Stay Loose My Friends

/ Jodi

pink peony watercolor card

You know that Dos Equis “guy” who is famous for saying, “Stay Thirsty My Friends?”

When I am water color painting, his voice runs through my head…

“Stay Loose My Friend.”

I know – you do not want inside my head – eh?

So when I picked these beautiful, vivid peonies from the “other side of the house” this past weekend to make a fresh centerpiece for the kitchen table, I had the urge to paint.

pink peonies

I know I don’t have the skill to recreate the actual image…

but that is what I LOVE about watercoloring!

To me – it is freedom.

Freedom to express creativity.

It is not about recreating the exact image.

pink peony watercolor card 3

It is being inspired by the image to create your “own thing.”

So after watching an inspiring tutorial by Janet Rodgers, I decided to “wing it.”

In 15 minutes, without even sketching first, I just took paint and water to paper and created my “idea” of the peony.

pink peony watercolor card 2

Janet talks about just throwing water on the paper and keeping it “loose” and just the idea of the actual image – not the exact color nor the exact representation.

Watercolor allows you to express your vision of the image.

Mine is so far from artistic perfection,

but oh what freedom it is to create!

Thanks for visiting.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

35 thoughts on “Stay Loose My Friends”

  4. Beautiful and artistic indeed. If I “threw” paint in a water color it would be more like really, really bad abstract art. And only I would know what it was.
    Oh Rob!!!

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      • Well, Jodi, I have to agree with the other comment…..you may not think you’re all that talented, but were I to try my hand at watercolours……we would not be looking at a pic like this! 🙂

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      • Torrie. I would have said that two months ago too It’s just all about doing what you enjoy and finding pleasure in the journey. I look at real artists work and just can’t ever imagine getting there. But who knows. And does it matter? That’s what my journey is about. 😊

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    • Oh Laura thank you but I see so much wrong with it. I want to keep making it better but my journey is saying let it go – let it be – stay loose – and there is the joy.

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      • Gosh, I don’t see a thing wrong with it, honestly. The large flower and the bud? Woo. Man, I love it. Can’t believe no sketch first, and a beginner? Man, I’m glad you decided to give watercolor a try. It doesn’t look fussed with a bit. I think true art IS bringing yourself to the painting. My trouble is I try to duplicate what I see too much and I fuss and overwork. Watercolor can either make me so happy or it can literally make me wanna throw things lol. I haven’t got past the point of wanting to control it. The only time I can get past that is when I go in with no expectations, no reference, nothing in mind to paint. And then I just hope I get something half worth seeing lol. I think you’ve got this. It’ll be pretty amazing to see what you’re doing a year from now! 😘

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      • I appreciate the comment and so can relate to what you are saying. That is why I keep “stay loose” running through my head. I can get caught up in that trying to make it look like it is supposed to mentality like I see so many people expertly execute. I’m not there yet. Don’t know if I’ll every be. So I’m just bein’ me – LOL! Loose is fun! We’ll see where it goes.
        Well – best get to work – happy day my friend!

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  8. Lovely painting! You really do have a gift! And love your “Stay Loose” comment! Great attitude, which is another reason you are such a sweet lady 🙂 Have a lovely day my friend 🙂

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  10. Peonies were my mother’s favourite flower. We had a few bushes in the front and my dad would bring in a bouquet or a single stem whenever he could. That or lilacs. You say that your painting is not exact, but it is close enough to evoke very strong memories in my mind and in my heart. I look at your peony and remember years ago and smell the freshness of a spring day. Isn’t that what art is all about? To evoke, to trigger, to embellish? You do that brilliantly!

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    • Oh Marguerite – what a lovely compliment. Thank you so much. And I am so happy that this simple painting evoked such lovely memories for you. My heart is warmed. 🙂

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  12. Love your flower! WOWZA! Jodi! I like your loose style! And yes, I do see a style emerging in your watercolors! 😊 I like how you painted the leaves of the flower. And your flower looks like a peony! I think flowers are hard to paint. You make them look easy! Keep having FUN! To me it shows in your art! ❤️

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  16. Jodi, I adore peonies! They are one of my favs! They are Indiana’s state flower. I can not grow them in GA. Too hot! Thank you for the inspiration that art is what we want it to be. I worry so much about it being perfect. GORGEOUS post! XX

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