One of my favorite, most inspiration watercolor artists is a sweet lady that lives on the entire other side of the world from me in Mars.
Debi Riley lives all the way in Perth, Australia, but because of a chance connection through WordPress and the World Wide Web, I have the joy of following her lovely work and SWOONING daily.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she may come to the U.S. some day to visit relatives and find a way to Mars to meet and spend some time showing me how she makes such beautiful magic with paint and paper… I will cook and bake for her and serve lots of wine if only she will show me how to make such swoonable art as she does!
Debi makes it look so effortless, yet when I attempt to do the same…. ARGH! No swooning!
I keep reading, though, and I keep trying to absorb, and I keep laying paint on paper.
This little landscape card, came after two frustrating attempts to do a full-sized painting and not liking what happened. Then I realized I didn’t pay attention to cool colors for background and warm for foreground. After a while, do these types of things become natural? I just want to be loose and free and “do it” without thinking….. but it seems there really is a lot of discipline – even in (if not especially in) abstract art, which ends up looking so effortless.
If you would like to see some truly beautiful art, please be sure to check out Debi Riley’s blog here. Debi is an award-winning creative arts instructor with over 15 years experience who works in watercolor, acrylic, oils, pastels, charcoal, mixed media, and photography. She also has a beautiful Pinterest page here.
In the meantime, I’m going to keep trying, and I appreciate you humoring me by allowing me to share.
Happy Tuesday! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy day to do what makes you happy… at life in between.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
This is really beautiful Jodi. Great post.
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Thank you, Sylvia. Did you check out Debi’s beautiful blog and work? Swooooon! 🙂
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Oh this is very swoon worthy, so very lovely!
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You are very kind, Cathe!
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This is beautiful, Jodi. It is very eye pleasing, yet jumps out at the eye in a pleasant way. Great job! Just watched (forgive the spelling) Punksatawny Phil and he didn’t see his shadow. EARLY SPRING!!! Hip hip horrah!! Yay!!
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woohoo! Thanks PJ!
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I have already started making plans for spring…. 😀 (Lots of walking at the dog park with Bria and my sister and her two dogs).
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Your landscape is beautiful. The trees are so delicate and the colors are soft and appealing. I find watercolor such an unforgiving medium that I am always impressed with the result you achieve (even if it takes a few attempts😊) I can’t wait to check out your friend’s page. Thanks for the tip and happy Groundhog Day to you too!!
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You do so get it Nancy! Oh wait until you see Debi’s work! I can’t wait to hear what you think! You will laugh at mine when you see hers!! 🙂
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Peaceful and pretty. If I saw this as a notecard I would buy it!
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Really Kathy? Thank YOU for making my day!!
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Jodi, what I don’t get is this … Your painting is gorgeous! HUH? I LOVE THIS!
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Uhm….I’m swooning Jodi…this is really gorgeous!! Lovely work!! ❤️😃🎨
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Oh Charlie O – you are soooo Easy! LOL! Thanks buddy!! ❤
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Hahaha!! Saying someone is soooo Easy usually means something else entirely! 😳lol
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I know full well – that innuendo was meant to make you laugh 🙂
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Mission accomplished!! Lol
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wink!
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Dear Jodi, you have tapped into your inner Debi this morning. I love the serenity of this beautiful landscape. As Charlie says, we are now swooning over your art. I agree you are so fortunate to have found our dear friend Debi.
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Oh what a huge compliment Sharon – my inner Debi! 🙂 Not sure she would agree – she is sound asleep right now, but soon it will be tomorrow in Perth, and I may hear from her 🙂 Always look forward to that. And hearing from talented you too! Oh such wonderful inspiration here! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thank you Jodi! I think Debi will agree. 🎨😍
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I agree, I think you’re getting it lady! Debi is so inspirational, and a wonderful person too! Love your delicate branches and colors make me stop because they’re a bit unexpected. Nice work!
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LOL! Unexpected, because who knows what they are 🙂 – I was blending and mixing after two large yukkies. Oh but my new brushes came today and I had to quickly dip them in paint and water – Talk about SWOON! On No – Now I don’t have that excuse!?!?! Ha Ha!!! 🙂
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LOL! 😀 You’ll do great. Have faith in yourself. Your instincts are wonderful!
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Thanks my sweet encouraging friend! I gave them a try just to put paint and water together – OOOOOO LA LA LA! Can’t wait to play some more!
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WOOOOOOT!! I’m so glad to hear it! 💛💜💙❤️💚
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I love the colours that you’ve used, it looks effortless and definitely swoon worthy 😊
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What a sweet compliment – thank you!!! It was getting less “efforty” but this third try LOL! 🙂 I appreciate the swoon 🙂
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You’re very welcome 🙂
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Jodi, you continue to make a real study of watercolor. I don’t see how you can’t help but keep on improving. But, if for some reason you don’t feel your work improves to your liking, you may rest assured your paintings will look like Claude Monet’s works to me. I may not possess the skill but I can well appreciate the skill when I see it produced by others, and you have the skill. :O)
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wowza Paul – you are TOO TOO TOO kind! Monet! LOL! You made me smile and made my day buddy! Thanks for that! (even if it is a little white lie 🙂 ) ❤
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Perhaps I fibbed a little. Still, your work is not bad. I think it’s actually quite good.
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I will go visit her site! Lovely watercolor!
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Thanks Lynn! Isn’t her work amazing!?!?
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yes!
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Thanking you, kindly!! 🙂 Debi
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Most welcome!
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It’s a beautiful little watercolor, very eye-pleasing. I popped over to Deb’s blog, she has some very impressive artwork! Keep up the good work!
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Awh! Thanks! Isn’t Debi’s art so swoonable?! 🙂
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Great post, thanks for the tip. I followed your awesome Aussie!
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haha! I like that – my awesome aussie! What do you think of that Debi! ? You are now our awesome Aussie! 🙂 ❤
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She has great talent for colors and design for sure Jodi, I spent several minutes on her site – she does nice photography too. 👍
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Well, I’m SWOONING here! This is gorgeous Jodi! 😄👍🌟 Love the colors you chose and your composition. WOWZA! You go girl! ❤️🎨💙
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Jilly – you are too easily swoonable! haha! But thank you my friend! 🙂 ❤
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You’re way too hard on yourself, Jodi. I LOVE your watercolors! Landscapes, especially abstract, are my favorite kind of art. This is one of the best I’ve seen from you yet.
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Wow – thanks Carol! You all are so kind to me! I feel like an artist princess today – hahaha!
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Maybe you can take a field trip to Perth? Personally, I LOVE your watercolors, but thought it could be a good excuse to see some kangaroos and koalas!
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Oh how I would LOVE that!!!! A girl can dream…. 🙂
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You’ve done a beautiful job swooning Jodi! I never would have known you were struggling with it – the watercolor looks absolutely lovely…and you’re right, Debi is a wonderful artist! If she comes over – I’m joining you gals…save me some wine!! (by the way, this Happy Tuesday I served Jury Duty! LOL)
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Oh what fun that would be cooking and painting and drinking wine – I can’t imagine anything lovelier! Hope jury duty went well. always a long day – eh?
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This is my third time now…I’m just one of the lucky ones – always called but haven’t actually ‘served’ yet! 🙂
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Looks good to me…I’m sure we all have plenty of “first tries”. I really like the simplicity. (K)
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Thanks Kerfe!
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my oh my, Jodi this is wonderfully “swoon – worthy”!!
lovely clean transparency, no fiddling, Great Tonal range and excellent sense of depth. Way to Go! 🙂
what more can we want? And you knew I’d love the title…. of course!
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Thanks Debi! Any tips????
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probably a few WC tips….. just none for this image!!! leave this one Alone!! its good. ‘swoon’ hehehe see, you have me saying it! 🙂
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Jodi, I love your art, and am so glad you share it with us. Creating any kind of art is hard, and requires a real dedication and constant desire to improve, but that’s what makes it so satisfying in the end. Even as just a writer, I can relate to this post.mmbutmplease know that some of us are swooning over YOUR art!
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Oh Ann – you are the sweetest swooner ever! 🙂
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Another beautiful thing for my eyes on your site 🙂 Keep it up!! Will have to check out Debi’s site. 🙂
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Wonderful painting, really love your colour choice. So true Debi’s blog is fantastic, with some great tutorials, especially regarding colour. ……..we might all be over to visit, especially seeing all the lovely biscuits and more you make, yum!
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Oh what fun would that be!!!!!!!
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