or How I Plan to Increase My Creative Velocity

I call them 30 Day Jaunts. 
30 days of doing something daily: 

creates breakthroughs 
creates velocity
creates accountability


I do art everyday, I write everyday 
and I now I want to have a breakthrough with blogging.
I love writing blogposts, but only make the time to do so sporadically. 


Daily blogging will give me an opportunity to explore different ways of sharing my art and my process.


 Daily blogging will force me to increase the speed at which I create and post.


Daily blogging will hold me accountable. 


30 Days 'O Blogging 
Starts Now.