abstract

Painting Puddles of Violet, Gold, and Turquoise

/ Jodi / 48 Comments

violet gold turquoise abstract watercolor

I have just discovered

that I am in love

with Violet, Gold and Turquoise

combined together in every way.

It started when I randomly created this bird with some leftover paint when designing my pine tree Christmas thank you cards.

purple gold and turquoise bird watercolor

And my son, Nick, told me it would be more interesting if I had a set or a series of three paintings.

Well – that is all it took to get me splashing in puddles of violet, gold and turquoise last evening.

purple gold and turquoise butterfly watercolor

He and hubby like this butterfly best.

I love the color block abstract.

violet gold turquoise abstract watercolor

It was so fun splashing it on and turning it around and shaking it and watching the watercolor paint do it’s magic.

To me – it is pure artistic magic.  The colors tell the story, and the story is unique to each individual viewing it.

After a couple of days of frustration trying to recreate some scenes I thought would be easier than they were, I just allowed myself to splash and see what happened.

And it felt good.

This is what is great about snowy, cold January evenings after the holidays.

Embrace them, and do what makes your heart sing!

I may not be a great artist, but I’m a girl with a paint brush and an easel and time at the end of the day to cherish,

and that is what I’m doing.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

A Christmas Deer, Dear

/ Jodi / 62 Comments

Watercolor deer

It’s a Christmas Deer, Dear.

One of the best things about art and painting and watercoloring is the freedom to create an image however you want…

Christmas Reindeer can be purple with a turquoise ear right?

This is one of my Christmas card designs that I learned how to print and duplicate.  Yay me! 

(It is inspired by some artwork I found on Flickr, but darn if I can find it now to cite!)

Nevertheless, the countdown is on, and we are into single digits until the BIG day.   I have never been so late getting cards done, gifts bought, cookies baked, food made….. and I have never enjoyed it more!

Whatever gets done, mailed, baked, cooked is what it is.  As long as I get to spend time with those I love is all that matters.

Cherish the moments.

Merry Christmas Deer/Dear!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Abstract Thoughts in a Concrete World

/ Jodi / 58 Comments

Prussian Blue Permanent Rose Watercolor Abstract

Another shooting…

this time at Inland Regional Center, a conference center in a community facility in San Bernandino, California that serves people with developmental disabilities.

Senseless.

Innocent lives lost to craziness and confusion and ugliness.

As I watched the non-stop coverage on the news –  trying to understand – not allowing myself to become “desensitized” to the madness,  I felt compelled to paint.

I wanted to just express my abstract thoughts and feelings in this concrete world.

Before I ever tried to paint, to watercolor, to create art,

I would look at abstract art and laugh, or dismiss, or discredit.

I thought to myself, and even said out loud, that anyone could “do THAT!”

It’s just paint splattered on paper.

But I’m drawn to abstract art now – like never before.

And I dare you to try it!

It is not as easy as it looks to the inexperienced critic.

It is actually much easier to paint and draw literally and concrete and exact.

But to paint abstract is to let the art speak your feelings, to let the paint “do it’s thing.”

So I brushed my paper with Prussian Blue and Permanent Rose and then a delicate mix of the two of them.

Then I splashed water on it all, expressing my confusion, my angst, my inability to understand our world’s inability for peace, for tolerance, for understanding, for love.

These two colors create such a beautiful tone when mixed together – like all of us.

But we can’t, won’t, don’t let it happen.

We fight it, we try to control it, we try to keep it separate, we try to make the rules, define the lines, keep it simple.

But life is not meant to be separated, defined by lines or be simple.

Life is about freedom… about being connected…

Life is complex.

But it is also loose and expressive and beautiful.

And so I created this abstract watercolor painting

that I have to admit I love,

and I am nervous to share for fear you will not – like – understand – feel – care – accept.

But I am being brave, and I am sharing.

It is my little expression of abstract thoughts in a concrete world.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

PS  Thanks to Deb Riley, an amazing artist I adore and follow and would love to emulate.   You have encouraged, enthused, and inspired me!

A”pear”antly Pears!

/ Jodi / 43 Comments

pears in watercolor

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

Autumn Trees – to doodle or not to doodle

/ Jodi / 49 Comments

autumn trees watercolor doodle card

Happy First Day of Fall!

The other day – as I continue to convince myself how much I love Fall (and it really is happening!) I dabbled with a couple abstract watercolors of Autumn trees.  One I “doodled” up and the other I didn’t.

autumn trees watercolor card

Interesting what a different effect it gives.  And more interesting – I kind of like both.  (what do you think of that Charlie O and Laura!?!?)

So I asked my guys that evening, “Which do you like better?”

Hubby picked one… and my son, Nick, picked the other.

I knew that was going to happen!

Which one do you pick?

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Expressing in Abstract Watercolor

/ Jodi / 15 Comments

blue flower abstract watercolor card

Sometimes I just want to splash water and paint on paper.  Can anyone relate?

I have no subject in mind, don’t feel like sketching, just want to express….

color….   feelings….  heart…. love…. maybe a little bit of peace or beauty.

abstract purple watercolor flower card

These two cards were the result of that – done a week or so apart when I just needed to splash in paint puddles.

Not much talent at all involved here, but a great experience.  And… if my very un-educated expressions in watercolor inspire anyone to step outside their comfort zone and try – and then find the joy – my heart is filled.

These turned into note cards I needed to use recently to express sympathy to a few friends who lost loved ones.

I hope they feel the love, and it brings them a bit of peace.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Painting Pairs of Pears

/ Jodi / 27 Comments

pear purple watercolor

I’ve been wanting to watercolor pears…

They seem like a fun loose subject, so I decided to give them a try one evening this past week.

I started with this purple one – because…

why not?!!?!

Then I did this more realistic colored one in golds and brown tones.

 

pear golden watercolor

After painting that pair, I was still enjoying, and wanted to be even more creative, so I decided to try one in patriotic colors of red, white, and blue.  For the “white,” I used frisket to mask, and peeled it off when dry.

 

pear red white and blue

Then I wanted to do one even more colorful and looser, so I did this rainbow pear.  A little out there – eh?!?

pear rainbow watercolor

It was fun to take the same basic shape and make so many different images with it.

Yep – painting pairs of pears is what I do…

at

life in between.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Gusho over Brusho

/ Jodi / 23 Comments

brusho 1

Brusho seems to be quite the rage these days.

brusho 3

Brusho Crystal Colours are brilliant, intense transparent color crystals that are great for painting, color washes, staining, and creative textile design on porous surfaces such as paper, wood, and fabric.

brusho 6

I thought I’d just do a little experimenting with the colors and the way they work.  A couple sprinkles of the crystals before and/or after spritzing with water created these basic designs.

brusho 2

Nothing complex or intricate – just testing them out and seeing how they work.  So these are just some simple experiments, but oh the possibilities that are running through my head.

brusho 5

In trying different combinations and amounts, I learned quickly that a very little goes a long way.  What great effects might be possible combining these with watercolor painting, stamping, embossing, sewing, woodworking!??!!

brusho 4

Oh so many possibilities….
and oh so little time…

Make it count…
doing the things you love…
at life in between.

Cheers and Happy Friday Hugs,
Jodi