Crazy Colorful Pineapple Crown Watercolor 11×14 140 Saunders Waterford
Crazy Colorful Pineapple Crown.
Because it’s Friday…
Because it’s been that kind of week…
Because I needed to just cut loose…
Because why not?
A crazy colorful pineapple crown!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A Yellow Canary Named Terry.
Today’s post is a collaboration with my friend, Gary, from Spearfruit, in honor of our beloved Terry.
Gary wrote this lovely little poem late one night and shared it with me, so I knew I had to create a Terry canary as beautiful as I could, so we could share this little story and our love for a great man named Terry.
———
There once was a yellow canary named Terry
who had a good friend named Gary.
Terry lived in a birdhouse high in a tree in the city of Tampa
close to his good friend’s camper.
Terry was so full of life with vigor and glee
as he continued to blog in his house in the tree.
Then early one day, Terry became very sick
and from that point forward his health went down quick.
No matter the pain, no matter the grief
Terry always felt better and a little relief
when he blogged to his friends who provided him love
no matter his struggles or thoughts from above.
Then one day when Terry was perched in his tree,
he got a sweet gift from his good friend Jodi.
The gift was a yellow flower that was painted with love
to remind Terry that things are much better above.
From that point forward Terry raised his head high
and did his very best to hold back his cry.
Terry knew it would soon be time to let out his last chirp
so he got himself ready to depart this dear earth.
Although Terry is no longer here perched in his tree
his friends all know that his spirit is with me
always…
Love his best friend, Gary.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
—–
If you would like a 5×7 or 8×10 print of this painting or a box of greeting cards, you can order at McKinneyX2Designs on ETSY by clicking here or by stopping by Berry Vine Gifts in BradfordWoods, PA.
Sunflower Watercolor 11×14 140lb Saunders Waterford
A Special Sunflower in Honor of Baby’s Namesake.
Last Wednesday I posted a Yellow Rose Watercolor and told you about a special baby we just welcomed into the world and our extended family who is named after her two great grandmothers.
One great grandmother’s favorite flower was yellow roses. The other’s favorite was sunflowers.
I tried to create this sunflower in a similar style and using many of the same colors as the yellow rose so they might look nice hanging together in baby’s room.
I hope her mommy likes this one and our little girl will have these as keepsakes throughout her life representing her special name and a special love I have for her and her family.
Though I sell most of my art in prints and note cards, these two paintings will be be one of a kind for this little one, with the exception of one print being made for each grandmother in remembrance of their mother.
Welcome to the world our newest little McHendy! Love and be Loved!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Interested to see other art?
Yellow Rose Impressionistic Watercolor 11×14 Saunders 140lb Cold Press
A Yellow Rose for a Sweet New Baby Girl.
A sweet new baby girl was born this week into our extended family. She was named after two of her great grandmothers. One of the great grandmothers loved yellow roses. They were her favorite flower.
So in honor of our new little sweetheart, I painted a yellow rose.
My inspiration for this impressionistic rose is from the amazing style of Jean Haines.
Colors used: Daniel Smith Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Aliziran Crimson, Burnt Sienna, and Perylene Green.
If her Mommy likes it, I will frame it for our new little angel’s room.
Amidst all the tragedy and heartache in the world (especially this past week here in the U.S. with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and the 15-year remembrance of 911), the miracle of birth continues to give us hope in the beauty of life and love. May our little ones create and live in a world of peace.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Blue Parrot Watercolor 11×13 140lb Saunders Waterford Cold Press
Parrot of Blue Part Deux.
Does this guy look familiar?
You may recall him as the handsome guy who posed for me at the National Aviary on our recent visit this past weekend.
He was just too irresistible for me not to have some fun with.
And I happened to finally hit it right and remember this month that it is our “official unofficial” Draw a Bird Day – which a group of bloggers celebrates every month on the 8th.
Seems it is a bit of a bird week for me this week at thecreativelifeinbetween.
This cutie is going with us to the Lake Latonka Fall Festival tomorrow, where he’ll be for sale as an original, prints or cards, along with loads of others you’ve seen here and that are in our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY Shop, as well as a wide variety of fall, holiday, kitchen, and farmhouse-design signs created by my daughter-in-law Colleen from reclaimed pallet wood. My son, Jake, even got in on the action with some amazing artwork too that will knock your socks off! He also built us a landing page website (mx2d.com), where you can access our ETSY shop, Facebook page, and Instagram.
