water

Reflections of Serenity

/ Jodi / 51 Comments
Reflections of Serenity 8×10 Watercolor

Reflections of Serenity.

Listening to Simon & Garfunkel
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” on repeat.

Feeling blessed with peace.
Feeling sad for those suffering.

Thinking of a sweet little girl, Eva Love,
in a coma with a traumatic brain injury from a freak fall from a golf cart.

Thinking of a blogging friend who left this world
two years ago Sunday – way too soon.

Realizing how precious life is.

Feeling blessed by a random phone call
from my 2-1/2 year old grandie girl.

Relaxing at home with the man
who saved me so many years ago.

Ramblings from a happy, imperfect, content
girl/woman/wife/mom/grandma/friend/lover of life.

Reflections of Serenity
painted with love.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Written Sunday evening.

Cherish the Moments

/ Jodi / 33 Comments
Sunset over Lake Ontario, Rochester, NY - August, 2019

Sunset over Lake Ontario, Rochester, NY – August, 2019

Cherish the Moments.

As the sun sets
and closes another day,

collect moments
to cherish as memories

on this page…
in this chapter.

For this time…
in this season.

For every day may not be good,
but there is something good in every day.

Find it.
Hold on to it.

Cherish the moments.
Treasure the memories.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Under the Sea

/ Jodi / 49 Comments

Under the Sea – Dolphin Watercolor 11×14

Under the Sea.

It seems like such a magical place to me.

So when I was trying to decide what I could see

in the splashing I created so free…

A fish… a dolphin… a magical creature came to be.

I recently bought a new printer – A Canon Pixma Pro-100, and I was anxious to see how it worked creating prints and cards.  I am so pleased!  Above is a shot of the original with a mat and frame loosely placed on it to see what it might look like framed, as well as an 8×10 print and cards I printed on my new printer.

If you are looking for me…
under the sea is where I’ll be dreaming to be.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

World Water Day – Weaving through the River

/ Jodi / 39 Comments

Weaving through the River – 11×16 Mixed Media Art

World Water Day – Weaving through the River.

Today, March 22, is World Water Day.

World Water Day is about focusing attention on the importance of water.

The theme for World Water Day 2018 is ‘Nature for Water’ – exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century.  It is about looking for ways we can reduce floods, droughts and water pollution by using the solutions we already find in nature.

Damaged ecosystems affect the quantity and quality of water available for human consumption.  Today, 21 billion people live without safe drinking water at home, affecting their health, education, and livelihoods.

The next time you brush your teeth and let the water run down the drain or fill a glass of water to drink and pour half of it down the drain or take a 20-minute shower, think about what a privilege it is to have a dependable source of fresh water and how many in this world do not.

Wherever you are and whatever you do today, make a point to consider nature and water.

And if you want to do something about it, consider visiting www.we.org where you can donate $25, which can provide one person with clean water for life.

This original mixed media art I created is being dedicated to World Water Day.  It was done using ink-dyed tissue paper and drops of ink on Arches 140lb watercolor paper.  I added torn pieces of some old sheet music for “Weary River” sealed down with gesso.  I purposely tore the title words to form the word “Weaver.”   It makes me think about how water and art and music weave through our lives and make an impact.

I’ve named this piece, “Weaving through the River.”

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

Look Inside

/ Jodi / 43 Comments

February Morning – Mars, PA 2018

Look Inside.

The tiniest drop of water
hanging on the edge of the limb

that might not last
longer than a few moments

holds a glimpse of life.

It tells a story.

Look inside.
Ignore the blurred surroundings.

Squint hard.
Look closely.

Search deep

into this beautiful thing.

Search deep…
inside of You.

Like the tiny drop of water
that reflects the trees trunk and limbs.

Look inside your heart

to see what branches inside of you.

What is growing and stretching
and feeding your soul.

What is reaching
to grasp your happiness.

Look inside

at the beauty of you.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

That Moment

/ Jodi / 54 Comments

That Moment.

That moment when a drip of water
crystallizes into ice with a single degree drop in temperature.

That moment when your eyes meet
and you truly see, and you immediately understand completely.

That moment when a song comes on
and memories and long-forgotten feelings flood your heart and soul.

That moment when the ringing phone
brings startling news that suddenly changes everything.

That moment when a single spark
ignites a rip-roaring, intensely scorching, blazing fire.

That moment of quiet wonder amidst the clamor
that reminds us that blissful peace is within reach.

That moment…

just one of the many…

that define our lives.

Cherish that moment.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Dealing with Change

/ Jodi / 46 Comments
Icicle - Dealing with Change - Mars PA January 2018

Icicle – Dealing with Change – Mars PA January 2018

Dealing with Change.

If you
think
you can’t

deal
with
change,

think of
the drop
of water

who froze
in
midair

when the
brutally
cold wind

met
it.

It became
an
intricate flake

that
landed
on the rooftop

and joined
the
others

to form
a
soft

white,
fluffy
blanket.

Then
the sun
came out

and
warmed
it

just
enough

to create
a crystal
clear,

hard,
solid
icicle.

The sun
grew
warmer yet,

and
the icicle
melted.

The
drop of
water

fell
to the
earth

and
watered
the ground

where
the tree
grew

that
provided
shade

when
the sun
grew

even
warmer
yet.

It went
through
all that,

and
remained
beautiful

in
every
stage.

If a
drop of
water

can manage
through
all that,

You, too,
can
deal

with
change.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Watercolor Boats in Marina at Sunset

/ Jodi / 57 Comments
Boats in Marina at Sunset Watercolor 11x14 Fabriano Artistico 140lb Cold Press

Watercolor Boats in Marina at Sunset.

The other evening, I felt like painting something different.  I found a very talented watercolor artist on Youtube, Tim Wilmont, from the UK, who generously shares his talent via Youtube demos,online classes, and workshops (if you are fortunate enough to live near him or be able to travel to Venice or Tuscany to attend one of his week-long workshops).

Well – since Venice or Tuscany are not in my near future, I settled for watching Tim's live demo of boats and tried my hand at it.

The painting above was my second go at it.  The first is torn in half, and the back will be used for warm ups or color testing.  This second one, though nothing near the talent of Tim, feels pretty good for me.

I learned a lot watching Tim (twice)!  I long for the day when I will have the natural gift to know where to leave white and light so instinctively and how best to balance blending colors.  And drawing is the first challenge for me, but I did it.

Thanks, Tim.  I look forward to watching more of your tutorials, and maybe someday – just maybe – I'll see you in Venice!  (A girl can dream can't she??!!)

My painting is for sale in our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY shop, and if it doesn't sell before September 9th, I'll be taking it to our FIRST EVER McKinneyX2Designs booth display and showing at the Lake Latonka Fall Festival!

Colleen, my daughter-in-law, (who makes extraordinary rustic signs and crafts from reclaimed pallet wood – like these autumn signs and adorable pumpkins!)

and I are excited to participate in this Festival, which is in it's 38th year.  If you live anywhere nearby, we hope you will come visit!

What I did with this painting (and what I do with most all) is make it available for sale as an original and in 8×10 and 5×7 prints, which are printed on soft, 100% cotton watercolor rag paper that look almost like an original.

Boats in Marina at Sunset Watercolor 11x14 Original Matted and Framed

I also make my watercolor prints into cards on Solar White 80lb Super Smooth Card Stock and box them in sets with envelopes and tiny gold bows.

Check us out on Facebook or Etsy or visit us in person at the Festival next month!  We'll be the ones who are laughing loud and having fun!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

How do you say “Thank You?”

/ Jodi / 37 Comments
Crooked Creek, Ford City, PA - June, 2017

Crooked Creek, Ford City, PA – June, 2017

How do you say “Thank You”
for sunshine or health…
for clear days or gentle rains…
for happiness, joy or love?

You say it by sharing
what you have.
You say it by making
the world a better place in which to live.

-Thomas D. Willhite

How do YOU say “Thank You?”

I say it by trying to share something small every day
in this tiny little platform that is mine
to give to the world
a little bit of happiness…
a little bit of joy…
a little bit of love.

My “Thank You” might be
a photograph,
or a painting,
or a craft or DIY idea.

It might be a favorite cherished
or newly discovered recipe.
It might be a verse
or a quote or a story.

But it is my “Thank You”
for sunshine and health…
for clear days and gentle rains…
for happiness, joy, and love.

It is my gift.
It is my little life.
It is my creative journey…
at life in between.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

*Focus