Painting

Autumn’s Golden Glow

/ Jodi / 50 Comments
Autumn's Golden Glow - 9x12 Watercolor Painting

Autumn’s Golden Glow in New Gambouge and Cadmium Yellow – 9×12 Watercolor Painting

Along our usual lunch time walk, Charlie and I pass a house we refer to as the one ‘where the kids live. ‘

There are not many little ones that live on the street we walk on (much to the dismay of the sweet kiddos that recently moved into this home).

But when we do pass this home, if we are lucky and the kids are home and out playing, they come running to visit us.  What a joy that is for both Charlie and me.

When the family first moved in and Charlie was newly adopted, he would cower when they came running.  These day, he looks for them with anticipation when we pass.  What a difference a year makes.

This watercolor painting is my very loose interpretation of the beautiful trees that line the street in front of “the house with the kids.”  It was such a beautiful sight this past week that I had to take a picture with my phone as I knew I wanted to paint it.

Soon all the leaves will be gone, but this day they glowed golden in the Autumn sun.

Wishing you a day that is bright and golden and glowing.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Playing with Pastels in Orange and Blue

/ Jodi / 49 Comments
Abstract Pastel in Orange and Blue - 9x12

Abstract Pastel in Orange and Blue – 9×12

I woke up early Sunday morning – before the sun, before the birds, before the rest of the house.  Sometimes this is my favorite time of day.  It feels like an extra gift of time to do whatever I please.  So I poured a cup of coffee and sat down with some blank paper and my box of Sennelier soft pastels.

Abstract Pastel in Blue and Orange

Abstract Pastel in Blue and Orange

For about an hour and a half, I drew and I rubbed and I smudged with abandon and nothing in particular in mind, and these two 9x12s were the result.  On the second one, I decided to see what would happen if I splattered some white…..

It was fun to just create some abstract abandon in shades of oranges and blues.

Wishing you a day with a gift of time to do what makes you happy.

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

 

 

Starry Night Pastel

/ Jodi / 59 Comments

dark-night-pastel

I stayed up way too late one night last week
(in fact it became morning)
deciding to play with a box of pastels (Sennelier halves) I bought on a whim
a while back.

It was fun drawing with the soft chalk
and then rubbing and blending
from black to dark blue to lighter blue to white
to create the night sky.

I then took a fine rigger brush
and some watercolor “mud” leftover on my palette
to draw the stark silhouette of a tree in the cold, starry night,
created with Dr. Phil’s Bleed Proof White (which I managed to smudge).

It’s no Van Gough,
but it is a starry night.  🙂

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Doodlewashing During the Debate

/ Jodi / 51 Comments

scan20161020_07285503

Abstract watercolor in pink and green 9×12

Wednesday night was the third and final
2016 U.S. Presidential debate.

I do not wish to talk politics here,
because I choose to keep things positive.

But this is what I did while watching.
I just sat cross-legged with a block of paper, a brush, and a palette,
and this is what came to life.

I have no idea what it is supposed to be.
It may have begun as a pink rose that just grew and grew
and grew and grew as I watched and listened and dropped paint down.

I wasn’t sure if I would share it here as I have no clue if it is artistic
or creative or even appealing to anyone.

But to me, it is cheerful and happy and bright.
And I think, more than the political climate,
my heart and mind are thinking and dreaming of my first grandchild in several weeks!
And that makes me VERY happy!

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

 

 

The Empty Nest

/ Jodi / 52 Comments

scan20161013_07132959

The Empty Nest

Today you stretch your wings
and show us how we taught you to fly.

Today you pack up all the things  you have and need
to make your own life and home.

Today you say good-bye and I love you when you walk away,
but you don’t come back to stay.

Today you take my love with you
and know it will always be here.

Today you leave the nest.
and memories are sneaking out of my eyes and rolling down my cheeks.

Today and always, I am so very happy for you… so very proud…
but I can’t help feeling a little emptiness in the very core of my soul.

Today you begin creating your own nest
but please don’t forget you will always be a part of mine.

Wishing you the best… today and always
from my full momma’s heart..
and empty nest.

Cheers & Hugs NCM  ❤

Love,
Mom

29 Years Ago

/ Jodi / 44 Comments

29

29 Years Ago…
I learned the true meaning of unconditional love the moment I held you in my arms.

348 Months Ago…
my life’s purpose was discovered and fulfilled all at once.

18,096 Weeks Ago…
I knew there was nothing you could ever do that would make me stop loving you.

126,672 Days Ago…
my heart doubled in size when two became three – our little family.

3,040,128 Hours Ago…
the sun grew brighter, the grass greener, the sky bluer, the clouds puffier, the air sweeter.

182,407,680 Minutes Ago…
I became your #1 fan, and for a couple thousand minutes… I was yours.

10,944,460,800 Seconds Ago…
was the first second of the best moments of my life.

Happy Birthday JRM  ❤

Love you,
Mom

Ahoy for Baby Boys!

/ Jodi / 38 Comments
Prussian Blue, Cobalt Teal Blue, Quin Gold Watercolor Whale 8x10

Prussian Blue, Cobalt Teal Blue, Quin Gold Watercolor Whale 8×10

After all the pink love last week, I had the pleasure of creating something blue and nautical for a sweet little boy we are preparing to welcome.

Prussian Blue, Cobalt Teal Blue, Quin Gold Watercolor Nautical Anchor 8x10

Prussian Blue, Cobalt Teal Blue, Quin Gold Watercolor Nautical Anchor 8×10

How lucky am I that one of my BFF’s had a grandson about six months ago and another BFF is having one within weeks of our granddaughter’s due date.  Seems it will be one of the greatest joys in life to share motherhood and then grandmotherhood with life-long friends.

blue-nursery-whale-watercolor-8x10-original-framed-to-11x14

So yesterday was the “Ahoy It’s a Boy” shower, and I made a couple of watercolor paintings for this little guys’s nautical themed nursery.

blue-anchor-watercolor-framed

I matted the 8×10 paintings with navy blue matting and framed them with white 11×14 frames.

It’s hard to take photos of paintings under glass without reflection and in good light, so these photos are a bit off in color, but I thought they turned out really cute, and I hope they will go well in this sweet little guys’s new room.

I thought it would be fun to make them into greeting cards too.

nautical-blue-whale-and-anchor-watercolor-greeting-cards

Can’t wait to meet you Baby Boy Griffith!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi