Silver Fox Watercolor Illustration
By Charlie

Silver Fox

Written by Charlie O'Shields

For our prompt of “Silver Fox” today, I made a quick little fox sketch with just two colors. Indeed the term is also used to apply to a handsome man with gray hair. I remember several years ago when a woman I worked with remarked that my hair was beginning to get a touch more gray on the sides. Though I thought this was an odd thing to call out, she then told me I was “rocking that silver fox look.” This, I guess, was meant to be a compliment, but at that moment, simply spotlighted my advancing age. These days, I don’t worry much about my age at all and consider each gray hair a souvenir of life’s experiences. That said, the entirely new hairs that appear in places they shouldn’t can go right ahead and bugger off. And, while I’ve experienced quite a lot in my life so far, I know there are many more new and amazing adventures heading my way.

This afternoon, Philippe and I enjoyed a bit of lunch from our favorite Mexican restaurant. Like many restaurants, they didn’t reopen to the public, but kept their carryout option in place instead. I do miss going to restaurants, but to create the mood, Philippe made us each a margarita. It was only a small one, but it was lovely and still managed to make me feel sleepy all afternoon. This is another aspect of getting older, the drinks get fewer and farther between, or else I’d be napping all of the time. This, of course, is what our dog Phineas does every day and was doing much of the afternoon today. We managed to rouse him from a deep sleep and get him to go on a walk with us. When we rounded one of the corners at the edge of our neighborhood we saw people back outside having drinks, and though the tables were all far apart, it still felt nice to see a few things returning to some new version of normal.

I’m just enjoying each day as it comes and Philippe and I are still staying close to home. Tonight, we’re going to watch something fun on television, though we’re not quite sure what yet, and enjoying a lovely Saturday night. Each day almost blends with the next these days, but we’re safe, happy and healthy. Time has always been an interesting thing in that it moves forward no matter what’s happening in the world. Yes, each day I grow a bit older and hopefully wiser, while spotting all those new gray hairs that appear. I continue to dream absolutely impossible dreams just like I did when I was a kid, holding out hope that just a few of them might come true one day. One day, somewhere in a future, I know there’s a lot more to look forward to and I’m excited for what’s to come. And though I’m much more disheveled these days awaiting that future haircut, it’s still nice to think back to that time years ago, when I was once called a silver fox.

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Da Vinci Paint Co.: Terra Cotta and Indigo. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with black 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!
 Silver Fox Watercolor Illustration Sketchbook Detail

 

Charlie O'Shields

Creator of Doodlewash, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world!

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23 thoughts on “Silver Fox”

  2. I have to admit, I considered painting a portrait of Sam Elliot for this prompt, but I needed one of my postcards for the lunch bag so I went that way instead. I’ve refused to color away my gray hair. I figure each one indicates a bit of wisdom I’ve gained as I’ve grown older, so I tell people I haven’t grown older, I’ve just grown wiser.

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  3. Delightful fox Charlie! I’m with Sandra in embracing the gray which is really getting white. My husband tried to egg me on to DOodling a Sam Elliot type prompt. He has taken to giving me prompt “suggestions”! 😉 He does still make me chuckle!

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  5. I’m a dark brunette, so when my silver started coming in, on the late side, it really showed. I’ve never used hair dye, except a rinse, they’re there for all the world to see. And I’m fine with that.

    I read just today that a silver Fox is just a red fox color variant.

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  8. Darling little guy. You too Charlie! 😉 Unfortunately, gray hair can be a hereditary thing. My Native American heritage gave us what they refer to as “Autumn Frost”…….early onset of gray hair in our early 30’s. So needless to say I’ve been coloring for awhile. I have a sister 8 years older than me and I watched what happened to her……I was too young to let that happen. Hahaha!

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