So yesterday I spoke about learning
to wait for paint to dry.
While I was waiting (for the paint to dry)
on my “real” painting that I showed yesterday,
I quickly sketched this little bird
just dying to use more of my
“Professional Artist” Winsor & Newton
Prussian Bluuuuueeeee.
A simple, small, quick, pass-the-time, wait for paint to dry birdie
that I kinda fell in love with…
My Winsor & Newton Prussian Bluebird of Happiness!
Happy Friday!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I am TRYING to learn
to wait for paint to dry.
It’s harder than you think!
This is my first 9 x 12 watercolor painting –
my largest to date.
It was done following a line and wash tutorial on ArtTutor by Joanne Boon Thomas.
AND with my very first few tubes of Winsor & Newton Professional Artist watercolor paint. OOOO LA LA!!
I treated myself to four tiny tubes – and was so excited to use Prussian Blue!
I see several things I would have liked to do different,
but it was a good practice in patience…
A practice in background, midground, and foreground…
Who knew it could be so fun…. waiting for paint to dry!!??!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Happy Halloween!
I doodlewashed this scarecrow by sketching it first in pencil on watercolor paper, then dropping in water color paint, and finishing off by outlining with a Black .05 Micron Pen. (inspired by an adorable design I saw at Free Dearie Dolls Digi Stamps via a Google Image Search).
l made this little cutie into a card and sent to my sweet bestie, Jill, as a thank you for the adorable Halloween treats she sent from Wicked Good Cupcakes!
Wishing you a few fun tricks
and lots of treats
on this Halloween holiday!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I am having so much fun loosening up and watercolor painting while learning online with Art Tutor. What a great way to learn and grow at your own pace with lots of great tutorials!
These pears are a practice in negative painting in watercolor that I did last weekend.
I lightly sketched two pears in pencil, loosely dropped some yellow and red in them, let dry, and then negatively painted in blue and red.
Trying to get my creative groove back – loosening up and having fun!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
This week’s challenge at The Paper Players is a sketch challenge, so I created this sympathy card for my design team inspiration card.
A little designer series paper from Stampin’ Up’s Timeless Elegance, a little watercoloring on the stamped flower from SU Bloom with Hope, and a cute little bee cut out of English Garden DSP and bedazzled with some Glossy Accents to make it pop and shine!
On the inside, I stamped off the Bloom with Hope flower stamp a few times before stamping in the card to give it a lighter watermarked look and then added the sentiment on top.
Hope my papercrafting friends will join us in The Paper Players sketch challenge #PP268 this week. I also have to say the other design team members’ cards are exceptionally amazing this week. Check out these talented ladies!
Claire Creates Cards
Stampin! with Jaydee
The Crafty Owl
Stamping Up North
Week Inklings
Canopy Crafts
Stamp with Sandy
Stamp with Amy K
My Paper Tales
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
It is awesomely Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and I can’t remember the last time I have enjoyed this season so much!
Is it a more beautiful than ever one this year?
It seems to be peaking a bit later or lasting a bit longer this year…
The sky seems bluer…
the sun warmer and brighter…
the air fresher…
the colors more vibrant.
Or has it always been like this and I am just learning to appreciate it?
Charlie and I try to talk a walk every day, and there is a beautiful yard we walk by that has this fence that has often attracted me and I have photographed before. The colors of the trees around it yesterday were so amazing! They inspired me to come back and paint late afternoon.
I have been struggling with my watercolor painting lately… I keep thinking that I should be doing much better at this point, but then I don’t do it as much as I would like.
This little painting just felt good to do. I was relaxed and just took a half hour to unwind and enjoy. It is surely not a work of art, but it is a work of heART, and I’m okay with that.
Some wise artist friends have been offering great advice, and I am learning that sometimes trying too hard or not just enjoying what we are doing can stifle our creativity. I am trying to worry less about what the end result will be and let the art speak for itself, so this is what I ended up with.
My “Mom 2,” Carole, has been an inspiration to me in the journey to learn to love Fall. She chooses a special tree each day to appreciate, and has influenced me think about it too.
This was my tree yesterday, and I am going to send her this card to let her know how much I appreciate and think of her.
Hope you are having an awesomely amazing Autumn (or Spring for those in the Southern Hemi!). Happy Weekend!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Last week I posted a photo of a zinnia that seemed like it was just begging to be painted, and I couldn’t wait to give it a go!
One evening, I printed the photo and lightly drew it in pencil using my lightbox – a great tool for us beginners who so often struggle with the drawing part. (Well – let’s face it – I often struggle with ALL the parts!)
I gave it a light water wash and first glaze of pink before quitting for the evening, as I am trying to learn patience and allowing drying time to achieve more complex watercolor paintings.
