jodi mckinney

A Pair of Beloved Kitties in Watercolor

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A Pair of Beloved Kitties in Watercolor – 11×14 – Jodi McKinney June 2019

A Pair of Beloved Kitties in Watercolor.

Today, in honor of #WorldWatercolorMonth, I am sharing a painting I was recently commissioned to do through our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy Shop by a sweet man who wants to surprise his wife for her birthday with a painting of their beloved kitties.

Here is the photo he shared with me:

I like to paint in a looser style, so I hope she enjoys my version of her sweet kitties.

Are you painting?  Are you thinking of trying?  Join the fun!  #WorldWatercolorMonth

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Getting Ready for World Watercolor Month!

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Getting Ready for World Watercolor Month!

Tomorrow is July 1st.  How can that be already?!

You know what July means……. #WorldWatercolorMonth!

Please join Charlie O and me and all the other talented ambassadors and artists in celebrating, sharing, winning free stuff, painting along with the daily art prompts, and/or supporting art education with Doodlewash and the Dreaming Zebra Foundation.

I’ve got my paint brush ready!  Do you?

Four years ago, I painted my first watercolor painting, and I have been hooked ever since.  I’ve come a long way, and I still have a long way to go, but I am thoroughly enjoying the journey!  And I still can’t believe Charlie honors me with being an ambassador for World Watercolor Month along with so many professional and talented artists.

July is a great time to take the leap if you’ve ever thought about trying watercolor.  Just grab some paint (this is a link to the first watercolor set I bought for about $20!) and some watercolor paper, click on some of the artist links below that share their talent through tutorials or head to the University of YouTube (like I did) and HAVE FUN!

And as promised about 10 days ago in my post announcing my “ambassadorship” with #WorldWatercolorMonth, I have randomly chosen the following WINNERS for the McKinneyX2Designs World Watercolor Month 2019 Limited Edition Zippered Pouch:

CONGRATULATIONS to:

  • ksbeth
  • Chatter Master
  • Lolo Kleeman

To receive, please email your name and address to me at mckinneyjodi@gmail.com.

Have a wonderful day and month ahead exploring and supporting the watercolor arts!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS  Here are links to all of the other amazingly talented #WorldWatercolorMonth 2019 Ambassadors:

As always, you can shop for my art at McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop or Berry Vine Gifts in Bradford Woods, PA.  Visit us at www.mx2d.com.

 

 

 

Open

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View from our window Sunday morning at one of our favorite “retreats” – Conneaut Lake, PA June 2019

Open.

Open your eyes
to the beauty of a new day.

Open your ears
to the music of nature.

Open your mind
to others’ ideas and beliefs.

Open your hands
to offer support and kindness.

Open your heart
to love and be loved.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The Waves of Life

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Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland – May, 2019

The Waves of Life.

Remember the stillness before the wave forms.
Understand the friction it took to create.

Respect the energy it fueled.
Ride the power at the crest.

Honor the crash.
Bask in the calm.

The waves
of life.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

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

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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

Lemon Love

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Lemon Love.

When life gives you lemons,
paint them!

I don’t know why lemons get such a bad wrap.
(you know – the old, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”)

I guess because they are sour,
but there is so much to LOVE about them!

This year, they are all the rage in summer decor.
I even bought a few faux lemon trees to decorate with.

And then there are ALL the wonderful
things you can bake and make with them!

Give me Lemon Crinkle Cookies
or Fresh Strawberry Lemon Poppy Seed Cake.

Give me Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Cake
or Lemon Lavender Loaf.

I’ll take Lemon Butter Scallops
or Pan Seared Lemon and Garlic Mahi Mahi.

Give me Lemon Butter Chicken
or Lemon Garlic Herb Marinated Pork Tenderloin.

I’ll take it with a crisp, lemony Chardonnay
or Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy!

But for today,
I’ll just paint lemons!

Bright, summery,
happy, sunshiny lemons!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS.  Don’t they look fun on these pillows?

And these bar stools?

And make cute cards?  🙂

(click on the photos for information on how to purchase any of these and many other fun, lemony items in our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY and Society6 shop!)

The Only Way

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The Only Way.

The only way to fully embrace
Your life…

The only way to move forward
and see the beauty all around You…

is to have the strength
and the courage

and the wisdom
and the love for yourself

to let go of the things
and the people

you cannot
change

even when it goes against
what you think is “right.”

Let go of the guilt.
Let go of the burden.

Own your truth.
Own your dignity.
Own your worth.

When you do,
you will find peace.

You will discover You.
It’s the only way.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Anticipation

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“Anticipation” Cliffs of Moher, Ireland Watercolor Painting by Jodi McKinney 11×14

Anticipation.

As we walked the path
and climbed the hill

anticipating what might await us
from the top,

nothing could have prepared us
for the beauty.

I lagged behind a bit
letting hubby get a head start

anticipating the joy
I knew would show on his face.

I snapped a photo,


but wanted to paint the “feeling.”

I struggle with painting landscapes
so I was excited to happen upon a YouTube video by Angela Fehr

introducing an online course called,
“Heart-Led” Landscapes.

It was exactly what I was looking for,
and I love the freedom it has given me to try a new approach.

This was my first attempt at a
“Heart-Led” Landscape.

It is not meant to be an exact duplicate
of the photo.

It is meant to reveal my heart and emotions
when I look at the photo.

Not knowing where my heart would lead,
this painting speaks “Anticipation” to me.

Can’t wait to do more!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

This is your Time

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Fuschia, Mars, PA – June, 2019

This is your Time.

It is your life,
your decade,
your year,
your month.

It is your week,
your day,
your hour,
your moment.

Unfurl your beauty,
stretch your limits,
reach for greatness,
Blossom and bloom boldy!

This is your time.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Three Feathers

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Three Feathers Watercolor – 11×14

Three Feathers.

Three feathers
painted at the end

of a beautiful
three-day weekend

celebrating life and love
and liberty,

celebrating family and friends
and freedom,

celebrating nature and nourishment
and nationhood,

celebrating appreciation and admiration
and art.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi