daniel smith

Snowstorm Stella & Perky Portulacas

/ Jodi / 46 Comments

Perky Portulacas in Pink & Orange – 8×10 Watercolor on Saunders 140 lb Cold Press

Snowstorm Stella & Perky Portulacas.

Last night
when all the talk was about Snowstorm Stella

that is supposed to be coming our way…
(could a snowstorm have a lovelier name?!)

I thought of my Grandma –
my Stella Star.

And as I painted what started out to possibly be poppies,
they seemed to emerge as perky portulacas.

When I think of Grandma,
I think of portulacas.

Grandma had a next door neighbor and best buddy
who grew the most amazing portulacas.

I remembered hot, lazy summer evenings
with Grandma and her friend and the talks we had.

I remember all the things I learned about life and love
from these special times.

So as I smiled at the snowstorm with the most beautiful name,
I fondly reminisced about my Grandma and portulacas.

And these wild and loose and crazy
pink and orange flowers grew on the page

With joy and happiness
and gratitude and love.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Watercolor Paint:  Daniel Smith Cadmium Orange, Winsor & Newton Permanent Rose, Daniel Smith Lemon Yellow, Daniel Smith Cobalt Blue

 

Mixing Basics in Watercolor: Blue, Red, & Yellow

/ Jodi / 55 Comments

 

Mixing Basics in Watercolor:  Blue – Red – Yellow.

Going back to basics with my new watercolor palette and realizing all the colors that can be created by using three simple basics.  For all three of these simple, loose, impressionistic flowers, I used the same colors:  Cobalt Blue, Permanent Rose, and Lemon Yellow.

For the first I mixed Permanent Rose with just a drop of Cobalt Blue for the flowers and Cobalt Blue and Lemon Yellow pretty equally for the green.

For the second I mixed Cobalt Blue with just a drop of Permanent Rose for the flowers and Cobalt Blue and Lemon Yellow with an emphasis on the Cobalt Blue in places nearer the flower.

For the third I mixed Lemon Yellow with just a drop of Permanent Rose for the flowers and Cobalt Blue and Lemon Yellow, but only a tiny bit of Cobalt Blue to lighten up the green.

And there are likely hundreds more color combinations in various shades that could be achieved by simply using these three basic colors.

It’s fun and easy and creates such clean, bright, un-muddied results when you keep it simple.

I also used one brush for everything – the Rekab 320S #2 Squirrel Mop (which I could only find by ordering from Australia, but LOVE it – also recommended by Debi Riley),  It is so versatile, but I really had to learn to use it after using inexpensive synthetic brushes at first.  This brush holds a lot of water and paint.  It also can come to a fine point and do small lines with a light touch, and can make fat, wash strokes too.

So if you are even thinking of giving watercolor painting a try…. three colors, one brush (you don’t have to order from Australia – but find a nice natural hair medium sized brush to achieve results you will really enjoy) and some paper (I recommend you start with Cold Press 140lb Arches) is really all you need to create some beauty and experiment with this wonderful hobby.

Thanks to the inspiration of Debi Riley on Watercolor Basics!  So much to learn from such talent!

Enjoy the journey!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Every Bunny Loves Some Bunny Sometime

/ Jodi / 56 Comments

Funny Bunny 8×10 Watercolor

Every Bunny Loves Some Bunny Sometime…

Every Bunny falls in love somehow…

Well – I’m surely not Dean Martin, but I do love painting bunnies…

especially funny bunnies this time of year with Spring and Easter right around the corner.

And Remember – in case you doubt…

You Alone are Enough
You have nothing to prove
to Any Bunny!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

I used only three colors to create all of the colors in this silly critter:  Cobalt Blue, Permanent Rose, and Quinacridone Gold, which also also created purples and greens and a dark “mud” to be almost black without looking too black.

 

I’ve Got the Blues

/ Jodi / 68 Comments
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“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

Purple Irises in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 72 Comments
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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.

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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.

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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.  😉

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Violet Crimson Gold Abstract Drips Watercolor 8×10

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

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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

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

 

Percy the Panda

/ Jodi / 34 Comments
percy-the-panda

Percy the Panda Watercolor 9 x11 on 140lb Fabriano Artistico

My recent imaginary watercolor safari adventure took a detour to cruise across the Indian ocean to the bamboo forests of China to visit the beautiful endangered giant pandas.  After all, only about 1,600 live in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature  (with another hundred or so living in zoos around the world.)  Definitely worth the 8,000+ mile trip – wouldn’t you say?

Today, I present Percy the Panda.

Percy LOVES bamboo.  In fact, he munches on it about 12 hours a day.  As much as he loves bamboo, however, it is sadly low in nutrients, so he also feasts on protein-rich rodents, fish, insects and birds.

Percy, like most giant pandas, is a loner.   Apparently, giant pandas dislike being around other pandas so much, they have a heightened sense of smell that lets them know when another panda is nearby so it can be avoided.   And, if another panda gets too close, the two will end up swatting and growling or biting each other.    The only time pandas seek each other out is during mating season.

On average, a giant panda’s territory is about 1.9 square miles (5 square kilometers). To mark their territory, giant pandas secrete a waxy scent marker.  Other giant pandas are able to discern the sex, age, reproductive condition, and social status from this scent marker.  Must be some smell!

I was itching to play with some tubes of Daniel Smith Primatek pigments I acquired a while back that are made from natural minerals and semi-precious gemstones, and have amazing granulating effects.  Percy is made from genuine Hematite, Mayan Blue, Jadeite, and a touch of Quinacridone Rose.

I really enjoyed “visiting” with Percy and learning more about him and his friends.

Where will this adventure lead next?  Your guess is as good as mine!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Giant Panda facts from:  http://www.livescience.com/27335-giant-pandas.html