JO Blog

So many good things are happening in 2020 and I do not remember the last time I was this excited for what a year will hold. 2020 will be my year to create at home! In 2020 I will not be traveling to teach for anyone (that was hard to say no again and again […]

When you look at the work of an artist you are able to see so much deeper into their past, what they find beautiful in this world and an intimate glimpse into what makes them have to create in the first place. Renee Muller is an artist with such a love and history in the […]

I have become a bit of a collector of the works of Emma Petitt. Each time I have been able to purchase another piece I fall more and more in love with all of the colors, layers, and emotions in her creations. There is so much life in what Emma puts out into the world […]

The first time I saw an original J. Kirk Richards in person I gasped! The colors, the emotion, the depth of layers. I was instantly in awe of the artist and how he created. For years I have admired and followed his work.  Whether Kirk is working in clay, oils or charcoals he is a […]

  This week is the one year anniversary of the official release of my first book The Painted Art Journal. It has been a total kick to have my book be a best seller and even sell out on Amazon. Thank you to everyone that has purchased, shared and created using my book!  This whole […]

Sometimes you meet another artist and everything they are putting out into the world is so fun, colorful, relatable, joyful and just dripping with my favorites of layers and textures that you cross your fingers that they will want to teach a course and share it with our artists!  You will laugh, create and have […]

We only do this twice a year and this will not happen again until January next year! For the next 48 hours we are having our Semi Annual 50% off Online Class Sale! USE CODE: JO50 This is the perfect time to stock up on all of those online classes that you have been dreaming […]

“Focusing only on imperfect papers and book parts from the past, explore the notion of creating beautiful collage work using very few supplies. No marks, no paint, just paper. Clear the clutter to create space, both mentally and physically, and allow the papers to speak for themselves. Creating a collage that is strong enough to […]

Imagine learning the art techniques that will allow you to connect with your world. The techniques that help you to be fully present in your day to day life. This is a gift to yourself.  Learning how to slow down and see…really see…is one of the greatest lessons to learn and Lorraine Bell will guide […]

We have just added another free video to our creative network! Today we have released Exploring Negative Space  with Pauline Agnew. This free video gives you a taste of the course, Feel The Pose | Creating Expressive and Energetic Figure Drawings and we hope you will join us for the full class! From Pauline- When […]

We have just added another free video to our creative network! Today we have released Etching in Color  with Rae Missigman. This free video gives you a taste of the course, Mixed Media Directions | A Path to Artful Discovery. and we hope you will join us for the full class! Concealing layers of our […]

Not much has changed since this photo! I still wear my hair in pigtails and I am a sucker for convertibles! I love birthdays! I love making it extra special for those I love and I will squeeze all of the goodness I can when it comes to me too. I have been known to […]

      You can read part one, two, three, four, five and six.   It was now time to pack up and say goodbye to Aistisfoul. Hadn’t we just arrived and unpacked all of our clothes and organized our art supplies? How was it already time to go?   We were about to head […]

    You can read part one, two, three, four and five. I am such a homebody so when we arrived at Aitisfoul I could feel my whole mind and body let out a huge exhale. Home. We were home for the next week.   |The patio off our room|   As we went to […]

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four Waking up to farmland, green fields and distant palm trees. Each day of travel was truly a visual feast. Each mile out of Marrakech was bringing us closer and closer to our resting place that would be Aitisfoul.     As we were making our way to […]

  Part One, Part Two, Part Three When I signed up for this adventure I signed up and paid and then just sat back. To be honest I didn’t do more than glance at the itinerary or any of the details. I know Michelle and I trusted her and part of what I was looking […]

You can read Part One HERE. You can read Part Two HERE. The first full day in a new city usually is full of too much to take in and when you are as far away from home as Africa it means new languages, smells, sounds, textures, colors, social norms, clothing, and even worship. I […]

  You can find Part One HERE. As soon as I was undressed (down to my underwear because that was what I was told) I put on a robe and was met outside the small changing space and taken down the dark hallway with all lights putting off a soft red glow. At the end […]

Last summer as we were getting out of the car to head to our town pool I had an email come into my inbox telling me that registration had just opened for my friend Michelle Fletcher’s first big workshop in Morocco. I have been friends with Michelle for many years now. Through art and business, […]

Imagine painting a portrait with layer after layer of color and detail. Imagine learning so well how to sketch and bring emotion into your work that your art just gets richer and draws others in. Imagine an online course that guides you to your next level as an artist. The Art of Connection | Painting […]

Imagine creating a handmade book filled with techniques, layers, and details that you will treasure forever. Roxanne Evans Stout is back on our creative network and she has created a course that will guide you step by step to create a gorgeous artistic book inspired by color and light. Daydreams and Window Light with Roxanne Evans Stout […]

We have just added another free video to our creative network! Today we have released Scribble Art with Kate Thompson. This free video gives you a taste of the course, Sacred Vestments | Expressive Portraits and Figures with Kate Thompson and we hope you will join us for the full class! Kate starts out with loose […]

We have just added another free video to our creative network! Today we have released Tracing Paper Figures with Dina Wakley. This free video gives you a taste of the course, Figuratively Speaking and we hope you will join us for the full class! Using a technique of tracing paper and magazines, Dina helps you focus […]

Imagine using simple tools to document and create from everyday life?  Join watercolor artist Christie Drahnak on a journey of discovery and expression using watercolor to capture the beauty that is all around you.  In this class, we will start at the beginning and learn watercolor techniques to free you up to be more expressive in […]