blue heron with purple feathers – original watercolor- 9×12 arches – 300 lb cold press
Why be simply an “ordinary” Blue Heron
when you could have Purple Feathers too?
It’s #DrawABirdDay! Why not?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Blue Heron with Purple Feathers
purple
Lilac Love
lilac love watercolor painting arches 300 lb cold press 10 x 14 diaxozine violet
The purple lilacs around here are done for the season,
but the white lilac tree in my yard is crazy full of tiny white flowers
that are filling the entire yard with such an amazing fragrance!
While my poor son is sneezing like crazy from all the pollen in the air right now,
I don’t dare pick and bring a bouquet into the house as much as I’d love to….
But I was inspired to paint some lilacs (purple is more fun!)
with that sensational scent wafting through my brain down to my fingertips
as I dripped and dropped and splashed and splattered Dioxazine Violet.
Can you almost smell them?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I’m joining my friend Charlie with these sweet smelling flowers for his #NatureDoodlewash challenge.
Rainy Sundays
Rainy Spring Sunday Rhododendron Blossom – 5/22/16
Rainy days
cancelled plans
messy beds
messier hair
muddy paws
dampened feathers
thunder cracking
steaming coffee
comfy jammies
old movies
new books
paint splashing
afternoon naps
nourishing the plants
feeding the streams
brightening the green
slowing us down
refueling our engines
washing the world clean
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I almost missed you
First Purple Iris – May 2016 – Mars, PA
You showed up
in your regal purple cloak
and delicate golden tassels
on the other side of the house.
I almost missed you.
Your hours were numbered
until you gracefully retreated
and made room for the others.
Thank you for the reminder
that beauty is everywhere
and often fleeting
and often in places we rarely look.
Thank you for the reminder
that we must open our eyes
and open our hearts
and take the time to simply look.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Very Variegated Violet
Who knew shades of violet could vary so greatly?!
Before we went away on vacation last week, I had some fun playing with purple in this super loose vase of violet tulips. I have done tulips in shades of reds and oranges in this style, but was excited to try purple.
I decided to mix Winsor Violet (WN*) and Quinacridone Violet (MG**) – two VERY different violets – and touch in some Quinacridone Gold (WN), because I always so love how it moves!
I used Green Gold (WN) for the foliage and a touch of Cobalt Teal (MG) for drama. I shook it, and I splashed on it.
This large 10 x 13 in. painting is done on 300 lb. Arches Cold Press Paper.
I wasn’t sure if I liked it when I finished it, so I just set it aside.
I don’t know whether it is the “curing” of the paint or the “stepping away” that changes a painting so often, but…. when I came home after a week away and looked at it again, I decided I rather liked it.
It’s loose.
It’s kind of wild.
It’s unique and distinctive and venturesome.
It’s Very Variegated Violet!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
*WN – Winsor Newton Professional Grade Watercolor Paint
**MG – M. Graham Watercolor Paint
Weeds are Flowers too… Once you get to know Them
Up Close & Personal with Flowers/Weeds in My Lawn, Mars, PA
“Weeds are flowers too…
Once you get to know them.”
— A. A. Milne, Author of Winnie the Pooh
May you see flowers in all of your “weeds.”
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Earth
Roses and thorns
I’ve never been very successful at growing roses,
but I thought it might be fun to try painting some this past weekend.
Roses remind me of love,
of Mother’s Day,
of Romeo and Juliet,
of Valentines and fragrance and summertime.
Roses also remind me that there is always two ways to look at things…
Roses have thorns…
or
Thorns have roses!
May you see roses in all of your thorns.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Tulip Fever
Single Purple Tulip Watercolor on Arches 140 lb Hot Press 5 x 7
Spring Fever…
Tulip Fever…
Synonymous.
Yesterday – an impressionistic bouquet,
Today – a single, bold, beautiful purple tulip.
I’ve got the fever –
Tulip fever.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Expressing in Abstract Watercolor
Sometimes I just want to splash water and paint on paper. Can anyone relate?
I have no subject in mind, don’t feel like sketching, just want to express….
color…. feelings…. heart…. love…. maybe a little bit of peace or beauty.
These two cards were the result of that – done a week or so apart when I just needed to splash in paint puddles.
Not much talent at all involved here, but a great experience. And… if my very un-educated expressions in watercolor inspire anyone to step outside their comfort zone and try – and then find the joy – my heart is filled.
These turned into note cards I needed to use recently to express sympathy to a few friends who lost loved ones.
I hope they feel the love, and it brings them a bit of peace.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Happy Retirement to a Dear Friend
Today I will be celebrating the retirement of a sweet friend I work with, and I wanted to make her a special card.
I used some new DSP (Designer Series Paper) from StampinUp (SU) that has fun polka dots on one side and sweet handwritten happy words on the other side. I was feeling purpley for my friend and used the SU “Too Kind” Stamp Set to stamp the flowers and my favorite “Sentiment Sampler” from Lil’ Inkers for the Congratulations sentiment. A couple pearls for embellishment and a few off-balance layers of framing in black finished up my card.
I sure will miss this workplace “girlfriend” (as she is famous for calling everyone – expect for the men who she typically fondly referred to as “boyfriends”).
And that she was…
and hopefully will remain…
Everyone’s bestest “girlfriend.”
Happy Retirement Beverly!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 