loose

Purple Irises in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 72 Comments
purple-iris-2-black-border-matted

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.

purple-iris-1-black-border-matted

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

Illusion

/ Jodi / 56 Comments
purple anemone illusion watercolor on 9x12 140lb arches

purple anemone illusion watercolor on 9×12 140lb arches

Illusion.

Sometimes
creating an illusion

of what it should be,
or could be,
or would be….

is more beautiful,
and more interesting,
and more mysterious…

than the reality
of what it really is.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Practicing from and inspired by Jean Haine’s Atmospheric Watercolour Book

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

 

Loose Happy Yellow Flowers in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 61 Comments
loos-yellow-sunflowers-in-vase-watercolor-11x14-300-lb-arches

Loose Yellow Sunflowers in Vase-watercolor-11×14-300-lb-arches

Our January weather has been so unseasonable.

PRO:  Above normal temperatures – one day this week was one degree away from the warmest day on record with temperatures in the 60s!

CON:  Instead of bright, white snow, we are having rain and grey cloudy days.

SOLUTION:  Paint loose happy yellow sunflowers!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS:  This original painting, prints, and greeting cards of this are all available at our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY shop!

Peace in Painting

/ Jodi / 66 Comments

watercolor floral in red - 9x11 300 lb cold press

watercolor floral in red – 9×11 300 lb cold press

Peace in Painting

Splashing water and paint
and creating something loose and lovely
and open to interpretation.

It has been a while since I’ve given myself
the luxury and gift of time to watercolor
with all the busyness of the holidays followed by the loss of my brother.

And what a lovely gift it was for me
to take just 15 or 20 minutes
and lose myself in the process of creativity.

It’s a wonderful thing to take time for yourself
and do something you love, because when you do,
you are a better person to be around.

Thanks to Andrew Geeson for his wonderful
inspiration of loose watercolor painting
that nudged me to do this.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Paint and Imagine

/ Jodi / 36 Comments
scan20161206_17422585

Watercolor Iris Painting – 7×9

When its dreary and rainy,
but you’re dreaming of bright and snowy…

think of flowers,
remember the sunshine…

paint purple puddles,
imagine they are irises.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Dripping with Joy

/ Jodi / 31 Comments

scan20161120_17461438

Dripping with Joy,
Oozing Happiness,
Splashing Jubilation,
Expressing Elation,
Painting with pure Pleasure.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Purple and Loose and Free

/ Jodi / 29 Comments
Loose Purple Floral 8x10 Watercolor

Loose Purple Floral 8×10 Watercolor

Purple and Loose and Free.
Is there any better way to be?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Autumn in the Pumpkin Patch

/ Jodi / 44 Comments
Autumn in the Pumpkin Patch 9x12 Watercolor

Autumn in the Pumpkin Patch 9×12 Watercolor

Autumn is so leisurely lingering
and thoughts of pumpkins and trees in shades of oranges and red and yellow
are ever present.

I truly can’t remember when I have enjoyed the Fall season more.
The weather has been so beautiful.
Work has been busy.
Life has been full of exciting changes and anticipation.

One late evening this past week,
I felt the need… the urge…  the desire… to paint.
I opened my palette and wasn’t sure what to do.
So I searched my Pinterest inspiration and found and amazing artist, Herry Arifin,
whose style totally intrigued me!

The looseness, the light, the brightness, the bold strokes and color
totally captivated me.

I used one of his paintings as an exercise to practice and created this.
It doesn’t even come remotely close to the talent of Herry, but it was sure fun to try.

And I made myself do it from memory and imagination and with freedom and abandon as opposed to looking at and copying.

It’s been fun watching friends post photos of their little “pumpkins” in pumpkin patches and dreaming of our little pumpkin.  In fact, it is getting hard to think of much else!

This grandma-in-waiting is ready to take on the official role and title.  Just a few more weeks to go!

Happy Autumn!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Painting Pink Senses

/ Jodi / 27 Comments
Pink Loose Abstract Watercolor Flower - 9x12

Pink Loose Abstract Watercolor Flower – 9×12

Painting Pink Senses

See the beauty in nature and people
Listen with hearfelt intention
Touch lives in a positive way
Smell the fragrance of life
Taste joy in simple pleasures

 

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi