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November 16, 2018

Tea and Cake with Gracie featuring Jeanne Oliver

By Gracie  |   in artist interviews  | Tags: Jeanne Oliver , giveaway , Tea & Cake with Gracie  

Hello Friends! Welcome to a series we run on the blog called: Tea & Cake with Gracie :) Gracie interviews inspiring artists and posts the interviews (including some free offers not published elsewhere before) here on the blog. Today Gracie’s interviewing Jeanne Oliver. Make sure you check out Jeanne’s awesomely generous giveaway for TWO lucky readers, video tutorial and, exclusive to Tea and Cake, 20% discount code below! Tam xoxo

Read previous Tea and Cake with Gracie Artist Interviews by clicking on artist’s name :
Jeanne Oliver | Katrina Koltes | Micki Wilde | Roben-Marie Smith | Jeanne-Marie Webb | Kathy Glynn | Donna Mulholland | Wendy Brightbill | Whitney Freya | Violette Clark | Melissa Dinwiddie | Tascha Parkinson | Susana Tavares | Lynn Whipple | Karine Bossé | Jenny Grant | France Papillon | Jenny Wentworth | Kristin Dudish | Rachael Rice | Angela Kennedy (Pennystamper) | Andrea Gomoll |

Welcome everybody! Today I am interviewing the lovely Jeanne Oliver! Welcome Jeanne, thank you for being here with us on Tea and Cake! :) Here’s a bit about the wonderfully inspiring Jeanne:

Jeanne Oliver. grew up in rural Illinois and now resides in Castle Rock, CO. She is inspired by our personal stories, travel, and nature. Jeanne uses art to tell her current stories and also those of growing up among gravel roads, cornfields and early life surrounded by open spaces. Through mark making, layers and mixed media, she hopes to convey that we all have a story to tell.

Jeanne is married to her dream maker, Kelly, and the mother of three funny and creative children. She homeschools her children even though she has tried to get out of it a few times. You can often find her hiking, creating in her studio and finding an excuse to have another cup of coffee. She speaks and teaches all around the country and sometimes she even gets to cross the pond. She was told that she needed to find that one thing but she doesn’t like listening to directions so she embraces many loves and that has given her a sweet mash-up of family, art, and travel. Connecting with women and sharing that each of us has been creatively made is one of her passions.


Jeanne Oliver Giveaway!

*GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED *
*GIVEAWAY WINNERS ANNOUNCED*

Thank you to everyone for joining in the giveaway and for your lovely comments! The randomly drawn winners are:

Elizabeth Pretorius
who said:

Gina Parent
who said:

Congratulations Elizabeth and Gina on winning this giveaway from Jeanne! You each win a spot on all the current running courses on Jeanne Oliver’s site. (This is over $3000 for each person and includes classes from approx 65+ teachers!). Check out the awesome courses offered over here: jeanneoliver.com/courses

“Let’s give ourselves the permission to be amateurs and the gift of practice. Being a creative person and living a creative life has far less to do with perfect art and more with being present and showing up. Let’s start where we are, with what we have and become the artists we have dreamed to be.”
– Jeanne Oliver


Jeanne Oliver’s Freebie Offers!

Jeanne Oliver has created an exclusive video tutorial ‘Loose Warm Up’ for her Tea and Cake Interview! Check out the video below!

Watch Jeanne Oliver’s ‘A Loose Warm-up’ video tutorial here:

Click the ‘play button’ to watch the video or click on the review link here:
A Loose Warm-up with Jeanne Oliver

For a limited time Jeanne Oliver is offering you a 20% discount on any ONE of her online courses.

Use coupon code:

TEAANDCAKE

to claim your discount :)

Please note: this coupon runs until 30th November 2018.

Redeem your coupon code here:
jeanneoliver.com


Learn more about Jeanne Oliver in the following interview:

2. In your blog post: ‘Consistency, Your Powerful Tool To Change Anything!‘, I was intrigued when you mentioned that you devoured the book: The Power of Consistency by Weldon Long) and as you did you were ‘highlighting and adding my own notes throughout the whole book’. Can you talk to us a bit about consistency and how it has affected maybe your artwork and other areas of your business, life and work?

Change and growth can only change when we showing up consistently. This will look differently for each of us but saying that we want to eat healthily, be strong, grow our gifts, build a business, become a better artist…you fill in the blank at this point…but we only show up to walk out those actions every once in a while we will never get better, change, grow etc. If we are saying we want something we need to show up consistently to see it grow. In theory, we all know this but when it comes to the daily compromises we need to make to make those dreams a reality it can be a little too easy to not walk them out or to quit before we really ever get started.

Wally’s book just confirmed to me why we were able to build this business and that is truly from showing up daily. These actions do not have to be huge actions each day but little actions that build upon each other. We do not become better artists by creating three hours one time a month. We become better artists by showing up each day for 10 minutes, creating a routine, honoring our gifts, making the sacrifices to make the time, changing our head and heart through consistent behavior, and then growing the time each day that we show up.

 

3. Jeanne, I love your artwork so much and I could scroll through your instagram all day! Can you talk to us about how you came to find your style and how that comes out and is developed in your art and craft work.

Thank you so much! I have been blogging for over ten years and our business has changed so much in that time. Now that so much social media is through platforms like Instagram it is so easy to share little parts of our lives through photos and video. I feel like I am able to easily share everything from gardening, art, home, family, faith, gathering, and travel through my eye. I hope that is what has defined my style…just living life and sharing little parts of it along the way that I feel are beautiful.

4. If you had to pick one, what would be your number one tip for artists, beginner and advanced?

1.) Practice, practice, practice. Nothing is wasted and we don’t get better by looking at what others are doing. We get better by putting our heads down, practicing and finding what we have to say. That only comes from showing up in your creativity.

2.) I believe that if you want others to feel something when they see your art then YOU have to feel something, share something, or work through something when you create your art. I promise you that it shows in what you put out into the world.

 

5. What’s on your art table right now?

I just finished teaching a two-day workshop in my studio and that is what is currently on my easel and throughout the studio. This coming week I will begin filming for my next online course, Storytellers & Mavericks. I love the gathering phase of mentally and physically planning before creating. Pulling supplies, mediums, substrates, vintage ephemera helps to focus my head and lead what I create next.

 

Thank you Jeanne for sharing and being here with us!

You can join Jeanne through her blog posts, taking an online course with her, taking an in-person class with her in the US and abroad thru the Living Studio. Visit the Jeanne Oliver Press page for publications.

Find more about Jeanne Oliver by clicking on the links:
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Life Book 2019 is open for registration!

Come and join us on LIFE BOOK 2019! :)

“Life Book, a celebration and honouring of YOU” is a year-long mixed media art class organised by Tamara Laporte from Willowing Arts.

Tam is joined by 32 incredible artists, crafters and healers who are all gearing up to share their art, crafting and personal growth techniques with YOU! With a holistic approach to creativity, self-development and healing, you’ll be creating several loose mixed media art journal pages per month which by the end of the year you will bind into a glorious journal (a Life Book)! This year you will also be able to try out other art crafts like art doll making & basket weaving and we will also provide you with nurturing and nourishing personal development activities (like yoga and NVC) to support any personal development you’re undertaking. Your final book with your art work in it will function as wonderful keepsake that you can treasure for the rest of your life!

Click HERE for your Life Book 2019 Awesomeness! See you there! :)Take Advantage of the Early Bird Discount!
Get 20% off Life Book 2019!
At the checkout, use coupon code:
LOVEBOMB2019
(this coupon expires on December 31st 2018 and can be redeemed on all packages apart from the payment plan package)


You may also like:

  • Tea and Cake with Gracie featuring Kathy Glynn

  • Tea and Cake with Gracie featuring Whitney Freya

  • Tea and Cake with Gracie featuring Violette Clark

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Tamara Laporte

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Mixed media artist, teacher and author. I don’t see all IG msgs. For enq pls email hello@willowing.org - Join Creating Cuties:

Mental health struggles and trauma made me a seeker. I’ve been drawn to the spiritual from a young age. I started dabbling in ideas like astral travel at 15 (attempted doing it but never managed it, by the way 😅), read books about out-of-body experiences (hello, Robert Monroe!), and devoured stories by hypnotherapists who regressed their clients to past lives. It was (and still IS) deeply fascinating to me. A part of me was always looking for deeper answers through the spiritual.

Though I never felt called to the major religions (aside from a soft spot for Buddhism and Zen), I became intrigued by the more modern spiritual teachers of our time. I follow(ed) Eckhart Tolle, Matt Kahn, Ram Dass, Gangaji, Teal Swan, Adyashanti… and perhaps most notably, Byron Katie. I also loved listening to Alan Watts wax poetic about the nature of existence and the universe. For a while I worshipped these people in many ways and felt they held the answers to all of life’s mysterious problems.

