World Watercolor Month 2019 – I’m an Artist Ambassador Again!

World Watercolor Month 2019 – I’m an Artist Ambassador Again!

My amazingly-talented, awe-inspiring, huge-hearted buddy, Charlie O’Shields at Doodlewash is once again hosting the annual World Watercolor Month celebration in July, which he created four years ago to inspire people to paint with watercolor while raising awareness for the importance of art and creativity in the world.

I wish I could express how much joy art has brought to my life since I discovered watercolor painting about four years ago – around the same time as Charlie – when we became blogging friends.   Charlie has taken it to a whole new level with his energy and creativity, while I hobby along, yet he has once again honored me this year with the privilege of being a World Watercolor Month Art Ambassador along with some “real” artists I totally admire!

For the month of July and in honor of World Watercolor Month, 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.

This year, Charlie chose my Bumble Bee watercolor, which I love because it also expresses an important environmental message, as the MX2D watercolor to be put on this year’s limited edition Artist Ambassador zippered pouch souvenier merchandise for World Watercolor Month 2019.  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 11 days away!  How is that possible?!  Hope you will join us in the fun – through sharing your art or supporting art through your purchases.

I would also like to give away a couple of these pouches as a way of thanking all of you sweet supporters of The Creative Life in Between and McKinneyX2Designs.  To be entered in the random drawing, simply comment with “I want it!”  I will choose two winners July 1st!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

#WorldWatercolorMonth

A Bumble Bee Named Buzz

Buzz the Bumble Bee 8x10 Watercolor 140lb Saunders Cold Press

Buzz the Bumble Bee 8×10 Watercolor 140lb Saunders Cold Press

A Bumble Bee Named Buzz.

On the edge of a meadow lives a bumble bee named Buzz.
He lives near his aunt and his uncle and his cuz.

Aunt Sally, Uncle Sam, and Sherman they was.
They love Buzz more than any other in Americas.

Sherman and Buzz love to play and dance because
It is what all the bumble bees in the meadow does.

So if you see dancing bees and think your eyes are a fuzz,
don’t be surprised if it’s Sherman and Buzz.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

This is just one of a series of fun animal watercolor paintings and rhymes I am pursuing.

See the others:
A Rare Hare with Flare
A Duck Named Chuck
A Fawn at Dawn
Rooty the Rooster
A Precocious Pink Pig  
Hal the Colorful Cow
A Mouse named Klaus

Pam the Lamb
An Otterly Awesome Otter
Earl the Squirrel

Adele the Gazelle
A Snail’s Tale
Chippy the Chipmunk
Hedy the Hedgehog

#WorldWatercolorMonth

Watercolors Used:  Daniel Smith Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Indigo, Perylene Violet, Permanent Rose, Olive Green, Perylene Green.

Let it Bee

let it bee bumble bee watercolor

When you feel that cleaning or laundry or household chores
come before time with family or friends…
Let it bee.

When anxiety or worry steals the joy
of the moment you are in…
Let it bee.

When you think that your parenting
falls short of the “super” mom or dad next door…
Let it bee.

When your dinner is burnt or undercooked or less than gourmet,
but your family is gathered around the table anyway…
Let it bee.

When you look in the mirror and critique what you see,
thinking you are too big or too little or too this or too that,
but you have a loved one that thinks you are the bee’s knees…
Let it bee.

Let it bee, Let it bee, Let it bee, Let it bee…..
Whisper words of wisdom…
Let it be.

Bee Happy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS – The WINNER of the Thanks a Latte Card this week is Paul from My Cluttered Attic! Hubby chose #17, and that’s you buddy! Send me your address to mckinneyjodi@gmail.com, and the card will be on its way.  Enjoy writing a funny note to a friend you’d like to thank while sipping a triple shot latte.

PSSSSSS – I know just who I am going to send this watercolor card to- a brand new bee keeper who I think is the bee’s knees!