If you are anywhere near Mercer, PA tomorrow, come find us at the McKinneyX2Designs booth outside the red barn. We are having a drawing for a gift card to our ETSY shop and are doing some “show specials!” We’ll be there from 9am – 4pm. Hoping for good weather and fun times!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS This Parrot of Blue Part Deux Watercolor was done with Daniel Smith Cerulean and Prussian Blues, Cadmium Yellow and Orange, and M. Graham’s Neutral Tint, as well as a bit of Dr. ph Martin’s Bleedproof White.
Graceful Ballerina Watercolor 11×14 Saunders Cold Press
As If I Were Dancing Myself…
I’ve always admired the delicate gracefulness of a ballerina…
As a little girl, I dreamed of being one myself.
I had a little jewelry box with a tiny ballerina that twirled to music when I opened it.
I wanted to be able to do that and look so delicate and graceful and beautiful.
But I wasn’t delicate or graceful or beautiful.
I was chubby and a bit clumsy and loud.
I tried tap and jazz and ballet classes,
but my mind and body didn’t cooperate with the rest of the dancers.
I was heavy-footed and exuberant and impatient.
When the rest of the class moved right, I moved left.
I continued to grow into being a “big girl” with a “pretty face.”
Just what every teenage girl wants to hear – right?!
I had short, wavy mousy-brown hair – with bangs no less –
when all I wanted was long, straight hair.
I had a full round face, and when I smiled or laughed,
I completely lost my eyes, which became tiny slits (still to this day!)
I had big feet – a sturdy foundation Grandma claimed –
not delicate ballerina feet that could point and hold me up so gracefully.
A ballerina I was and am not,
but that is finally ok with me now. (only took 50+ years!)
If I can’t be a ballerina,
I can paint one.
And I can feel the same delicate gracefulness
as if I were dancing myself.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
*Painting inspiration from Pinterest (no credit identified). Three colors used: Daniel Smith Neutral Tint, Azo Yellow, Alizarin Crimson.
“Broken” – Abstract Watercolor 11×14 140lb Saunders Waterford Cold Press
The broken
will always
be able
to love harder
than most.Once you have been
in the dark,
you learn
to appreciate
everything
that shines.
Embrace
the brokenness
and let
your light
shine.
Cheers & Hugs
Jodi
“Broken” – Abstract Watercolor 11×14 Matted and Framed
“Power” in Perylene Scarlet – Watercolor 8×10 140lb Artistico Fabriano Cold Press
Power and Strength.
“Power isn’t
doing something
terrible
to someone
who is
weaker
than you…
It’s having
the strength
to do something
terrible,
and choosing
not to.”
– Franz to Reiner in The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
When I came upon this statement made by one brother to another in the book I am reading, I knew I wanted to paint something that represented Power and Strength, and this painting was born. It is done using Daniel Smith Perylene Scarlet as I wanted an intense red. Then the real drama (I hope) is created with a unique rich color made by Daniel Smith called Piemontite Genuine. It is a shadowy red violet ground from a scarlet-streaked mineral from the hills of Italy that produces lovely violet-brown granulation with a carmine tone.
The color red is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, and determination as well as passion, desire, and love.
Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. It has very high visibility, which is why stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment are usually painted red. It is a color found in many national flags.
Other colors used: Daniel Smith Yellow Ochre, and Cerulean Blue.
I hope you feel the power and strength and intensity I wished to express in this painting, and I also hope the quote resonates with you about the true meaning of power.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
“Late Summer Dreams” Abstract Floral Watercolor – 11×14
Late Summer Dreaming.
Laying in the warm grass,
looking up at the clouds floating by,
listening to the cicadas sing.
Cool misty morning walks,
hot afternoon ceiling fans swirling,
earlier and earlier sunsets for bright star gazing.
Plump ruby red tomatoes fresh off the vine,
bushels of zucchini for spiraling and shredding and slicing,
roasted sweet corn, and fuzz covered juicy ripe peaches.
Late summer dreaming
inspired layers of transparent watercolor glaze
in varying combinations of Prussian blue, Azo yellow, and Quinacridone rose.
Wishing you sweet late summer dreams.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Blue Wisteria Vine Watercolor 11×14 Artistico Cold Press
“Lose yourself
In the things
you love
for that is where
you will find
yourself too.”-Fiona Childs
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 