art

A Bucketful of Love

/ Jodi / 42 Comments

“Bucketful of Love” Watercolor 11×14

A Bucketful of Love.

How much love can a bucket hold?

When it’s holding a little girl, who happens to be your granddaughter, it is definitely overflowing!

Last weekend, I was “helping” one of my daughters-in-law and her sisters get ready for the upcoming wedding of one of the sisters.

As we worked in the barn where the reception will be held on a sweltering hot day, I had the “job” of entertaining my granddaughter so the girls could work.

Once we found a couple buckets of water, we were busy for hours, made a huge mess, and had a bucketful of fun!

I am not a great portrait painter, and I didn’t do my little cutie justice, but it was fun to try, and since it’s #WorldWatercolorMonth, I thought I’d share.

Bucketsful of Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Let’s Make the World More Colorful

/ Jodi / 47 Comments

Let’s Make the World More Colorful Watercolor 11×14

Let’s Make the World More Colorful.

Let’s make the world a happier place.
Let’s make  the world a kinder place.

Let’s make the world more loving.
Let’s make the world more peaceful.

Let’s do it one person at a time.
Let’s do it one act a time.

Let’s Make the World More Colorful.

#WorldWatercolorMonth

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Playing & Creating – Enjoying the Journey

/ Jodi / 55 Comments

Playing and Creating.

Some leftover paint
mixed up for a pouring project
that I played with on paper
with a goal of creating a wave…

Turned out to look
nothing like a wave,
but so many other things
magically appeared.

I see a bird
and a dolphin
or a crocodile
and a fish.

I feel movement
and life
and freedom
and joy.

Art
imitating
life

While enjoying
the special time
at life in between.

Relaxing
while playing
made something
I would never sell or hang on a wall,

but I created
and learned
how things react
and mix and mingle.

Art – like life –
isn’t always about
the destination –
but about the journey.

Play and create today.
Do something that brings you joy
in that “in between” time you get to call your own,
and enjoy the journey.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Original Watercolors, Acrylic Abstracts, and Handmade Rustic Decor available at McKinneyX2Designs.  Klaus the Mouse available on Amazon here.

Favorite Smells

/ Jodi / 65 Comments

Favorite Smells.

Dew kissed lilacs, hyacinths, and honeysuckle.
Baking bread, popping popcorn,  and sizzling bacon.
Freshly mown grass, bed sheets hung out to dry, and rain.
Babies’ bellies, toes, and shampooed hair.
Strong coffee, brand new books,  and the salty ocean.

Yesterday I took a little time to “art” on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Drawing and sketching is not my strength at all, but I felt like doing it,
so I sketched a  bottle of my favorite fragrance.

I then splashed on a little water and yellow ochre watercolor paint
as I gear up for World Watercolor Month in July.

Can anyone guess what my favorite fragrance is?

Hope your day is full of favorites.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

#WorldWatercolorMonth

 

Breaking Free

/ Jodi / 64 Comments

Breaking Free in Blues Abstract 11×14 Arches 140lb Cold Press

Breaking Free.

Three months ago,
when I lost a job I loved
that I thought would be my last,
I was devastated.
I was broken free.

Two months ago,
I started a new job that I now love
and hope will be my last,
and I am so energized.
It is like breaking free.

Over the past few months,
I’ve started exploring new art mediums –
in my “life in between”
from watercolor to acrylic to mixed media.
I am breaking free.

This painting,
done over two days this past week
combining these old and new mediums
feels like I am expressing
the elation of breaking free.

And I love it….
The painting….
The joy…
The freedom…
Yes – I’m breaking free!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

This original painting – as well as high quality prints and card sets – is available at our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY Shop!

AND PS  I’m so excited to let you know the Yellow Canary McKinneyX2Designs World Watercolor Month Limited Edition Pouch is NOW AVAILABLE!!!   Here is the link to order yours!  Hope you will help support Dreaming Zebra –  a nonprofit encouraging children to embrace their individuality to express themselves creatively and follow their artistic dreams.  100% of the proceeds for the sale of this Limited Edition Pouch will help provide art and music supplies to underprivileged children throughout the world.

Happy Father’s Day

/ Jodi / 51 Comments

Father and Daughter and Red Balloon Watercolor 11×14

Happy Father’s Day.

Happy Father’s Day to my Dad.
So glad we have the opportunity to make up for lost time.

Happy Father’s Day to my Hubby.
Sharing parenthood with you has been one of my life’s greatest joys.

Happy Father’s Day to my Son.
Watching you be a dad melts my heart.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 I painted this watercolor to create a card for my Dad for Father’s Day.  I wanted to create a feeling with art that represents a bond that can’t be broken.  The bond between a father and daughter.  A representation of the feeling of being Daddy’s little girl – no matter age or time.  Love you Dad. xoxox

World Watercolor Month 2018 – I’m an Artist Ambassador!

/ Jodi / 66 Comments

World Watercolor Month 2018 – I’m an Artist Ambassador!

My amazing buddy, Charlie O’Shields at Doodlewash is at it again!  He is hosting the annual World Watercolor Month celebration in July, which he created three years ago to inspire people to paint with watercolor while raising awareness for the importance of art and creativity in the world.

Art has brought me so much joy since I discovered watercolor about three years ago that I want to be a part of sharing it, so Charlie honored me with the privilege of being a World Watercolor Month Art Ambassador.

For the month of July, I will be donating $1 from every watercolor sale (originals, prints, greeting cards) from our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY shop to Dreaming Zebra which helps support children in need around the world by providing art supplies and art education.Research has shown that art education has a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and has proven to help level the learning field across socioeconomic boundaries. Unfortunately, arts education programs are too often the first to be cut when cuts are made, so more and more children each year are missing out on the important benefits of art classes.

The Dreaming Zebra Foundation is unique in that they provide an art recycling program that is free to the public. Reusable art & music supplies that would otherwise be discarded, along with new or unsold materials, are donated by individuals and businesses and matched to recipients who have requested those materials for arts education purposes in communities around the world.

And Charlie chose my Yellow Canary, which I created in honor and memory of a special blogging friend, Terry, as the MX2 watercolor to be put on this year’s limited edition Artist Ambassador zippered pouch souvenier merchandise for World Watercolor Month 2018.  100% of the proceeds from the purchase of these zippered pouches will go to the Dreaming Zebra Foundation!

To learn more about World Watercolor Month, click here.

I’ll be sharing more in July, which is only 17 days away – can you believe it?!  Hope you will join us in the fun!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

#WorldWatercolorMonth

A Blue Pineapple for a Baby Girl Nursery

/ Jodi / 48 Comments

Blue Pineapple Watercolor 11X14

A Blue Pineapple for a Baby Girl Nursery.

I had a commissioned request to do a turquoisey-blue pineapple to go with a pink flamingo for a baby girl’s nursery.

Pink Flamingo Watercolor 11×14

Sweet new mommy-to-be, Sarah, reached out to me through our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop and asked if I could do my pineapple in blues and paint her an original pink flamingo – with a couple dabs of gold in each if possible.

I have been having so much fun pouring acrylic abstracts lately, it was a mind-shift to gently and neatly “splash” in watercolor, but it came back like riding a bike, and I truly enjoyed creating these original pieces in 11×14 for a sweet baby girl’s nursery.

I love the fun, creative ways new parents are decorating nurseries now, and this nursery is sure to be adorable.

Wishing you a day that is colored with turquoisey-blue pineapples, bright pink flamingoes, and dabs of gold!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pouring Creativity

/ Jodi / 69 Comments

My art room lately

Pouring Creativity.

In case you’ve wondered what I’ve been doing in my spare time……..

I’ve been mixing…

and pouring…

and twisting…

and turning…

and splashing color…

and creating….

and exploring imagination…

and learning new ways…

to create and express…

and stretching to larger sizes….

and bigger messes that are worth the paint in my finger nails and on my clothes!


and these special pieces for a sweet granddaughter’s room….


and another coming soon.

Yep – I’ve been painting and having so much fun exploring this abstract medium.

And I can’t wait to make more!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS  If you are interested in purchasing any of these except for the last two, they are for sale in our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY shop.

Let it Go – Let it Flow

/ Jodi / 52 Comments

Blue, Bluff, Black, Gold Abstract Acrylic Pour – 24×36

Let it Go – Let it Flow.

I am having so much fun experimenting with a new art medium – Abstract Acrylic Pour.

I am so intrigued by the beauty and challenge of abstract, and I am letting go and letting it flow!

This is my largest painting to date – it is a full 3 feet wide by 2 feet tall.

This technique involves mixing acrylic paint with Flood Floetrol – a paint additive that allows the paint to be more pourable as well as Silicone to create “cells.”

This painting is going to my youngest son and daughter-in-law’s home, and I have a few more to share later this week that I’ve been experimenting with including two I created for my granddaughters’ rooms.

I hope everyone in the U.S. is enjoying this extended Memorial Day holiday weekend, while also taking the time to remember and honor those that lost their lives in service to our country’s freedom.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi