Nature

Purple Finch in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 31 Comments
Purple Finch in Watercolor 5x10 140lb Saunders Cold Press

Purple Finch in Watercolor 5×10 140lb Saunders Cold Press

Purple Finch in Watercolor.

After moving on from yesterday’s post  and so grateful for the many kind comments and encouragement from so many of you, I decided to paint!

Yep!

But just a sweet, simple, loose little impression of one of the beautiful little birds that visits our backyard frequently – the purple finch.

And it just so happens to be the 8th of the month, which is #DrawaBirdDay, so why not?!  It’s been a while since I’ve participated.

I painted this little darlin’ on an odd-sized “scrap” of watercolor paper I had that was about 5×10″.  I used Quinacridone Rose for the “purple” and mixtures of Curelean Blue, Yellow Ochre, and Rose for the browns/grays.  I added an extra dash of Perylene Violet to the background just for kicks, used a white gel pen for some feathery “detail,” and finished with some signature splashes.

It was fun, and I like how it turned out.

Now I must go feed the birds!

Have a wonderfully fun day filled with doing something you love.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Brilliant Bird Banter

/ Jodi / 39 Comments
Purple Finch - Mars, PA June 2017

Purple Finch – Mars, PA June 2017

Brilliant Bird Banter.

Rise early.
Sing a joyful tune.
Share with your friends.
Spread your wings and soar.
Spend time in the woods.
Make a cozy nest.

(This is just one of the many beautiful purple finches  that visit our backyard.  He’s enjoying a sunflower seed from a feeder that hangs on our deck.  We so enjoy sharing our woods and yard with our bird friends, and we can learn a lot from them too!)

Cheers & Chirps,
Jodi

Pink Dogwood Blossoms in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 34 Comments
Pink Dogwood Blossoms Watercolor - 11x14 140lb Cold Press Saunders

Pink Dogwood Blossoms Watercolor – 11×14 140lb Cold Press Saunders

Pink Dogwood Blossoms in Watercolor

As we begin the month of June and the warmth of Summer is upon us,
I celebrate the end of Spring with this painting of Pink Dogwood Blossoms.

We only have white dogwood trees in our yard, but they are very old.
I wonder about their history as they were here on the property for likely many years before we built our house on the wooded 3 1/2 acre plot we’ve called home for 17 years now.

Some have died and had to be cut down this Spring.  Makes me sad to see them go, but maybe we can replace them with some new pink ones.  Maybe the old white ones can share stories with the new pink ones.  Do you ever wonder if the trees and other things in nature communicate to each other?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Thanks Andrew Geeson for another inspiration Youtube tutorial!

Advice from a Lake

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

Advice from a Lake.

Be clear.
Make positive ripples.
Look beneath the surface.
Stay calm.
Don’t be shallow.
Cast away troubles.
Take time to reflect.
Be “reel.”

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

*compilation of thoughts from Pinterest – authors unknown
Photo taken 05/21/17 Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park, PA – First Spring boat ride of the season

Chinese Lantern

/ Jodi / 30 Comments

Chinese lantern flower - Phipp's Conservatory - Spring 2017

Chinese lantern flower – Phipp’s Conservatory – Spring 2017

Chinese Lantern.

So small.
So delicate.

So intricate.
So powerful.

So bright
without a light.

Nature’s symbol
of life’s joy.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
#cherishthemoments

#onebeautifulthingeachday

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

/ Jodi / 28 Comments

Partly cloudy?
Partly sunny?

Sunshine on a cloudy day…
What could be more divine?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Do you happen to have A SONG in your head about right now?

One New Beautiful Thing

/ Jodi / 39 Comments
One New Beautiful Thing - Along My Daily Walk

One New Beautiful Thing – Along My Daily Walk

One New Beautiful Thing.

As you walk along life’s pathway –
which often seems to go the same ole’ way,

Challenge yourself to find
just one new beautiful thing each day.

Open your eyes and open your heart –
it is right there in front of you if only you look.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Even if no one bothers to look…

/ Jodi / 63 Comments
Sunrise on Forsythe - Mars, PA 5/8/17

Sunrise on Forsythe – Mars, PA – 5/8/17

Even if no one bothers to look…

The sunrise, of course, doesn’t care if we watch it or not.
It will keep on being beautiful,
even if no one bothers to look at it.

Gene Amole

Yesterday morning I was on the road very early
and couldn’t resist driving down one of my favorite roads in our little community.

It was a cold, but sunny morning
with a nip in the air and frost on the grass.

As the warmth of the sun shone,
the steam and fog rose from the ice crystal-kissed earth and cold creeks and ponds.

I drove home slowly on my way back from my early morning run,
sipping my steaming coffee, but drinking in the beginning of a new day.

I wish I took time to notice it more often….
It’s there – just waiting for me to enjoy its beauty.

And with or without me –
that sunrise just keeps on being beautiful!

It made me think a bit too…
About being beautiful.

No – not Hollywood beauty…
not Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition beauty.

But about being a beautiful person –
in my heart and in my thoughts and in my character and in my actions.

And I want to make an effort to be a beautiful person…
even if no one bothers to look.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Gene Amole also wrote a book I just bought on Amazon called “The Last Chapter.”  I look forward to reading it and will share my thoughts.

The Scent of Lilacs

/ Jodi / 30 Comments
Purple Lilacs in Vase

Purple Lilacs in Vase

The Scent of Lilacs

Your petals are so delicate.
Your lavender color exquisite.

But it is your sweet fragrance…
Your uniquely undeniable scent –

Much like an aura –
That always draws me in.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Beauty along the Rough Path

/ Jodi / 12 Comments

Even the rockiest, roughest of roads
often have patches of beauty.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi