Iris I Could…
Iris I could make one unhappy person smile today.
Iris I could remember punch lines to jokes to make one person laugh today.
Iris I could wave a magic wand that sprinkled happiness and joy.
Iris life was easier.
Iris each one reading this
finds one small moment to cherish today.
Iris you found humor and a bit of light-heartedness
in my silly pun.
Life can be difficult,
and we must help each other get through.
———-
I painted this Iris this weekend.
It was my fifth try!
I was trying to use a negative watercolor painting technique,
and I just had to use this amazing new color a friend here at TheCreativeLifeinBetween told me about – Daniel Smith Cascade Green.
I struggle with this technique, but I so wanted to create a background with this green color that fades and granulates into the most amazing blue with more water. The green (and light blue) all around the iris are from that one color. I splashed in a little new gamboge and a drop or two of orange and ultramarine to tie the background colors into the flower, but the background is mostly this mesmerizing cascade green.
The technique involves painting the background first around the shape of the object – creating the negative white space, where you then paint the object. This is where I kept getting thrown off. I’m not good at having outside lines to stay within!
Thanks to my friend, Dena, who visits here often and leaves such lovely comments, for this color recommendation. I love when other artists or photographers or bakers or writers share tips and tools of the trade.
Iris you a wonderful day.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
My original painting is for sale at our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop. It is also available in prints and greeting cards.
Beautiful colors, Jodi!❤️
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that green just knocked my socks off 🙂
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Greens my favorite color!!!,😉
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yay for green!
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Iris I could be as creative and paint so beautifully as YOU ! Gary
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awww – thanks Gary! 🙂 ❤
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I love all the colors…irises are one of my favorites! So you’ve made me smile today. (K)
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YAY! 🙂 Keep smiling Kerfe.
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I gratefully accept this gift from you Jodi, this gift of wishes and color.
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🙂 Happy Day Colleen
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I loved your play on words …. I also love the fact that you refuse to just give up and keep going til you get where you want to be. That is a trait that I wholly celebrate 🎉
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Thanks Fiona! I wasn’t going to give up on this as I loved this color so much! LOL!
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Iris, you are so beautiful, because of the way you were painted!
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Thank you!! 🙂
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Beautiful, Jodi! 💕 Iris you a wonderful day as well. 😊
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🙂 Thank you Patty!
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Lovely piece of art, Jodi! And your iris poem brought some cheer to my heart. Thanks!
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Oh good – mission accomplished 🙂 Thank you Peter for giving me a smile too!
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Jodi, you are making me feel like a slacker, your art and your words are just amazing!!
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Oh Stop! Your recipe today is totally what I needed!!! 🙂 And Thank you!
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Iris you the very best day, thank you for your daily gifts, Jodi. I’m smiling.
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Hooray! And now I am smiling too! 🙂 Thank you Sharon. ❤
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Hugs coming your way.
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Hugs back!
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Jodi, I hope you have as many reasons to smile today as people you’ve made smile with this beautifully punny post!
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That is just about the sweetest thing to say I can think of sweet Pam! Thank you for this beautiful gift today! ❤
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Just beautiful, Jodi! And your poem is beautiful too!
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Thanks PJ! Hope you are doing well!
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I am doing well! Thank you so much. I hope you are too. 🙂
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I love the techiquie! It makes your iris pop out almost 3D, way cool. Iris I could paint like that! 😀
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“technique”
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Awww Thanks Kathryn! I’m still not completely happy – but it is way bettern than the first four tries!!! LOL!
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Very nice
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Thank you 🙂
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Beautiful painting AND sentiments! Thank you, thank you, thank you for mentioning this was your fifth try at getting your Iris the way you wanted it. It’s a lesson to me to keep trying and eventually beauty will come! You’re the best! Iris you a wonderful day!
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Hello my friend! Good to hear from you! It has been awhile! Yes – you would not want to see the first 4! LOL!
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You know I LOVE your purple Iris that I have in my living room so I get to look at your beautiful artwork EVERY DAY! I feel so blessed to know YOU! Iris you knew how much you make a difference in my life by being you! 💜🌼xo
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Iris you knew too! I think it is a pretty mutual blessing! Love ya my friend!
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Thanks and hugs back, Jodi!! 😘💕
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Nice placement of colors, Jodi! My eye picks up the green, blue & yellow equally. Iris you the best with this technique. I love what you’ve done so far. 🎉 Christine
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awww – thanks so much Christine!
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It’s lovely! None of my attempts have come out this nice. The colors are just wonderful.
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awwwh! Have you tried this color or the iris? You might just be being too hard on yourself ❤
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just lavender and purple.
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Love the beauty of this delicate flower. Great job! Love your humor too. 🙂
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Thanks C! I was finally happy enough to share one after five tries!
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Glad that you kept trying!! Guess the third time wasn’t the charm, eh? 🙂
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Lovely Iris!!! i just love it!!
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Thanks so much Tam! You made me smile 🙂
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Really beautiful Jodi.
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Thanks Sylvia 🙂
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Negative paintings are tricky but you did a great job.
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Thanks Carol. It is tricky to get edges how you want. Mind end of being kind of “choppy” for lack of a better word…. Too harsh. Any suggestions?
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I think you’re too hard on yourself. I certainly don’t find it choppy. I think it’s lovely as is.
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Gorgeous!
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Thank you Lynn!
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Well that iris certainly made ME smile!
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☺️❤️👍
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Wonderful painting!
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Thanks!
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Beautiful watercolour work Jodi….
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Thanks Evelyn – I had so much fun with that Cascade Green! 🙂
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