trees

Into the Woods in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 57 Comments
Into the Woods Watercolor 9x11" Arches 140lb Rough

Into the Woods Watercolor 9×11″ Arches 140lb Rough

Into the Woods in Watercolor.

As I dream and wait for the trees in our backyard woods to transform into their Spring and Summer beauty from their current state of brown dormant sticks (recently covered in snow yesterday!) , I found a tiny bit of time late one evening this week to spend in my art studio painting a simple “spontaneous” landscape watercolor painting.

I haven’t had much time for art lately, so it was fun to create this little scene by completely wetting down the paper first and just throwing on some Cerulean Blue, Olive Green, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna and Quinacridone Gold and then twisting and turning the paper to allow it to form a soft background.

Once dry, I used a rigger brush in the same colors to add a bit of definition here and there.  The total time spent on this was less than 30 minutes, but it felt great to paint.  I was inspired by Steve Mitchell’s Spontaneous Watercolor Landscape to try this technique and hope to do it again.  This is the kind of painting I really love to do – spontaneous, somewhat abstract, and very relaxing.

Happy Weekend!  Hope you find time to do the things you love!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Ghost in the Tree

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

the

A Ghost in the Tree
(A bit of Silly… Poetry)

Do you agree
with me?
Do you see
a ghost in the tree?

On a carefree
walk of sightsee,
it caused a teeny
bit of anxiety.

But Charlie in his chivalry
helped me gain clarity
and guaranteed
it was but a tree.

Such pedigree
to disagree
and decree
it must be too much coffee.

It was a beauty.
Could it be
a chickadee
or chimpanzee?

Whoppee
and Yippee
for a tree designee
of imaginative jubilee!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The Road Taken

It was all a Blur

/ Jodi / 33 Comments

winter-oak-leaves-february-19-2017-mars-pa

It was all a blur…
until I looked closely.

I stopped and closed my eyes,
and I took a deep breath.

I exhaled slowly,
and then I opened my eyes.

And there it was…
I saw the beauty.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Black and White

/ Jodi / 32 Comments
snowy-front-yard-black-and-white-0117

snowy front yard in FULL COLOR

“The world is black, the world is white
It turns by day and then by night”*

Nature
inspiring
Nurture.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

* Three Dog Night, 1972 – first recorded by Peter Seeger, 1956

 

Misty Morning

/ Jodi / 55 Comments
misty-morning-mars-pa-0117

Misty Morning – Mars, PA – January, 2017

Oh misty morning…
with your subtle and mellow beauty,

You are like a soft veil creating the illusion
of a world that is blemish and scar free.

You are a gentle beginning
to the realities of the day.

Oh misty morning…
will you please just stay?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Foggy

/ Jodi / 35 Comments

foggy-early-morning-back-yard-012117

Foggy

When life gets foggy,
and my thoughts are foggy,
and my eyes are foggy early in the morning,

I step outside
and look to nature
and listen to how she handles it.

And I hear the owls hoot
and the turkeys gobble
and the birds tweet,

and everything
seems much more
clear.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

December Snow

/ Jodi / 32 Comments
front-yard-and-driveway-morning-after-snow-december-2016

Front Yard, Mars, PA December, 2016

December snow
is the brightest snow.

It makes the sky bluer
and tree trunks browner.

December snow cleanses the earth
and also the soul.

It evokes memories
and fills us with anticipation.

December snow…
I love your Christmas spirit.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Just Be

/ Jodi / 34 Comments
snowy-pine-way-winter

Snowy Pine Tree Way, Mars, PA – December, 2016

Just be…

whatever it is
you were meant to be.

Just be.

During this time of year, so many of us push ourselves beyond what any human is capable of doing.
Others suffer with stinging depression because their life is not like the “Hallmark” Christmas card or movie.
Remember to just be…
It’s okay…
It is actually more than okay!
It is what you are meant to be.
Let it go – let it be – and just be.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Tranquil Trees in a Serene Scene

/ Jodi / 37 Comments
Tranquil Trees & Peaceful Mountains - 7x9 Watercolor in Prussian Blue & Panes Gray

Tranquil Trees & Peaceful Mountains – A Serene Scene Watercolor in Prussian Blue & Panes Gray – 7×9

Today I wanted to paint and share something peaceful…
tranquil…
serene.

On a day in the U.S. that is likely not to be.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

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