art

My Favorite Color

/ Jodi / 57 Comments

color-palette

My Favorite Color…

My favorite color is yellow
for sunshiney summer days
and chirpy gold finches
and the tartness of lemons.

My favorite color is blue
for the beauty of the sky and the ocean
and robin eggs
and star-shaped bachelor buttons.

My favorite color is red
for hearts
and raspberries and strawberries
and dark, dry wine.

My favorite color is pink
for lipstick
and nail polish
and my granddaughter’s cheeks.

My favorite color is green
for springtime grass
and soft, feathery hemlock trees
and arugula.

My favorite color is black
for yoga pants
and nighttime skies
and patent leather peep toe pumps.

My favorite color is brown
for the smell of the earth
and rich, creamy gravy
and the color of my morning coffee with cream.

My favorite color is purple
for sweet smelling lilacs
and intricate irises
and Barney the dinosaur.

My favorite color is white
for the first blanket of snow
and the stars that twinkle in a midnight sky
and marshmallow fluff.

How does anyone choose one favorite color
when there are so many reasons
to love every color?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS  It was so challenging for me to choose only 20 colors to fill my new watercolor palette from the 55 colors I have in my stock.  But oh how fun it is to start fresh with a new clean palette and all the possibilities it can create.

Do you have a favorite color?  However do you choose?

 

 

I’ve Got the Blues

/ Jodi / 68 Comments
scan20170227_22045323

“I’ve got the Blues” Watercolor 8 x 10 Impressionist Floral

I’ve got the Blues….

The watercolor blues…

creating shades of purples and greens by mixing Phthalo Blue with Permanent Rose and Hansa Yellow.

Yep – I’ve got the blues…

The Happy Blues.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Colors Used:  Daniel Smith Phthalo Blue, Hansa Yellow Medium, Permanent Rose.  Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. Cold Press Paper

My New Creation Station

/ Jodi / 66 Comments

My New Creation Station / Art Studio is just about done.

A few pieces of art need framed for the walls and some fabric is needed for a window treatment, but besides splashes of paint and scraps of paper on the floor, we are about done.

Hubby has been working so hard this past month transforming  a 22′ x 13′ bonus space we had in our home into a usable space for a few of my “creative life in between” hobbies.

Duct work had to be moved for the air flow of heat and air conditioning.
A cold air return had to be added.
Recessed lighting and a ceiling fan were installed.
Walls were painted.
Flooring was laid.  (And I’m so grateful to my son, Nick, for pitching in last Saturday to help Hubby with the underlayment, padding and laminate flooring.  They did it all in a day!)
Trim was stained and cut and nailed in.

And then I got to start filling it with my painting and stamping and crafting and sewing and photography supplies.  The weekend was spent cleaning out a walk-in-closet that could not be walked in anymore and an office that doubled as a craft room.

Our large garbage receptacle was filled.  The office is now streamlined and breathable.  The walk-in-closet can now be walked in.

It was cleansing and fulfilling and back-aching and tiring work, but so wonderful to accomplish.

And one of the best parts about it all is the only new things furnishing my art studio (besides lighting and fan and flooring) are the Husky Adjustable Wood Work Table and Chrome Shelving Hubby bought me for Valentine’s Day and the fabric organization boxes I bought to organize things in.

Leftover cans of paint from other home projects were used to paint the walls and ceiling.

A very old 8′ folding table that was stashed in the basement, as well as a small four-drawer wooden baby dresser, got a fresh new look with a coat of Tuscan red chalk paint.

I’m keeping one tall wall clear and open for possible photography use.  I received the reflector and Genaray light for Christmas.  Another little spot houses my light box for photographing smaller things.

Another corner is reserved for sewing.

A very special corner is set aside for grandies and other children that may visit with a small child’s art desk that holds a roll of paper (gifted to use by some very special peeps), plastic drawers filled with wooden stamps and a carousel of crayons and markers.

It’s been fun organizing paints and supplies.  I even created a long-needed paint chart for my watercolors and am trying to decide which 20 colors to add to a new palette.

Enjoy this little 30-second Hyperlapse visit of my new little Creation Station.  Can’t wait to splash it up!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS – If you can’t view hyperlapse video above, click here to watch video on Youtube.

Purple Irises in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 72 Comments
purple-iris-2-black-border-matted

Single Purple Iris Watercolor Loose 8 x 10

Purple Irises in Watercolor.

Continuing on my kick of violet and crimson and gold…
and thinking floral…
and thinking Spring… (it continues to be in the 60’s and sunny here this crazy February of Spring in Western Pennsylvania!)

I created a couple iris paintings.

They are both very different, but I kinda love them both.

I painted these on Sunday after dinner on what was such a beautiful sunny, warm day.

I have to admit I gave purple irises a try on Saturday (in the midst of “construction” work on another project in the house).

I painted four or five different versions.  They were all terrible!

I hate days like that.  It makes me feel like I’ve “lost it.”   Not to say I’m anything magnificent in the whole big world of amazing watercolor artists.  But I’ve finally come to a place where I feel like I have some bit of my own style and can often appreciate the beauty in some of my work.

When I did this first one, I was so pleased.  I felt like I finally achieved what I was going for.

I thought I’d try another version, and I like it too.   In fact, I can’t decide between the two.  I wish the photos better represented what they look like – or maybe it ‘s just me, but they look so much better in real life.

purple-iris-1-black-border-matted

Single Violet Iris Loose Watercolor 8 x 10

Wishing you a day filled with simple little victories and moments to feel good about yourself!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Watercolor Impressions & Expressions of Friendship in Violet & Crimson & Gold

/ Jodi / 58 Comments
violet-and-gold-muted-abstract-watercolor

Violet & Gold Muted Abstract Watercolor 8 x 10

Watercolor Impressions & Expressions of Friendship in Violet & Crimson & Gold.

I had fun splashing in watercolor a few evenings this week after Couples Camp last weekend when my sweet Bubby told me she wanted my Illusion watercolor painting, but she also wanted a couple more paintings to complement it for a grouping in her dining room.

violet-floral-illusion-watercolor

Violet Floral Illusion Watercolor 8×10

Bubby is not really a floral girl (so she says), but she also has my Very Variegated Violet painting hanging in her home.  😉

violet-crimson-gold-abstract-drips-watercolor

Violet Crimson Gold Abstract Drips Watercolor 8×10

She is obviously a “purple girl!”  She also loves more abstract art.

violet-crimson-gold-abstract-flower-watercolor

Violet Crimson Gold Abstract Pinwheel Flower Watercolor 8×10

So these are some choices I’ve presented to her to choose from – or not…  Either way, I had fun expressing my love of her through impressions in art.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Daniel Smith Quinacridone Purple, Quinacridone Violet, Opera Rose, Quinacridone Gold, Arches 140 lb Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Feel free to check out more at McKinneyX2Designs

Babette the Bunny

/ Jodi / 65 Comments
pink-orange-gold-abstract-bunny-watercolor-9x12-140lb-fabriano-artistico

“Babette” pink-orange-gold-abstract-bunny-watercolor-9×12-140lb-fabriano-artistico

The weather was so warm here for a couple days this week, it felt like Spring!
I don’t remember ever having 60 degree weather in February.  Even the birds were singing and celebrating.

The Spring-like weather must have been the inspiration for “Babette” the Bunny who somehow came to life one evening after dinner.  No drawing – just started painting the eye and then splashing water and pink and orange and dabs of quin gold in the shape of a bunny.

And as for her name, it must have come from the hours of binge-watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix I’ve been doing since Christmas.

It was fun to create a Springy painting on a Springy February day.  Fingers crossed I’m not inspired to paint snowy landscapes in May the way our wacky weather has been this year!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

McKinneyX2Designs

Painting Spring

/ Jodi / 55 Comments

tulip-bunch-in-planter-watercolor-11x14

Spring Tulips in a Planter – 11×14 Watercolor Painting

While hubby was pounding and drilling and sawing,
I was painting and dreaming of the special place he is making.

And then I’d be called to hold or reach or retrieve,
while the soup was simmering and the laundry was tumbling.

And tulips bloomed on my paper and in my heart,
while we spent another blissfully ordinary Sunday in home sweet home.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

*Tulip painting inspired by Andrew Geeson Loose Watercolor Painting

 

 

Illusion

/ Jodi / 56 Comments
purple anemone illusion watercolor on 9x12 140lb arches

purple anemone illusion watercolor on 9×12 140lb arches

Illusion.

Sometimes
creating an illusion

of what it should be,
or could be,
or would be….

is more beautiful,
and more interesting,
and more mysterious…

than the reality
of what it really is.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Practicing from and inspired by Jean Haine’s Atmospheric Watercolour Book

Seeing Red

/ Jodi / 52 Comments
red-abstract-floral-watercolor-11x14-with-white-frame

red-abstract-floral-watercolor-11×14-140lb arches

Seeing Red…

Not in the usual way we think of “seeing red,”
but in a happy, loose, free, floral kinda way!

What color are you “seeing” today?

Hope it is a happy one.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Watercolors:  Daniel Smith Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Hansa Yellow Medium, Perylene Violet, Sepia

Paper:  Arches 140lb Cold Press

McKinneyX2Designs

 

Smile

/ Jodi / 38 Comments

smile-perylene-green-watercolor

Smile…

I know that this may sound cliche,
but won’t you give it a try today?

When you see someone whose eyes are dim,
greet them with a wide, happy grin?

Show those dimples and pearly whites,
it may just be their day’s highlight.

A smile is contagious and fun to spread.
Just do it, you’ll see – full speed ahead!

It could be the cure that heals the blues,
maybe even the common cold and flu.

It’s easy, and it is free to give.
it can even be a kind forgive.

A simple smile can spread some light,
and be the way to make a day bright.

It’s a gesture, it’s a gift,
it can be a huge lift.

If everyone tried this once per day,
imagine how lovely… imagine how gay.

You can turn the world on with your smile
You can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

RIP Mary Tyler Moore – Your smile will be remembered