Written by While I loved lemonade as a kid, our art challenge prompt for today, it occurred to me that I haven’t had a glass in years. Mostly because my childlike metabolism left me years ago and one sugary glass of the stuff would now take me days to work off the calories. But lemonade was definitely a drink of summer in my family. It appeared at every family gathering and I couldn’t wait to have a glass. It wasn’t freshly squeezed or anything elegant, though placing lemons near the pitcher was often done for decoration. It was simply made from a powdered mix, as the miraculous convenience food inventions were all the rage back then. Just “add one thing,” because you couldn’t be troubled with more than that, and buying something entirely pre-prepared just felt lazy. So we would “make” lemonade each time we came together and it was delicious. Filled with tons of ice, it managed to take the heat out of the day and provide a refreshing break for the famly before going back to risk our lives playing with steel-tipped lawn darts.
We also served a lot of iced tea, which I switched to as an adult, but the lemonade was my favorite back then. And when I look back on my childhood, though I remember many actual stories, sometimes only images come to mind. For example, I remember the plastic covering on the picnic table, and a stack of red Solo cups with markers next to them so you could write your name on your cup. Just tiny little glimpses of my past, but remembering them feels like getting hugged. A warm and wonderful feeling of happiness that doesn’t have a specific event attached, just a memory of smiling while squinting into the sun. Things seem a bit blurry, but there’s something bright and wonderful to be found there. Many times, I wish I could remember more about what exactly happened after we poured that lemonade. I’m sure an uncle told a joke that had everyone giggling or an aunt, wanting a break from the heat, asked if anyone was up for a game of Scrabble indoors. We kids ran off to play, which for a kid means doing whatever comes to mind in the moment.
I’m always sketching stuff like this, because I feel like each little doodlewash is another piece of a grand puzzle. Each tiny memory connects with the next and builds my life story. And perhaps, even yours. We all have those little bits of memories that are so often a shared glimpse into the past. Our histories can be quite similar to each other on the surface, yet are always filled with their own perfectly unique moments. For me, this has been the joy of writing these posts each and every day. I love hearing about your own childhood moments and those pieces of your own past that come to mind. We were never more ourselves than that moment when we were children. Creating art is an opportunity to return to that and check in on that inner child again. Pure whim and imagination combine to make things come to life on paper. And though I may not remember every little piece of my life, the best bits always manage to shine through when I let them. Like those vaguest of recollections bringing to mind a decidedly perfect moment, triggered only by those summer memories of lemonade.
Join Us For World Watercolor Month In July! Click Here To Learn More!
About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Nickel Azo Yellow, Quinacridone Red, Terra Cotta, and Cobalt Blue. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
 |
|
Awww..lemonade. i love it still! It reminds me of childhood…like sipping sunshine out of papers
Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕aww that’s such a lovely description! Such fun days!
I love your lemonade painting, Charlie – though something seemed missing, and I realized with your talk of pre-made powders, I was flashing back to the old Kool-aid happy faced pitcher. Talk about memories (and calories) – although I was truly lazy and preferred to just eat the powder straight from the package and not even bother adding water, lol.
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 yeah… those flavor packets were amazing!! Who needs water when you have your own spit! LOL It was just as magical to devour them right out of the package! hehe
We were big Kool-Aid kids in my youth. But powdered lemonade was rotated in the flavor parade. It took me quite a while to learn to like the real stuff.
hehe… so true! 😃💕 The real stuff didn’t taste quite the same and I remember trying to get used to it!
Wah what a great drinks .so hot here.
Nice story. thanks Charlie.
Thanks so much, Snehalata! 😃💕 Yeah, a lemonade is so refreshing on a hot day!
Lots of good childhood memories attached to one of those glass pitchers. Wonderful painting and story, Charlie.
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 Glad this brought back great memories!
Yes! Just thinking about the taste of lemonade brings me back to childhood summers. One of the reasons I love your blog is that it so often reminds me of my own younger self.
Aww thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 I’m always trying to connect with my younger self… he was so smart and creative!
The puzzle of Charlie o!
hehe… put together doodlewash by doodlewash! ;-)😃💕
What a great summertime Doodlewash and commentary. Thank you for sharing from the heart.
Thanks, Laura! 😃💕 So happy happy you enjoyed this one!
So true! How something so simple can trigger a flood gate. Thanks for reminding us of our childhood years. Lime green Kool-Aide for me! Beautiful painting.
Thanks so much! 😃💕 Yay for lime green Kool-Aid! I just loved the color!! hehe
Charlie! I haven’t been on WordPress in ages, but I saw your article in Watercolor Magazine and wanted to say Congratulations. You’re doing such a good job!
Aww thanks so much, my friend!! 😃💕Hope you are do well!!! Still painting daily and having a blast here! hehe… can’t wait for World Watercolor Month in July! Hope you’ll join us!!
I hope to! Thanks again Charlie!
“We were never more ourselves than that moment when we were children.” (today’s wisdom!)
The lemonade is delicious! (and loaded with memories)
Your comment I quoted above is lovely and deep and so very true. I think for the truly creative
that moment of childhood lasts forever.
Aww thanks, Sarah! 😃💕I think so true. To be truly creative you can’t ever completely grow up and lose that child inside.