Many of these figures have since fallen from their pedestals a bit, but their ideas and approaches to life helped me enormously in times of distress.

Byron Katie, in particular, was a huge influence on me for a time. I even interviewed her for my YouTube channel (the video is now private). During that conversation, she gifted me a scholarship to her "9 Days for The Work" program. I was deeply honoured, jumped on a plane... only to discover that the experience didn’t resonate with me at all. In fact, I found parts of it quite harmful.

I haven’t spoken publicly about this much, but those memories have been resurfacing lately. It feels important to acknowledge how easy it is to place ‘beloved gurus’ on pedestals, forgetting that they, too, are human. Flawed. Sometimes even dangerous.

In my own journey, I’ve learned to take what works from a teacher or teaching, and leave the rest behind. This painting (2014), featuring a powerful and beautiful quote by Byron Katie, reflects the love I had (and still have) for parts of her work. I still find some of it deeply helpful. But now I hold it all through a more balanced, humanised lens.

What about you? Have your gurus ever `fallen`? ♥️♥️♥️

Open
Mental health struggles and trauma made me a seeker. I’ve been drawn to the spiritual from a young age. I started dabbling in ideas like astral travel at 15 (attempted doing it but never managed it, by the way 😅), read books about out-of-body experiences (hello, Robert Monroe!), and devoured stories by hypnotherapists who regressed their clients to past lives. It was (and still IS) deeply fascinating to me. A part of me was always looking for deeper answers through the spiritual.

Though I never felt called to the major religions (aside from a soft spot for Buddhism and Zen), I became intrigued by the more modern spiritual teachers of our time. I follow(ed) Eckhart Tolle, Matt Kahn, Ram Dass, Gangaji, Teal Swan, Adyashanti… and perhaps most notably, Byron Katie. I also loved listening to Alan Watts wax poetic about the nature of existence and the universe. For a while I worshipped these people in many ways and felt they held the answers to all of life’s mysterious problems. 

Many of these figures have since fallen from their pedestals a bit, but their ideas and approaches to life helped me enormously in times of distress.

Byron Katie, in particular, was a huge influence on me for a time. I even interviewed her for my YouTube channel (the video is now private). During that conversation, she gifted me a scholarship to her "9 Days for The Work" program. I was deeply honoured, jumped on a plane... only to discover that the experience didn’t resonate with me at all. In fact, I found parts of it quite harmful.

I haven’t spoken publicly about this much, but those memories have been resurfacing lately. It feels important to acknowledge how easy it is to place ‘beloved gurus’ on pedestals, forgetting that they, too, are human. Flawed. Sometimes even dangerous.

In my own journey, I’ve learned to take what works from a teacher or teaching, and leave the rest behind. This painting (2014), featuring a powerful and beautiful quote by Byron Katie, reflects the love I had (and still have) for parts of her work. I still find some of it deeply helpful. But now I hold it all through a more balanced, humanised lens.

What about you? Have your gurus ever 'fallen'? ♥️♥️♥️

✨ One Week to Go! Come Join the Cutie-Ful Fun ✨
Friends! Here a joyful reminder that Creating Cuties starts in ONE WEEK!

I’m so excited to begin this adorable, joy-sparking journey! Over the coming weeks, we’ll be painting the cutest animal characters, exploring playful colour palettes, and learning how to infuse our work with charm, expression, and warmth.

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now’s the time! Doors will be closing soon and so does the 25% off early bird discount code, and I’d so love to welcome you in before we begin!

Here’s what Creating Cuties is all about:

🌈 You`ll learn to draw and paint whimsical animals in sweet, joy-filled scenes
🎨 I’ll guide you step-by-step with accessible, mixed media techniques
🐾 It’s beginner-friendly, playful, and full of feel-good vibes
💖 Most importantly, it’s all about creating art that lifts your spirit
The course officially starts on 12th August and you’ll get instant access to the classroom as soon as we begin.

✨ Don’t miss your chance to join this heartwarming, creativity-boosting adventure!

👉 Click here to sign up now:

https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties

Let’s paint some cuteness together; it would be an honour to have you in the class. ♥️♥️♥️

Big hugs and sparkly paws,
Tam
@everyone

Open
✨ One Week to Go! Come Join the Cutie-Ful Fun ✨
Friends!  Here a joyful reminder that Creating Cuties starts in ONE WEEK! 

I’m so excited to begin this adorable, joy-sparking journey! Over the coming weeks, we’ll be painting the cutest animal characters, exploring playful colour palettes, and learning how to infuse our work with charm, expression, and warmth.

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now’s the time! Doors will be closing soon and so does the 25% off early bird discount code, and I’d so love to welcome you in before we begin!

Here’s what Creating Cuties is all about:

🌈 You'll learn to draw and paint whimsical animals in sweet, joy-filled scenes
🎨 I’ll guide you step-by-step with accessible, mixed media techniques
🐾 It’s beginner-friendly, playful, and full of feel-good vibes
💖 Most importantly, it’s all about creating art that lifts your spirit
The course officially starts on 12th August and you’ll get instant access to the classroom as soon as we begin.

✨ Don’t miss your chance to join this heartwarming, creativity-boosting adventure!

👉 Click here to sign up now: 

https://bit.ly/CreatingCuties 

Let’s paint some cuteness together;  it would be an honour to have you in the class. ♥️♥️♥️ 

Big hugs and sparkly paws,
Tam 
@everyone

I`m doing final preps for my new course (Creating Cuties) and just bumped into this super sweet image, totally forgot that I`d made this cute little character with funny speech bubble. One of the perks of perimenopause BRAIN FOG, is that you also forget the fun stuff you did for others and then are pleasantly surprised when you find random funny/ sweet things you did! 😂😁😆

Open
I'm doing final preps for my new course (Creating Cuties) and just bumped into this super sweet image, totally forgot that I'd made this cute little character with funny speech bubble. One of the perks of perimenopause BRAIN FOG, is that you also forget the fun stuff you did for others and then are pleasantly surprised when you find random funny/ sweet things you did! 😂😁😆

"Angels Are Always With You" - This painting, created in 2014, was loosely inspired by the mystical works of Susan Seddon Boulet. Her art whispered to me of protection, connection, and unseen realms; and I was quietly enamoured by it all.

Looking back on my childhood, I realise that I grew up with a strong sense that I had to be independent, resilient, and self-reliant; a kind of emotional armouring that still echoes through me today. It’s something I’ve worked on in therapy for many years, but a streak of avoidant attachment still lingers. Being bullied in childhood and not receiving much support for this; I learned early on that depending on others often led to disappointment, so I built my safety through self-dependence.

My beautiful love Andy, and many of my close friends these days, continue to show me (again and again) that this belief doesn’t always hold true. That some people can be safe harbours and that is why kindness and true support heals me a bit, every day.

Still, you can see in this painting a deep yearning, perhaps even a knowing, that I’ve always held: a longing to be surrounded by protectors. Angels. Guides. Mentors. Elders. Ancestors. I feel them, both the ones in spirit, and a few very special ones in the flesh. 💕

I remember once, in my twenties, feeling so ready for a teacher that I approached a real, board-certified Zen master. I was prepared to be devoted, to be led. He invited me to meet at a pub and promptly spilled beer on my trousers. 😂 At the time, I was slightly horrified. Now I see: perhaps that was the lesson. (Very Zen.)

And so, I kept walking my own path. But even now, I believe those angels (seen or unseen) have always been with me. In whispers, in wings, in laughter, in love. Somehow, some way.

This is day 10 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

Open
"Angels Are Always With You" - This painting, created in 2014, was loosely inspired by the mystical works of Susan Seddon Boulet. Her art whispered to me of protection, connection, and unseen realms; and I was quietly enamoured by it all.

Looking back on my childhood, I realise that I grew up with a strong sense that I had to be independent, resilient, and self-reliant; a kind of emotional armouring that still echoes through me today. It’s something I’ve worked on in therapy for many years, but a streak of avoidant attachment still lingers. Being bullied in childhood and not receiving much support for this; I learned early on that depending on others often led to disappointment, so I built my safety through self-dependence.

My beautiful love Andy, and many of my close friends these days, continue to show me (again and again) that this belief doesn’t always hold true. That some people can be safe harbours and that is why kindness and true support heals me a bit, every day. 

Still, you can see in this painting a deep yearning, perhaps even a knowing, that I’ve always held: a longing to be surrounded by protectors. Angels. Guides. Mentors. Elders. Ancestors. I feel them, both the ones in spirit, and a few very special ones in the flesh. 💕 

I remember once, in my twenties, feeling so ready for a teacher that I approached a real, board-certified Zen master. I was prepared to be devoted, to be led. He invited me to meet at a pub and promptly spilled beer on my trousers. 😂 At the time, I was slightly horrified. Now I see: perhaps that was the lesson. (Very Zen.)

And so, I kept walking my own path. But even now, I believe those angels (seen or unseen) have always been with me. In whispers, in wings, in laughter, in love. Somehow, some way.

This is day 10 of a ‘gentle return to social media’ read more about this practice here: http://bit.ly/3IHFxir 🌱

In case you missed the newsletter! --> Coming in 2026: A whole year of magic & fairy tales! 🧚‍♀️📜

So many of you have asked about this…

“What’s the theme for your next year-long course, Tam?”
“Will there be another Year of Light or will we do something else?”

Well, I’m so excited to finally share it with you! 🌟 Ready? 😊

Next year’s magical, joy-filled, heart-expanding journey will be called:

✨ A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales ✨– a magical adventure through magic, story, wonder, and everyday enchantment.

This course is a heartfelt offering; not just for your creative practice, but also for your spirit. ✨🙏✨

I know that life can feel heavy sometimes (hello understatement). The world has been challenging for so many of us for a long while now. Personally, I’ve often found myself longing for comfort, softness, a sense of wonder… and that’s exactly what I’ve poured into this new course.

This course will offer a way to come back to yourself, to spark imagination, and to gently hold the parts of us that feel weary or overwhelmed. It’s balm for the soul; a little candle in the dark. 🕯️

In this course, we’ll explore magic in a broad sense, but also story, myth & lore and subjects like glowing forests, storybook characters, enchanted creatures, shimmering moons, and everyday objects or experiences turned magical. We’ll look for magic in the ordinary and extraordinary and paint it to our hearts’ content!

Expect a beautiful blend of my signature mixed media lessons, a stunning team of guest teachers, and a touch of playfulness, nostalgia, and wonder throughout. 🎨🦉🌙

I’ll share full details, the teacher line-up, and the early bird details & launch date very soon, but I wanted you to know the theme ahead of time, in case it resonates deeply and you’d like to save your spot.

If you’re craving magic, softness, enchantment and art that feels like a warm, whimsical hug; this one’s for you. 💛

With fairy wings and love,
Tam x ✨💕

PS. More details and all sign up info will launch near the end of August/ Early Sept ♥️♥️♥️

PPS. YES!! There will of course be an AWESOME taster event for this course too, can’t wait to share the details with you!!

Open
In case you missed the newsletter! --> Coming in 2026: A whole year of magic & fairy tales! 🧚‍♀️📜

So many of you have asked about this…

“What’s the theme for your next year-long course, Tam?”
“Will there be another Year of Light or will we do something else?”

Well, I’m so excited to finally share it with you! 🌟 Ready? 😊

Next year’s magical, joy-filled, heart-expanding journey will be called:

✨ A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales ✨– a magical adventure through magic, story, wonder, and everyday enchantment.

This course is a heartfelt offering; not just for your creative practice, but also for your spirit. ✨🙏✨

I know that life can feel heavy sometimes (hello understatement). The world has been challenging for so many of us for a long while now. Personally, I’ve often found myself longing for comfort, softness, a sense of wonder… and that’s exactly what I’ve poured into this new course.

This course will offer a way to come back to yourself, to spark imagination, and to gently hold the parts of us that feel weary or overwhelmed. It’s balm for the soul; a little candle in the dark. 🕯️

In this course, we’ll explore magic in a broad sense, but also story, myth & lore and subjects like glowing forests, storybook characters, enchanted creatures, shimmering moons, and everyday objects or experiences turned magical. We’ll look for magic in the ordinary and extraordinary and paint it to our hearts’ content!

Expect a beautiful blend of my signature mixed media lessons, a stunning team of guest teachers, and a touch of playfulness, nostalgia, and wonder throughout. 🎨🦉🌙

I’ll share full details, the teacher line-up, and the early bird details & launch date very soon, but I wanted you to know the theme ahead of time, in case it resonates deeply and you’d like to save your spot.

If you’re craving magic, softness, enchantment and art that feels like a warm, whimsical hug; this one’s for you. 💛

With fairy wings and love,
Tam x ✨💕

PS. More details and all sign up info will launch near the end of August/ Early Sept ♥️♥️♥️

PPS. YES!! There will of course be an AWESOME taster event for this course too, can’t wait to share the details with you!!
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