In the Darkness.
Sometimes
the most
beautiful,
wonderful,
exciting
things
show up
in
the
darkness.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Monochrome
Caught in the Net
Caught in the Net – Fishing Net in Black & White – Lake Arthur – May 2017
Caught in the Net.
I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one. . . . Humans are caught—in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too—in a net of good and evil. . . . There is no other story. A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions: Was it good or was it evil? Have I done well—or ill?
― John Steinbeck, East of Eden
A good question to ask ourselves at the end of each day … “Have I done well?”
And if not… tomorrow is another day.
Keep on trying.
Be caught in the net of good.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The House by the Lake
The House by the Lake in Black and White Nostalgia – Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park – May 2017
I’d like to spend a day
in this house by the lake.
I’d spend some of the time
roaming the rooms
Looking and listening
and smelling and touching
Imagining the stories
of the occupants through the years.
I’d spend some of the time
on a reclining chair in the lawn
Watching the sailboats and fishing boats
and birds and fish and wildlife of the lake
Imagining the stories
of its occupants through the years.
I’d like to spend a day
in this house by the lake.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The Little Things
Enjoy the little things in life.
One day you will look back
and realize
they were the big things.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Watercolor Landscaping
monochromatic-fall-landscape-raw-and-burnt-sienna-quin-gold-10×12-300lb-fabriano-artistico
I have really grown to have great respect for landscape, seascape, naturescape, and plein air watercolor artists! I find these scenes very challenging, but often get the itch to try.
Most attempts have been less than stellar, but I keep trying.
One of my favorite watercolor artist bloggers, Debi Riley, recently shared a simple monochromatic landscape that was so striking in a blog post she called, “Start Easy (and don’t poke the bear). I had to give it a try.
I mainly used Raw Sienna in various tones using the simple design Debi created. I couldn’t resist adding a bit of Burnt Sienna and Quinacridone Gold and having it resemble Autumn (with some falling leaves made from my unavoidable “Jodi splatters,” but this was a great step in building landscape confidence.
Doing this one gave me the confidence to give landscape another try.
This time I followed the style and tutelage of Terry Harrison, an amazing watercolor artist from the UK I recently discovered through the ArtistNetwork.tv site.
Country Lane Late Summer Landscape Watercolor 11×14 Artistico
I had fun painting the rolling hills and trying a different way with trees using more of a stippling effect. I really didn’t have the right brush and subbed a scrubber instead – not quite the effect I wanted, but confidence-building nonetheless. I am fascinated with what a difference adding shadows makes too.
I may not be a pro at this yet, but I am up for the challenge, and I am going to keep on landscaping! Watercolor that is. I’ll leave the tree pruning, mulching, and grass-cutting to hubby. As long as I provide a cold iced tea every once in a while, there are cookies in the freezer, and I bake a pie now and then, I think I can get away with it…
Happy Landscaping – whichever kind you prefer!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Around the Bend
Foggy Morning Railroad Tracks – Mars, PA – August, 2016
When the fog is so thick
you can’t see round the bend,
do you take a chance
or allow a dead end?
Our minds can get foggy too,
and we don’t see as clearly as we usually do.
The intriguing thing, though,
is if we take a slow go
with thoughtful steps in confident faith,
we might be surprised at what awaits.
Go forward my friend
around the bend.
The further you go,
the clearer you’ll grow.
Cherish all the moments.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Life’s Curve Balls
Life’s Curve Balls
They often sneak up or crash in on us,
and they can try to trick us up.
but if we know how to respond,
and if we ready ourselves for them…
they can result in home runs!
Embrace life’s curve balls.
Father’s Day makes me think of the curve balls life can throw us,
but it also reminds me of how special life can be
if we take that swing – in a leap of faith – and give it our all.
Happy Father’s Day Dad – What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life! ❤
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Daydreaming
Dogwood Tree Blossom, Day Dreaming in Monochrome, Mars, PA
Dreaming of
far away places
that are soft
and light
and free.
Maybe I’ll go there.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The Old Porch Swing
The Old Porch Swing
The Seasons you have endured…
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall.
The Generations you have supported…
Great-Grandparents, Grandparents, Parents, Children, Grandchildren.
The Conversations you have held…
Politics, religion, love and hope and promise, arguments unresolved and resolved.
The Moments you have cherished…
First kisses, proposals, joys and heartbreaks, celebrations and sorrows, announcements and secrets.
Memories of a family.
Memories of an old porch swing.
Harmony.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Sing Anyway
Some days there won’t be a song in your heart….
Sing anyway!
-emory austin
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 