art

Tiny Glow Watercolor

/ Jodi / 83 Comments
tiny glow yellow lily original watercolor

Tiny Glow yellow lily original watercolor – 6″ x 8″ matted to 8×10

My sweet artist blogging friend, Sharon Mann gave me a friendly challenge to paint my recent Tiny Glow Yellow Lily I got for Mother’s Day from my son, Jake.

I’ve been experimenting with some abstract techniques that I used for this painting which I’m showing here in it’s original format above, printed on cards below, and the scanned print lastly.

tiny glow yellow lily photo of cards

Tiny Glow yellow lily watercolor print greeting cards

I painted a random background wash first using Naples Yellow and a bit of New Gamboge.  After it dried, I lightly and loosely drew the lily on top.  I then negatively painted around the lily with Winsor Violet and splashed some more in the background.  Lastly I used some Green Gold to add a bit of shadowing to the flower and for the stems and a touch of Burnt Umber for the little pods.

tiny glow yellow lily print 2

Tiny Glow yellow lily watercolor print

Check out Sharon’s MASTERPIECES here!  She is a REAL artist and her lily truly glows!  I love it!

And the best part is, we’ve agreed to exchange, so she is sending me one of hers, and I am sending her one of mine.

We all have our own styles and levels of ability and experience, but what a joy it is to share here through WordPress with so many wonderful artistic blogger friends.  They have encouraged me and taught me so much in my journey into watercolor this past year.  I am so grateful for them!

Wishing you all moments to cherish and the opportunity to glow today.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Birthday Cake Card for Colleen

/ Jodi / 55 Comments
birthday cake abstract impressionistic birthday card

Abstract Impressionistic Watercolor Birthday Cake Card

Yesterday was our dear daughter-in-law, Colleen’s birthday, so along with the Sprinkle Cake I made for her, I thought I’d paint an abstract, impressionistic sprinkle birthday cake card in watercolor.

I’m not sure which one I had more fun doing… baking the cake or painting the card.

Hubby noticed my cake was a bit crooked, and it was a bit wonky…  that’s how you know it’s homemade – right?!  Well – I guess it’s an impressionistic cake too!

Not matter what – I enjoyed doing both because they were for a special young lady who I love a lot!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Painting Punta Cana

/ Jodi / 72 Comments
Punta Cana Ocean Beach Palm Tree Watercolor 10x14

Punta Cana Ocean Beach Palm Tree Watercolor 10×14

I found some time the other evening to splash with some Cobalt Teal and Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre and Burnt Umber, Quinacridone Gold and Green Gold watercolor to try to recreate the wonderful feeling of being on our recent little “rum-away” to Punta Cana.

“Landscapes” are a challenge to me.  After a couple of attempts at this first one, I decided to just splash these colors into an abstract.

Punta Cana Ocean Abstract Watercolor 10x14

Punta Cana Ocean Abstract Watercolor 10×14

I then tried turning my 10×14 portrait page to landscape and creating a scene with a few trees recalling how we discussed how amazing that some of them were still alive bending and swaying in the breeze.  There was one like the one below right in front of  “our spot on the beach” where lots of people stopped to lean on and pose for photos.

Punta Cana Ocean Beach Palm Trees Watercolor 10x14

Punta Cana Ocean Beach Palm Trees Watercolor 10×14

All of these paintings were done on 10 x 14″ sheets of Arches 300 lb cold pressed watercolor paper.

Hoping they help you to “feel” the ocean breeze!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Very Variegated Violet

/ Jodi / 53 Comments

Purple violet watercolor tulips

Who knew shades of violet could vary so greatly?!

Before we went away on vacation last week, I had some fun playing with purple in this super loose vase of violet tulips.   I have done tulips in shades of reds and oranges  in this style, but was excited to try purple.

I decided to mix Winsor Violet (WN*) and Quinacridone Violet (MG**) – two VERY different violets –  and touch in some Quinacridone Gold (WN), because I always so love how it moves!

I used Green Gold (WN) for the foliage and a touch of Cobalt Teal (MG) for drama.  I shook it, and I splashed on it.

This large 10 x 13 in. painting is done on 300 lb. Arches Cold Press Paper.

I wasn’t sure if I liked it when I finished it, so I just set it aside.

I don’t know whether it is the “curing” of the paint or the “stepping away” that changes a painting so often, but…. when I came home after a week away and looked at it again, I decided I rather liked it.

It’s loose.

It’s kind of wild.

It’s unique and distinctive and venturesome.

It’s Very Variegated Violet!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

*WN – Winsor Newton Professional Grade Watercolor Paint
**MG – M. Graham Watercolor Paint

Eva’s First Birthday

/ Jodi / 52 Comments

Eva Birthday 1 Card

Some of you might remember little Eva from some photos I shared several months ago.

Well – time sure does fly, and Eva just turned ONE!

Eva’s Aunt Liz asked if I would make a special card for her sweet little niece’s first birthday.  The request included incorporating an elephant, so Eva’s baby elephant is glammed up a bit with a purple velvet bow and a tiny pearl.

I had so much fun drawing and painting this card for an exceptional little princess.

Wishing you a day and year ahead as special as you little Eva!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

When?

/ Jodi / 50 Comments

when

When is the last time
you did something
for the first time?

Is today the day?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Little Birdie to say Happy Mother’s Day

/ Jodi / 61 Comments
goldfinch watercolor drawabirdday

Goldfinch Watercolor Doodlewash for Draw A Bird Day

Some of you may remember the darling little goldfinch I captured in a photo recently as his family has become a regular in our backyard and at the feeders.

I decided to do a quick little watercolor and doodlewash him for today’s monthly #drawabirdday.

I am out of town today, but he is flying by to wish all the Moms out there the happiest of Mother’s Days!

Being a mom has unequivocally been the greatest privilege of my life and has provided me with such joy and love.

Thank you Jake and Nick for all you have given me.  My life would not be nearly as extraordinary if it weren’t for what each of you has given me since the days you were born.

Now that you are grown men with lives of your own, I thank you even more for still allowing me the honor of being a part of your lives and being your Mom.  And thank you for the beautiful ladies in Colleen and Liz that you have allowed me to “mother” too.

I am the luckiest Mom of all!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Daydreaming

/ Jodi / 35 Comments
dogwood blossom dreamy black and white

Dogwood Tree Blossom, Day Dreaming in Monochrome, Mars, PA

Dreaming of
far away places
that are soft
and light
and free.

Maybe I’ll go there.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge:  Earth

Happy Tulips in a Jar

/ Jodi / 92 Comments

Original Watercolor 9x12 matted to 11x14 impressionistic tulips in jar

This past weekend, I found a little time to splash in some paint, and I recreated an original watercolor of tulips in a jar.  Tulips lend so well to impressionistic, loose painting.  I adore tulips, and I adore painting this way.

I say “re-created,” because I recently sold a similar original painting in our Etsy Shop.

The funny thing was… when I painted it, I sort of liked it, but was hesitant to share it.  I had it tucked away for a few weeks.  Then last week, the little cash register dinged on my phone alerting me it had sold.  When I dug it out to ship, I looked at it again and really liked it.  I remembered how much fun I had painting it, and I longed to do it again.

So this is the latest version.  It is its own original.  The painting is 9×12, and I stuck a little white mat around it just to see what it would look like.

I kinda like it, and it’s kinda fun to say that.  🙂

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

This painting is now available at McKinneyx2Designs

Compassion

/ Jodi / 69 Comments
world love abstract

“Compassion” Original Watercolor – Jodi McKinney

Skip the religion and politics,
head straight to the compassion.
everything else is a distraction.
                                                                   – talib kweli

A while back, I read this quote shared by Beth at I Didn’t Have My Glasses On ,
and it hit me like a brick!
Went straight to the heart, and stuck with me.

I recently did this little abstract watercolor.
To me, it resembles the world surrounded by a heart.
And I call it, “Compassion.”

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi