Day 31 - New Year 2018 Balloons Watercolor - Doodlewash
By Charlie

A Colorful New Year!

Written by Charlie O'Shields

Sneaking one last little doodlewash in for the month with this very quick little sketch of balloons for our final prompt of December. I hope many of you will be joining us for the January challenge which either starts tomorrow or has already begun where you live! I have to type this blazingly fast as Philippe and I are about to toast with champagne and enjoy a bit of caviar and blinis to kick off the evening’s celebration. And I just wanted to take a moment and thank every single one of you in our lovely art community for sharing your beautiful art each day. I wish you all the best in the coming year and hope that each and every one of your dreams, especially those super shiny impossible ones, come true! I have a list a mile long of things I’m hoping to try in the coming year, so I figure if even just a couple of them happen, I’ll be doing pretty great. It’s been an amazing year and I can’t wait to see what the new one brings. Wishing you each a beautiful year filled with color and love!

Our caviar that we’re about to try is actually not the super expensive fancy stuff, but a local one labeled Missouri caviar. So we just had to try it to see what it’s like. The blinis, for those who don’t know, are little round pancakes. Normally you’d add a dollop of crème fraîche and then the caviar, but we just use sour cream and a lemon. We’re not really fancy people. I’m sure the really fancy people would be rolling their eyes in disgust. But we have fun and enjoy things in the way that we personally like, so that, to me, is a rather fancy way to live. Our dog Phineas is pacing the floor, determined that he should be getting something extra for this evening. He has a knack for knowing when we’re in the process of celebrating something and feels that, as a member of this family, it’s a lovely family night and he should be included. We’ll likely give him an extra treat of some kind and leave it at that. I’m sure he’ll sneeze in disapproval, but he’ll be secretly happy.

As much as I wait with childlike enthusiasm for the holidays to come each year, it always feel like they’re gone in a rush. The seconds have suddenly started ticking away at a furious pace and getting this post in has been an ultimate challenge. But I just had to show up and wish you each the very best for the coming year. Doodlewash has become a wonderfully special community that brings so much joy to my heart each and every day. And more than that, it’s what keep me personally motivated to keep right on sketching and showing up each and every day. So for that, and so much more, I’m sending each of you a gigantic hug (unless you’re not into hugging, as I’ve heard some people aren’t, then a firm handshake to you!). I love you much for all you DO and for the encouragement you bring to myself and other creative folk you follow. Keep those likes and comments coming as it means to world to each of us. It’s nice to know that people care about what we make. And it’s heartwarming to be a part of an artistic community that shows such wonderful support! Much love to you all! I hope that each of you enjoy a perfectly creative and a colorful New Year!

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Vermilion, Aureolin, Cobalt Turquoise, Leaf Green, Opus (Vivid Pink), 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!
 Day 31 - New Year 2018 Balloons Watercolor - Sketchbook Detail - Doodlewash

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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39 thoughts on “A Colorful New Year!”

  9. Happy New Year to you all too! Shouldn’t be long now before hubs falls asleep in front of the TV. Used to be, I’d be chomping at the bit to get out on the town on New Year’s Eve. Staying home dozing the evening away seems so much saner. Esp. with the snow and ice coming down our there. Stay warm and paint good pictures my friend!

    Reply

  10. Oh my the things I learn at Doodlewash. At first I thought you were joking with “Missouri caviar” but as I read farther, I realized you were not, so
    being the curious kind, I googled it. You really have to read this short article…
    https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/xy7jma/caviar-trafficking-has-landed-in-missouri
    scroll past the headline and go right to the meat of the article (written by an FBI agent)
    Don’t you worry my friend, I will gladly bake you a cake with a file in it, if that should be
    necessary. I’m guessing there must be several kinds of that product from that particular
    area, and I have no doubt you are safe, but I gotta tell you, you sure perked up these sleepy eyes. I promise not to tell Phineas. I can only imagine the looks he would give you
    as he demanded more treats. All joking aside, Happy New Year to you and Philippe and
    Phineas.

    Reply

    1. Lol! Yeah, this was sustainably farm-raised and not the so-called “good” stuff! Good thing, I guess! For so many reasons! 😉 But it was amazing and better than others we’ve tried… we’ll probably get it again. Hope you have a fantastic New Year, Sarah! 😃💕

      Reply

  14. Thank you Charlie for sharing your wonderful doodlewashes, introducing us to artists around the world, providing product reviews, and last but not least—-the fine art of showing up. All the best to you and your family.

    Reply

  15. Like I said on IG, thank you for the entertainment! You are a breathe of fresh air to start my days and inspiration to continue my love of sketching, painting and creating. Happy 2019 and hugs back to you! 😉

    Reply

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