flower

Iris I Could…

/ Jodi / 63 Comments
Blue Iris in Cascade Green Negative Watercolor 11x14

Blue Iris in Cascade Green Negative Watercolor 11×14

Iris I Could…

Iris I could make one unhappy person smile today.
Iris I could remember punch lines to jokes to make one person laugh today.

Iris I could wave a magic wand that sprinkled happiness and joy.
Iris life was easier.

Iris each one reading this
finds one small moment to cherish today.

Iris you found humor and a bit of light-heartedness
in my silly pun.

Life can be difficult,
and we must help each other get through.

———-

I painted this Iris this weekend.
It was my fifth try!
I was trying to use a negative watercolor painting technique,
and I just had to use this amazing new color a friend here at TheCreativeLifeinBetween told me about – Daniel Smith Cascade Green.

I struggle with this technique, but I so wanted to create a background with this green color that fades and granulates into the most amazing blue with more water.  The green (and light blue) all around the iris are from that one color.  I splashed in a little new gamboge and a drop or two of orange and ultramarine to tie the background colors into the flower, but the background is mostly this mesmerizing cascade green.

The technique involves painting the background first around the shape of the object – creating the negative white space, where you then paint the object.  This is where I kept getting thrown off.  I’m not good at having outside lines to stay within!

Thanks to my friend, Dena, who visits here often and leaves such lovely comments, for this color recommendation.  I love when other artists or photographers or bakers or writers share tips and tools of the trade.

Iris you a wonderful day.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

My original painting is for sale at our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop.  It is also available in prints and greeting cards.

Roses can be Blue

/ Jodi / 66 Comments

Blue Rose Watercolor 8×10 140lb cold press

Roses can be blue
when in watercolor you do.
Painting is so sweet
when art reveals such a treat.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Watercolor Sunflower – Painting Warmth

/ Jodi / 66 Comments
Sunflower Watercolor 11x14 140 lb cold press 012018

Sunflower Watercolor 11×14 140 lb cold press 012018

A Watercolor Sunflower – Painting Warmth.

I found a little time this busy weekend
to escape to my art room
and splash a little paint…

to create some warmth
amidst the bitter chill
that is our weather right now…

inspired by my birthday bouquet
and the need to
create art.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

This watercolor painting – original, prints, and cards – is available at McKinneyX2Designs ETSY Shop

Be a Sunflower

/ Jodi / 72 Comments

Be a Sunflower.

Be a sunflower
on a cold winter day…

A burst of sunlight
when the clouds are heavy and gray.

Grow in places
people never thought possible.

Have a sturdy stalk and soft petals…
be wild and unstoppable.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

This little poem was inspired by a birthday bouquet of flowers from hubby.   As I gazed at them sitting bright and beautiful on the kitchen table despite the bitter cold and gray just inches away through the window, I realized we can all be bright and sturdy and soft and wild and unstoppable no matter what we or others think is or is not possible.  So let’s be a sunflower today.

 

Red Poinsettia Watercolor

/ Jodi / 65 Comments

Red Poinsettia Loose Watercolor 11×14 140lb cold press

Have you ever heard the old Mexican legend about how poinsettias became the flower of Christmas?  It’s a sweet little story that has several versions, but basically goes like this:

There was once a poor Mexican girl named Pepita, who had no present to give the the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve Services, so she picked a small handful of weeds from the roadside and made them into a a small bouquet.  When Pepita knelt down and put the bouquet at the bottom of the nativity scene, the bouquet of weeds suddenly burst into bright red flowers, and everyone who saw them were sure they had seen a miracle. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the ‘Flores de Noche Buena’, or ‘Flowers of the Holy Night’.

The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought to be a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ. The white leaves represent his purity.

Do you decorate with poinsettias for the holidays?

I always have a few around in December.  They add such festive color.  I also love to grow some potted paperwhite narcissus for their beauty, but most of all their amazing fragrance.

This watercolor painting is my loose rendition of the Christmas poinsettia.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Feel

/ Jodi / 31 Comments

Feel.

“Poetry
is what happens
when
your mind
stops working…
and all you do
is
feel.”

-Atticus

Take
some time
today
to
just
feel.

Make
poetry
happen.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Alive

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

Alive.

“She was
sweet chaos
hiding behind
a delicate soul
and a vulnerable smile.
She loved like
the rage of a storm,
the heat of a wildfire…
And looking into her eyes
she always
reminds you
what it’s like
to feel alive.”

-n.r. hart

Be delicate.
Be chaos.
Be vulnerable.
Love.
Feel alive.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Power and Strength

/ Jodi / 52 Comments
"Power" in Perylene Scarlet - Watercolor 8x10 140lb Artistico Fabriano Cold Press

“Power” in Perylene Scarlet – Watercolor 8×10 140lb Artistico Fabriano Cold Press

Power and Strength.

“Power isn’t
doing something
terrible
to someone
who is
weaker
than you…
It’s having
the strength
to do something
terrible,
and choosing
not to.”

– Franz to Reiner in The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

When I came upon this statement made by one brother to another in the book I am reading, I knew I wanted to paint something that represented Power and Strength, and this painting was born.  It is done using Daniel Smith Perylene Scarlet as I wanted an intense red.  Then the real drama (I hope) is created with a unique rich color made by Daniel Smith called Piemontite Genuine.  It is a shadowy red violet ground from a scarlet-streaked mineral from the hills of Italy that produces lovely violet-brown granulation with a carmine tone.

The color red is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, and determination as well as passion, desire, and love.

Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. It has very high visibility, which is why stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment are usually painted red.  It is a color found in many national flags.

Other colors used:  Daniel Smith Yellow Ochre, and Cerulean Blue.

I hope you feel the power and strength and intensity I wished to express in this painting, and I also hope the quote resonates with you about the true meaning of power.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

In the Pink – In a Blink

/ Jodi / 57 Comments
In the Pink - Abstract Flower Watercolor 8x10 140lb Cold Press

In the Pink – Abstract Flower Watercolor 8×10 140lb Cold Press

In the Pink – In a Blink.

I stare at my computer most all day for work.
Much of the rest of the time, I am looking at my iPhone.

We all need to give our eyes and minds and bodies a break.

When I have a half hour, I often take a walk.

When I just need to step away to regroup for five minutes,
I’ve been challenging myself to do a quick painting in under five minutes.

I just step away.  Breathe.  And try something new.
My art room is on a different floor from my home office, so I just step away a bit and escape for a few minutes.  Art supplies always at the ready.

I might just try a different color paint than I typically use, a different style of painting, or a different size brush than I usually use.  Anything just to clear my mind and regroup.  I often come back to a task that was challenging me with a whole new perspective.

I have some scraps of failed paintings in a box that I can paint on the back of for practice, so I usually use those.  Like I did for this one.

I typically just leave it sit and dry and walk away, go back to work, and then look at it later to see if anything emerges.

This one surprised me, and I kinda love it.

What do you do when you have five minutes and need to regroup?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Daniel Smith Watercolors used:  Raw Sienna, Perylene Violet, Permanent Rose, Cadmium Orange, Olive Green.  Brush Used:  Isabey #4 Cat’s Tongue Oval Wash.

A Yellow Flower for Terry

/ Jodi / 66 Comments
Terry's Yellow Flower of Friendship Watercolor 7 1/4 x 8 1/2 Artistico 140lb Cold Press

Terry’s Yellow Flower of Friendship Watercolor 7 1/4 x 8 1/2 Artistico 140lb Cold Press

A Yellow Flower for Terry.

I have a friend named Terry.
His favorite color is yellow.
His husband’s name is Gary,
and they have a dog named Roxy.

Terry is a father,
a son,
a brother,
and a husband.

Terry is a handsome man in the fifth decade of life.
About a year ago, Terry and Gary sold their home in Texas,
bought a travel trailer and had plans to travel the country,
including a visit to Mars, PA, where I live.

About a year prior to that,
Terry began having some pain and health issues.
He knew something was very wrong.
Terry discovered he had cancer.

For the past two years,
Terry has sadly become increasing more ill.
The cancer is taking over his body.
But it has not, cannot, and will not kill his beautiful, loving spirit.

One of the many joys of blogging
is the community of other bloggers
and some very special friendships that are formed,
like the one that I have formed with Terry.

I’ll never forget the special way Terry made me feel one time in particular.
About a year ago and about a year into my new adventure in watercolor painting,
I painted and shared a not-so-great watercolor painting of a red boat.
Terry, in all his sweetness, told me it was “priceless” and he “would pay millions for it.”

So overcome with his kindness,
I offered it to him as a gift.
I sent it to him,
and he posted this beautiful way of thanking me:  It’s a Jodi

Terry and Gary never did get to do the traveling they had planned.
They now reside in Florida, living in their travel trailer,
but Terry has spent more days than anyone would wish
at doctor’s appointments, chemo and radiation treatments, and the hospital.

My sweet friend Terry
is now on hospice care.
He has made the choice to live out his final journey
at home with those he loves in peace and comfort and love.

After seeing Terry’s post yesterday
and thinking of him so much,
I decided to paint a yellow flower of friendship
for a beautiful friend.

Dear Terry,
please know how much you are loved,
what an impact you have made on so many,
and how I will always remember you when I see yellow flowers.

Hugs,
Jodi

P.S.  If you would like to visit Terry’s blog, please click on any of the hyperlinks provided throughout this post.  I know it would mean so much to him and Gary if you would post a little note to him.  If you do, please tell him how much Jodi loves him!

Watercolor:  Winsor & Newton New Gamboge, Daniel Smith Olive Green, Perylene Green, Perylene Violet.