Halloween Watercolor Pumpkin by Moonlight 8×10 140lb Cold Press
Happy Halloweeny!
Spooky, Screamy,
Orange and Greeny.
Funny, Silly,
Brisk and Chilly.
Trick or Treaty,
Sticky and Sweety.
Bats and Boo-ey,
Happy Halloweeny!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Snowy Winter Barn Watercolor – 11×14 140lb cold press
Snowy Winter Barn.
Another in my little series of winter watercolors
is an old red barn
sitting stately and proud
amidst winter’s pure white palate.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Autumn Reflections Watercolor 11×14 140 lb Cold Press
Autumn Reflections.
Looking back….
I wonder why
it took me
so long
to realize
the beauty
of Autumn’s
brilliant transformation.
Looking forward…
I appreciate the journey
that got me
to this place
where I embrace
the inspiration
of Autumn
reflections.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Snowy Red Ford Truck with Christmas Wreath on Front Watercolor 11×14
Red Truck Christmas.
I can think of a few peeps who would love a new red truck for Christmas (one is the guy I’ve been living with for the past 35 years!).
But he already has one, and it was the model for my latest Christmas watercolor painting.
When I painted my previous classic red truck carrying a Christmas tree, my red truck man informed me since it was a Chevy, I needed to paint a Ford too.
So here it is.
It was fun to paint it this past Sunday afternoon en plein air. Sunny and 77 degrees F outside in late October painting Christmas snow! Gotta love it!
This painting makes great prints and cute cards for Ford truck lovers.
They will be available in our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy Shop, at Berry Vine Gifts, and at the Mars Fall Craft Show on November 18th.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Winter Wonderland Christmas Tree Watercolor 10×13
A Winter Wonderland Christmas Tree.
Because every week needs
a little sprinkle of Christmas.
I am having so much fun creating some holiday art.
You see, our little McKinneyX2Designs business is participating in the
Mars Holiday Craft Show that is only one month away!
It is one of the biggest holiday craft shows in the area
with hundreds of crafters and artisans selling their
handmade items in both the Mars Middle School and Mars High School
with a shuttle bus that transports shoppers between both venues.
We will be at the Mars High School on Saturday, November 18th
from 10-4 with Colleen’s beautiful rustic pallet signs and decor
and some of my watercolor art.
If you can’t make it to this fun event, you can always visit our ETSY shop
or stop by Berry Vine Gifts in Bradfordwoods, PA.
Wherever you find us,
we will be sprinkling a little bit of Christmas!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Classic Red Truck with Christmas Tree Watercolor – 11×14 – 140lb Fabriano Artistico
Classic Red Truck with Christmas Tree.
Is anybody else starting to think about Christmas?
When my boys were young, I loved getting ready for the Christmas holiday. I would often start playing Christmas music in October… much to Hubby’s dismay.
We prepared letters to Santa, and I shopped and put carts full of toys on “lay-away” months ahead of winter.
My best friend and I went to craft shows and stores and bought santas and snowmen and other holiday decorations, as well as things to make decorations – often while pushing strollers and carrying diaper bags.
I would prepare for “Sammy” the elf to make his arrival at our house and plan out his adventures each night when the boys went to bed to surprise them in the morning.
I created homemade Christmas cards for the boys to color (and later they drew them) to send to friends and family.
I stocked up on sugar and flour and baking supplies when they were on sale and collected festive tins to make hundreds of cookies and dozens of sweet breads and nut rolls to share with friends and neighbors.
As the boys got older, the excitement of Christmas dimmed a bit. We still enjoyed it, but the excitement leading up to it was not the same as when they were young and the magic existed.
But now….. I’m a grandma! And that just makes me absolutely giddy for Christmas again!
And since my daughter-in-law, Colleen, and I have created our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop and have started also selling our art at a local gift shop, Berry Vine Gifts, it is so fun to get excited about preparing for Christmas again. And it seems there are others like me out there, because holiday cards and paintings have already sold!
So I’m having fun creating Christmas and holiday art… like this classic red truck with a Christmas tree. Doesn’t it just make you so nostalgic about Christmas?
So even though we are still experiencing 80 degree Autumn days, I’m dreaming of a white Christmas. It’s so fun to dream!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
“It’s All My Friends!”
People author and illustrate and publish books for many reasons I’m sure.
Dreams of fame and fortune…
Checking off a bucket list item…
Creating a legacy…
Fulfilling a life-long dream…
Sharing an important story…
For many – it’s a passion.
Writing is like breathing.
It is something they just have to do.
I love to read.
I admire writers.
I admire artists and illustrators.
I never, however, really aspired to be an author…
Well – maybe it fleetingly crossed my mind from time to time…
Maybe a cookbook…
or an autobiography of sorts.
I definitely never considered I’d be an illustrator.
Heck – until about two years ago, I would have never
even dreamed I would share a stick figure I drew.
But then I discovered the joy of blogging
through the encouragement one of my sweet McHendy “daughters.”
And then I discovered watercolor art
through this wonderful blogging community.
With the encouragement of so many,
I shared my watercolor paintings.
I created some fun little animal characters
with silly rhyming stories to go with them.
One very special friend here at TheCreativeLifeInBetween.com
began sharing my little animal characters and their stories with her grandson.
Three and a half year old Benjamin
became one of my greatest supporters and fans.
Benjamin would ask daily to hear stories from his grandma “Gem’s” computer,
along with those of his favorite books.
He even started asking for special characters,
which is how “Earl the Squirrel” came to be.
So with full permission from “Gem” and his Mom,
I am sharing this joyful photo of Benjamin with his copy of my first-ever
authored and illustrated book, “Klaus the Mouse – and other Silly Animal Tales.”
Per Gem, when Benjamin received his book,
he squealed with delight and laughter,
“My friends! It’s all my friends!”
Could there be any greater joy…
any greater reason or purpose…
to author and illustrate a book?
The joy in those words…
The twinkle in those eyes…
The delight in that smile…
Those beautiful little hands holding the book.
Thank you Benjamin!
Thank you Ellen (aka “Gem'”)
for fulfilling a dream
I didn’t even know I had.
Because of you…
I visited the dentist yesterday,
and the receptionist said,
“I just saw your book!”
Because of you…
a friend told me he purchased my book for his 4-year old niece’s birthday.
Because of you…
my book is being shipped all the way to Ireland.
Because of you…
so many sweet friends have bought “Klaus the Mouse”
for their children and grandchildren.
What a joy it is to share a little piece of me...
A little bit of my art…
A little bit of my writing.
Thank you Benjamin!
I can only imagine the impact you will have on the world in 20 or 30 years!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
If you would like to order a copy of “Klaus the Mouse and other Silly Animal Tales,”
you can do so by clicking here.
Full Moon Raven Watercolor 8×10
Full Moon Calling.
When I saw a recent painting done by a favorite artist/blogger friend, Sharon Mann at Make Art… Magic Happens, I told her I loved it so much, it made me want to paint it.
Sweet Sharon encouraged me to do it!
And so I did – and here it is….. A painting I did at 4AM one morning last week when I couldn’t sleep.
Be sure to check out Sharon’s absolutely amazing original version of this, which she titled, Call of the Raven. Sharon has a style very different from mine, but one I absolutely adore and admire. I love the texture she creates. I love the whimsy of her style. I love the range of subjects she chooses to explore and create. And to top it off, she is simply a lovely person!
Sharon was one of the first to send an absolutely amazing handmade gift when I learned I was to become a grandma over a year ago. She painted a photo of a batch of my cookies and gifted me with the beautiful piece of art that has graced my kitchen wall for several years now. She was one of the first few dozen people to purchase my first published children’s book – and then share it to her friends.
About a year ago, Sharon lost her husband and best friend. It was a life-altering experience for her, and she took a break from blogging until just a few weeks ago. It is so wonderful to have her back blogging and inspiring so many of us artist wannabees!
Thank you for allowing me to paint your art Sharon. I enjoyed it immensely! Thank you for your inspiration, encouragement, but most of all your friendship.
Be sure to check out Sharon’s blog. You are in for a real treat and a wonderful new friend!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Cobalt Teal Blue, Lunar Black and Iridescent Gold Abstract Watercolor 11×14
Learning to Respect the White Space.
Often times the hardest thing in art
is learning to respect the white space.
As artists, we love color, and we love paint,
and we want to fill the entire space.
But if we do,
there’s nowhere to focus
or to rest our eyes
or our minds.
It’s much like life.
We need to respect that empty “white” space
amongst the busyness
to allow our mind and body,
our heart and soul
to rest
and replenish.
Respect that “white” space.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Crazy Colorful Pineapple Crown Watercolor 11×14 140 Saunders Waterford
Crazy Colorful Pineapple Crown.
Because it’s Friday…
Because it’s been that kind of week…
Because I needed to just cut loose…
Because why not?
A crazy colorful pineapple crown!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 