When my friend, Janet was over one evening, she asked to see what art I’ve been up to. When she saw the beginning of the zinnia, she said it would be a great post to show progress photos of the steps I go through.
Yes – great idea, Jan…. but I haven’t really figured out what steps I go through really!
Anyway – Charlie and I arose early the next morning – around 5:30am – and I decided to give my zinnia another coat. Well – that led to another, and then a disaster, followed by another disaster and a third disaster.
I kept re-trying to reproduce with watercolor what I had envisioned in my head.
Now I am one to promote that it is all about the journey – all about the process – but sometimes I just want to do it perfect – do it right – do it beautiful —- and alas, it wasn’t happening with this beautiful pink zinnia.
This was my fifth effort of it, and I got to where I gave up. It is not even close to what I had envisioned, though somewhat pleasing… at least compared to the first four efforts! I tried wet on wet, wet on dry, sketch first, sketch after, no sketching…
But WHY can I not reproduce on paper what is in my head?!
This is where I call out for support and advice from my artist friends.
Please offer your wisdom.
I obviously tend to “overwork” it.
Watercolor is something I’ve just had this urging to pursue. I’ve watched a few YouTube videos, perused a few books, and follow some amazing bloggers, but I have no formal training and no artistic experience.
I would so appreciate anyone who would be willing to offer their top advice for a wannabee watercolorist!
I am writing this a few days ahead of when it will post, so who knows where my head will be when this posts. But I so look forward to your tips and advice, and hope to be feeling a little better about my watercolor journey by the time you read this.
Can the encourager seek some encouragement this time please? 😉
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Once a month, a group of us bloggers celebrate Bird Day – draw a bird, paint a bird, photograph a bird….. on the 8th of the month. So Happy Bird Day!
I was having fun with it this month and wanted to send our special hostess, Laura, at CreateArtEveryday a belated birthday card. Since I missed it last week, this one is belated for her birthday, but just in time for “birday!” This one was inspired by the amazing whimsical artistry of stressiecat.
Then I saw a cute little drawing of some simple birds on Pinterest that inspired the little card below that I sent to my BFF Jill in honor of some big news in our families that she is going to be a first-time grandma. We are SO excited!
This last one was a struggle, and I need to try again. I saw a tutorial of a watercolor robin done by Welsh artist Alison Fennell. I’ll have to keep working on the robin!
So Happy #BirdDay! Enjoy the birds that are around you – whether real, drawn, painted, or photographed – and chirp, tweet and sing, because tomorrow is Friday!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
#DrawaBirdDay
This week’s theme for The Paper Players Challenge (PP265) is Halloween.
I decided to break out the FlowerSoft for this week’s Design Team Inspiration card. It makes such a fun textured Fall tree with lots of Halloweeny colors.
Here is the fun sentiment on the inside.
My card isn’t very spooky or screamy, but hopefully it is happy halloweeny!
I gave a quick swoosh of green for the grass and blue for the sky in watercolor paint, then stamped the rest.
Here are the “ingredients” I used to make this card:
Hope you are getting ready for a spooky, screamy, happy Halloweeny, and hope my paper crafting friends will join our challenge this week at The Paper Players!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Celebrate Today…. and EVERYday!
Happy Friday my LifeinBetween Friends!
Last night, Hubby and I went to John’s Bar for our usual Thursday night date. We had a couple drinks and dinner and were home in time to watch the Steelers football game. After playing a little fetch with Mr. Charlie outside, I realized I didn’t have a post for today. Of course I was looking forward to today being Friday (though this week sure did fly!), and I wondered what I wanted to say for a Happy Friday message…
While in the office for some meetings this morning, I noticed some beautiful new watercolor prints that were hanging on the wall that were added during a recent remodel, and I fell in love with them. They were extremely simple, yet so mesmerizing and delicate and impactful.
I thought to myself, “I could do that!”
Well – it wasn’t as easy as I thought…..
As many of my fellow watercolor artist friends out there know, restraint is key, yet often oh-so-hard to achieve – especially for us beginners.
But I literally only spent about 10 minutes start to finish on this card, and I kinda like how it turned out. I free formed the leaf with watercolor and brush, splattered a few fall-colored splashes, and then stamped the sentiment on top.
Nothing is ordinary.
Every leaf…
every watercolor painting…
every day….
every person….
has something special about it.
Embrace it, friends.
Cherish the moments!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Paper Smooches Pretty Phrases Stamp & Stazon Ink
M Graham Watercolors in Sap Green, Quinacridone Red, Nickel Quinacridone Gold
Arches 140lb Coldpress Watercolor Paper
StampinUp Very Vanilla Cardstock
the creative life in between 