Art

Watercolor Landscaping

/ Jodi / 59 Comments
monochromatic-fall-landscape-raw-and-burnt-sienna-quin-gold-10x12-300lb-fabriano-artistico

monochromatic-fall-landscape-raw-and-burnt-sienna-quin-gold-10×12-300lb-fabriano-artistico

I have really grown to have great respect for landscape, seascape, naturescape, and plein air watercolor artists!  I find these scenes very challenging, but often get the itch to try.

Most attempts have been less than stellar, but I keep trying.

One of my favorite watercolor artist bloggers, Debi Riley, recently shared a simple monochromatic landscape that was so striking in a blog post she called, “Start Easy (and don’t poke the bear).  I had to give it a try.

I mainly used Raw Sienna in various tones using the simple design Debi created.  I couldn’t resist adding a bit of Burnt Sienna and Quinacridone Gold and having it resemble Autumn (with some falling leaves made from my unavoidable “Jodi splatters,” but this was a great step  in building landscape confidence.

Doing this one gave me the confidence to give landscape another try.

This time I followed the style and tutelage of Terry Harrison, an amazing watercolor artist from the UK I recently discovered through the ArtistNetwork.tv site.

Country Lane Late Summer Landscape Watercolor 11x14 Artistico

Country Lane Late Summer Landscape Watercolor 11×14 Artistico

I had fun painting the rolling hills and trying a different way with trees using more of a stippling effect.  I really didn’t have the right  brush and subbed a scrubber instead – not quite the effect I wanted, but confidence-building nonetheless.  I am fascinated with what a difference adding shadows makes too.

I may not be a pro at this yet, but I am up for the challenge, and I am going to keep on landscaping!  Watercolor that is.  I’ll leave the tree pruning, mulching, and grass-cutting to hubby.  As long as I provide a cold iced tea every once in a while, there are cookies in the freezer, and I bake a pie now and then, I think I can get away with it…

Happy Landscaping – whichever kind you prefer!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

9-11

/ Jodi / 35 Comments

scan20160910_10080560

9-11-2001

Remembering
Recognizing
Grieving

Honoring
Recovering
Surviving

Strengthening
Overcoming
Thriving

9-11-2016

We will never forget.
We will never be defeated.
We pray for peace.

 

 

Templeton the Tiger

/ Jodi / 67 Comments
Watercolor Tiger 9 x 11 300lb Fabriano Artistico

Watercolor Templeton the Tiger 9 x 11 300lb Fabriano Artistico

It all started with the joy of Genevieve the Giraffe…

After her, the call of elephants led to Momma and Baby Elephant.

As I continue on my imaginary watercolor safari journey, today I present Templeton the Tiger.

I actually painted Templeton outside this past weekend one morning when the air was still cool and the sun was’t very strong yet on the back deck.

It was fun being outside dreaming of a safari I hope I someday get to go on while I paint the characters that are in my mind.

Why stop dreaming when you wake?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Pretty Plenteous Pink Peony

/ Jodi / 53 Comments
Watercolor Pink Peony on 16 x 20 Canvas

Watercolor Pink Peony on 16 x 20 Canvas

Another thing I couldn’t wait to do after being away last week was paint!  I was just dying to splash with my watercolor.

Not to mention the fact that I got to actually visit a real live Blick Art Supply Store in Atlanta!  I have never been in one and almost fainted when I spotted it on a trolley tour I was taking one day while hubby was “conferencing.”

The next day, first thing on my list was an Uber ride to visit.  Oh what fun I had examining the super soft, beautifully handmade pure squirrel hair French Isabey brushes.  I bought two – a #4 Cat’s Tongue and a #4 Flat.  I used the Cat’s Tongue to do the entire painting above.

I often wondered how people watercolor on canvas, which is made for oil and acrylic.  Imagine my excitement when I discovered tubs of QoR Cold Press Ground – a pasty substance you can slather on most anything with a palette knife to create a surface that has the appearance of rough handmade watercolor paper and reacts lovely to watercolor!  I couldn’t wait to try it out – so covered an inexpensive 16×20 canvas with it, let it “cure” overnight and used my newest color  – the glorious Opera Rose, mixed with Permanent Rose and a bit of Quinacridone Magenta, Quinacridone Gold and Green Gold to create my pretty plenteous pink peony.

I bought some other goodies I’m looking forward to trying out that I don’t even know what to do with yet, but I’ll be sure to share when I do.

The greatest thing about the store was they matched all prices on the web too with my Blick Preferred Customer card.  The service was great, and the experience was wonderful.  The only thing that dragged me out of there was the call from my friends who said it was time to meet them at the World of Coca-Cola Museum (where I may or may not have bought an adorable polar bear hoodie for my soon-to-arrive granddaughter).

It was a lovely visit to Atlanta, but it’s always good to be home sweet home, baking and painting and doing all the things I love at life… in… between.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Seek the magic

/ Jodi / 44 Comments
jelly fish georgia aquarium

Jelly Fish – Georgia Aquarium

It magically floats
creating beauty
and light

in the depths
and darkness.

Glowing
with hope
and inspiring

the possiblility
that magic

can be created
and can happen
anywhere

Seek the magic.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Momma and Baby Elephant in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 71 Comments
Elephant Mom and Baby Watercolor 10x12 Fabriano Artistico 300lb

Mom and Baby Elephant Watercolor 10×12 Fabriano Artistico 300lb

I think I must have an African Safari on the brain…

Oh how I would LOVE to do that!  Maybe some day.

But for now, I’m just painting my Safari.

I had so much fun doing Genevieve the Giraffe in watercolor last week, that it gave me a desire to try elephants.

I wanted to try a different technique, so I followed some techniques that Lian Quan Zhen masterfully executes and I feebly attempted here.

For this painting, I drew my elephants from a reference photo, used a bit of frisket to save some white, and I then actually poured and splashed some watercolor paint on, blowing it and pushing and smooshing it around with my finger to form a colorful abstract background.  After that dried, I detailed in the elephants.

I used only three colors in the entire painting:  Prussian Blue, Pyrrol Scarlet, and Hansa Yellow Light.  Purples and greens and shades of black and gray and brown and pink and orange are all achieved by the blending of these three colors.

It was fun, and I’ll have to enjoy the elephants this way until I get to go on the safari in real life some day.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

It’s That Time of Year

/ Jodi / 55 Comments
abstract fern watercolor 5x7

Abstract Fern Watercolor 5×7

It’s that time of year
when the colors and smells and heat of summer

with lush greens and fragrant flowers
and thick, heavy air

are making way for
the colors and smells and chill of autumn

with vibrant reds and scorching oranges and deep hues of yellow
and a refreshing “nip” in the air.

It’s that time of year –
a change in seasons

A time for new beginnings
and a time for sweet endings.

It’s that time of year
that wonderful, lovely, sweet time of year.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Genevieve the Giraffe

/ Jodi / 60 Comments
Genevieve the Giraffe - Watercolor 10x11 300lb Fabriano Artistico

Genevieve the Giraffe – Watercolor 10×11 300lb Fabriano Artistico

I’ve been wanting to do a watercolor painting of a giraffe.

Not sure why.

I’m hankerin’ to do an elephant too…

Must be all this back to school  reflection and memories of field trips to the zoo….

Unless you can think of a better reason!

Anyway, I went in search of an image on the web to paint from, and I ended up coming across a nice little tutorial from Alison at Eastwitching, and gave it a go.  Here she is.  I’ve named her Genevieve.

Genevieve the Giraffe.  Isn’t that a lovely name?

Alison does lovely whimsical animals that many of you may enjoy.

Thanks for the tutorial, Alison!  It is so lovely when artists share their tips and tricks and talent.  I appreciate you!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Sign, Sign – Everywhere a Sign

/ Jodi / 45 Comments

enjoy the little things sign

My daughter-in-law, Colleen, has been on a roll making fun signs for our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY shop!

just roll with it sign

We are also feathering the nest preparing for

our nest sign

the joy of our little one’s arrival in a few months.

joy

And who is ready for Fall?  With pumpkins and hayrides…

pumpkins and hayrides sign

and time in the kitchen…

fresh baked pies

fresh milk sign

fresh eggs sign

or end of summer ice cream cone treats…

ice cream

and long, lingering bubble baths.

hot baths

I love all these sweet signs and wanted to share with you.

Always stay humble and kind sign

If you or anyone you know would enjoy any of these in their home or find them a great gift, be sure to check out our shop:  McKinneyX2Designs.

I also have some original watercolor artwork, as well as prints

pink abstract watercolor

and greeting cards.

flamingo cards

Happy Sunday!

Do something you love, and cherish the moments.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Full Moon Musing

/ Jodi / 56 Comments
full moon august 2016

Full Moon, Mars, PA, August, 2016

Full moon musing
illumination of the night

Casting your glow
amidst the ambiguity

searching for clarity
through the unseen

providing a glimpse to
unravel the mystery

transforming darkness
to reveal the light

full moon musing
magic of the night.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi