It’s #DrawABirdDay with my WordPress artist blogging friends, which we celebrate on the 8th of every month.
I had fun yesterday watercolor painting a parliament of whimsical owls. (Did you know a “group” of owls is called a parliament?)
A little search on Pinterest provided some inspiration of ideas that I combined to create these little cuties.
I think these will make fun greeting or note cards.
Hoots & Tweets and Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
One of my favorite, most inspiration watercolor artists is a sweet lady that lives on the entire other side of the world from me in Mars.
Debi Riley lives all the way in Perth, Australia, but because of a chance connection through WordPress and the World Wide Web, I have the joy of following her lovely work and SWOONING daily.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she may come to the U.S. some day to visit relatives and find a way to Mars to meet and spend some time showing me how she makes such beautiful magic with paint and paper… I will cook and bake for her and serve lots of wine if only she will show me how to make such swoonable art as she does!
Debi makes it look so effortless, yet when I attempt to do the same…. ARGH! No swooning!
I keep reading, though, and I keep trying to absorb, and I keep laying paint on paper.
This little landscape card, came after two frustrating attempts to do a full-sized painting and not liking what happened. Then I realized I didn’t pay attention to cool colors for background and warm for foreground. After a while, do these types of things become natural? I just want to be loose and free and “do it” without thinking….. but it seems there really is a lot of discipline – even in (if not especially in) abstract art, which ends up looking so effortless.
If you would like to see some truly beautiful art, please be sure to check out Debi Riley’s blog here. Debi is an award-winning creative arts instructor with over 15 years experience who works in watercolor, acrylic, oils, pastels, charcoal, mixed media, and photography. She also has a beautiful Pinterest page here.
In the meantime, I’m going to keep trying, and I appreciate you humoring me by allowing me to share.
Happy Tuesday! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy day to do what makes you happy… at life in between.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A partial list of favorite pairs:
After practicing a few more watercolor skies last evening (and feeling frustrated!… Why are skies so hard for me??!), I decided to do something that made me happy, so I just took a small piece of watercolor paper and did a quick, free and easy abstract pear in some of my favorite colors – letting the colors blend and do their thing. I could then relax happy, and it made me think of some of my favorite pears pairs.
Do you have some favorite pairs?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
My sweet buddy, Oh Rob, recently posted a beautiful photo of his morning view waking up at Conneaut Lake, PA on his Facebook page. It really drew me in, as it is one of my favorite places to be, mostly because it is with him and his sweet wife Joyce who are very dear to us.
I tried painting it in watercolor. Need to loosen up more. But I had fun thinking of them and this beautiful place on earth. There have been so many beautiful pink skies this winter. Am I just noticing it more, or is there more than usual?
Wishing you beautiful sunrises.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A couple of sweet young families we know have recently welcomed baby boys.
It’s been a fun opportunity for me to splash around my prussian and cerulean blue watercolor paint.
I saw this adorable sentiment used when searching for ideas, and thought it was such a cute play on words.
These are going in the MAIL today to Baby Dean and Baby Wesley’s families. Welcome to the world little ones!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Time to join The Paper Players and play along in the color challenge Claire put out this week for all our crafting, painting, stamping friends.
I couldn’t resist participating with the fun colors this super sweet lady chose: Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, and Real Red! Oooo Laaa Laa!
I wanted to do something different and had bought some fun new stuff while shopping this past weekend with Hubby at Tuesday Morning before our movie date to see “The Revenant.” (Did YOU see it yet?!) I bought the corrugated papercraft cardstock paper and the Tim Holtz Alpha Parts Punch Out letters. Combined that with some fun flowers sweet Eileen at My Creative Resolution gifted me with that just happened to exactly match “Melon Mambo,” embellished with one of my fave new dies – the pine branches from Gina Marie Designs, die cut some paper with my favorite stitched rectangle dies, added a pearl, and Voila – my Mixed Media Hug card!
It’s a bit of a quirky card, and I’m still trying to decide if I like it, but I’m guessing there will come an occasion or a person who it will end up being just right for at just the right time one of these days, so I’ll be holding onto this “hug” until then.
I sure miss being on the design team with the amazing creative Paper Players team, but it’s great to still play along!
Oh – and check out the amazing new guest designers! WOWZA! They have so much creativity to share!
Happy Friday!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Painting, drawing, creating….
Cooking, baking, feeding….
Eating, exercising, relaxing..
Reading, writing, rhyming…
Exploring, photographing, dreaming….
Celebrating, experiencing, observing…
Singing, laughing, talking…
Watching, crying, listening..
Loving, sharing, growing…
Working, playing, enjoying time with family and friends…
It isn’t that hard!
Do More of What Makes YOU Happy!
#CherishTheMoments
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
It’s #DrawABirdDay with my blogging friends (officially April 8th, but we like to do it on the 8th of EVERY month), so I decided to give a go at a beautiful photo I saw of a song sparrow on Instagram taken by Lisa Snow in Vancouver, British Columbia.
I love the sparrows that come to our back deck feeders – especially in the winter when the snow is falling.
Thanks for your ongoing inspiration Laura @ CreateArtEveryday! This sparrow is in honor of you and your generosity and support. (She is the one who did the sweet painting of Charlie and surprised me for my birthday!)
Enjoy all that nature has to offer today and everyday, and maybe go ahead and create some art from it!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS This month’s #DrawABirdDay is hosted by our friends Kerfe and Nina @ MethodtwoMadness. A sweet, artistic blog of two friends. Thanks Ladies!
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.
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.
He and hubby like this butterfly best.
I love the color block abstract.
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
Charlie – by Laura @ createarteveryday
Hi Friends! Charlie here.
Have you missed me? It’s been a while since Mom has let me guest post.
What do you think of this beautiful watercolor painting of me a very dear and talented friend gifted us with for Mom’s birthday?!
Thank you so much Ms. Laura @ CreateArtEverday! We really surprised Mom when the card showed up addressed to “Mom” with no postmark or return address except for my paw print! Thanks for helping me make her birthday even more special! You are the best!
I must tell you, I am kind of glad the holidays are over. We had FUN – lots of parties, lots of food, lots of friends and family over, but I am POOPED!
I stayed up the latest I have ever stayed up in my life on New Year’s Eve! Company didn’t leave until after 1:30 am, and I didn’t want to miss a crumb moment of the festivities, so I stayed up way past my usual 8 pm bedtime.
Santa came to our house too! He must have received my letter and agreed that I WAS a good boy, because my stocking was overflowing with new toys. He even remembered the FIVE GOLDEN Bones I asked for! YIPPEE! Thank you Santa! Four are already gone.
Mom tells me this is a New Year and a time when many make resolutions to be better.
I have decided I am going to do my best to make my family feel loved and appreciated. I think that is one of the most important jobs of a family pet. Don’t you agree?
Unconditional love is so easy for me to give, and it sure makes my Mom and Dad happy.
Happy New Year to all of you (and your family pets!)
Woofs & Wags,
Charlie
the creative life in between 