rain

April Showers Part II

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

April Showers Part II.

After painting April Showers, I wanted to expand on the idea with a mom and two daughters walking in the rain for this watercolor.

Those that know me may recognize the inspiration. ❤

The Easter bunny brought a yellow umbrella with pink flamingos on it to Grandma’s house for Grandie Girl 1, and she is such a good big sister to Grandie Girl 2.  They both (and I) adore their Mommy!

So this one is in honor of them as well as all mothers of daughters and grandmas of granddaughters.   It makes my heart smile.

Wishing you a joy-filled day!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

http://www.mx2d.com

 

After the Rain

/ Jodi / 28 Comments

After the Rain.

After the rain,
we walked at the park.

The grass was greener,
the air was fresh and clean.

The sun warmed,
and the blossoming trees popped

almost as if they were
smiling with the joy they knew I felt.

My heart swelled a wee bit more
like it so often does

in moments spent
with my grandie girls.

Mommy told Grandie Girl 1
about the time she spent playing ball on this field,

and asked her if she thought she
would want to do the same some day.

The sweet, high-pitched voice
in the miniature, but too-fast growing body,

responded so excitedly
and affirmatively

like she most always does,
wanting to be just like mommy.

And I smile at both of them with their muddy shoes
from the stop we made along the walk to float dandelions in the creek.

I steal a glance at Grandie Girl 2,
who is grinning and squealing with delight

as if to affirm her agreement
and wanting to be just like her big sister.

These are the moments…
the sweet precious moments.

After the rain.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

April Showers

/ Jodi / 56 Comments
April Showers Red Umbrella Watercolor 11x14

April Showers Red Umbrella Watercolor 11×14

April Showers.

We are expecting April showers today.
That’s okay, because they will be bringing May flowers.

The daffodils and hyacinths and forsythia are already painting a bright and beautiful Spring.

I woke up early yesterday and felt like painting, but didn’t know what to paint.  Scrolling through Pinterest, I found some lovely art done by Antigoni Tziora of Greece.  This artist uses oil, acrylic, and watercolor mediums to create romantic figurative work.  I tried recreating one in just watercolor, and this is what resulted.  I’d like to try more experimenting with this.  It was a fun practice to do.

Wishing you showers of joy, love, peace, and happiness!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Puddles

/ Jodi / 36 Comments

Rain Puddle – Mars, PA – March, 2018

Puddles.

When the rain fell,
the sky was dark,
and the mood was somber.

But the droplets
gathered together
and created a beautiful puddle

that remained
for days after
the rain fell.

And though each raindrop
seemed clear and transparent
in and of itself,

when gathered together
in the puddle that remained,
they took on a new life.

When combined with the sunlight
and nature’s surroundings,
the clear water became a reflection.

A reflection
of the beauty
of it’s surroundings.

A reflection
almost more beautiful
than reality.

All
because
the rain fell.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Let the Rain Fall

/ Jodi / 43 Comments
Goldfinch in the Rain - Autumn, Mars, PA

Goldfinch in the Rain – Autumn, Mars, PA

Let the Rain Fall.

I watched you as you sat proud and beautiful
while the rain fell on and around you.

You didn’t need
the sun to make you shine.

In fact,
you stood out even brighter in the cloudy drizzle.

And I was reminded
true beauty comes from within.

It can’t be soaked or drenched
or washed off.

It can’t be dampened or doused
by the storms of life.

Let the rain fall.
Let the storms crash.

And continue to shine
your authentic beautiful self.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Rainbow of Umbrellas

/ Jodi / 31 Comments

A Rainbow of Umbrellas Shading the Sunshine at Pittsburgh Three Rivers Arts Festival - June 2017

A Rainbow of Umbrellas Shading the Sunshine at Pittsburgh Three Rivers Arts Festival – June 2017

A Rainbow of Umbrellas.

May the shelter you seek
from sunshine or rain
be as bright and cheerful
as this canopy of colorful umbrellas.

And may you always remember
even the most beautiful flowers
need both sunshine and rain
to bloom and grow!

Cheers & Hugs in Rain or Shine,
Jodi

#Pittsburgh #ThreeRiversArtsFestival
P.S. Got lucky and spent a beautiful sunny day at our local arts festival Saturday with a couple of my favorite girls.  The festival is sadly known for bringing the rain every year, and it has been living up to its reputation ever since. Poor vendors. Bring on the sunshine!

After the Rain

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

After the rain
the world is a little softer –
edges blur and drip and shimmer.

After the rain
bright, beautiful reflections are illuminated
through droplets like liquid mirrors.

After the rain
the earth smells of growth
and life and freshness and hope.

After the rain
my heart feels renewed
and cleansed and full of new possibilities.

After the rain.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

#Reflecting

 

Rainy Sundays

/ Jodi / 48 Comments
purple rhododendrum bud after the rain

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