Written by When thinking of something to bring to the #DoodlewashDinner today, nothing was coming to mind except the color red, so I just decided to show up with a handful of cherries. Other than adding them to my dessert doodlewashes, I realized I’d never sketched cherries by themselves before, so I thought I would give it a try. I love cherries as well! They’re so versatile, can be paired with herbs like sage, chives, and verbena, used in desserts, paired with sweet cream and ricotta cheese, and even with meats like pork and beef, especially with a little black pepper. Darn, I’m starving again.
Most of the tart cherries in the United States are grown in the state of Michigan. Traverse City claims to be the “Cherry Capital of the World” and hosts a National Cherry Festival. They also have the World’s Largest Cherry Pie Pan which sits outside a Sara Lee bakery outlet. The little plaque out front proudly proclaims their entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for a pie baked back in 1987 that was 17′ 6″ (5.3 meters) and weighed in at over 14 tons (12.7 metric tons). Let’s just hope this little event wasn’t followed by a pie eating contest, because that would just be gross.
As if this weren’t silly enough, years early in 1976, a town 45 minutes away called Charlevoix made the first largest cherry pie pan and still has it on display. Even though it’s apparently now dropped to third in the world, which is bizarre to imagine there needs to be three of these, it still has a sign defiantly proclaiming it’s the “World’s Largest.” Proof that our American “bigger is better” culture is alive, well, and just as ridiculous as ever. I’ve never understood why more is so often preferred over something that’s only just right. Something simple and delicious and not so boastful, like a handful of cherries.
You’re all invited to a Doodlewash Dinner Party during the month of May! Just tag your food or drink image #doodlewashdinner and I’ll feature you and your culinary creations in a delicious Doodlewash Gallery at the end of the month!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Maroon Perylene, Pyrrol Red, Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Green Pale, Sap Green, and Quinacridone Gold. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
Cherry red is a lovely colour.
It is!! Thanks so much, Sabiscuit! 😃💕
Lovely looking cherries. Now I want some 🍒
Thanks!! 😃💕 That’s a good sign! Hehe
These ones are delicious! thecraftybelgian.wordpress.com
You did a beautiful job on those cherries….so funny, I tried typing in cheeries twice….there! they are very cheerful and cherry! lol love that blue, makes them look quite tasty. Our cheery….no….cherry season is coming soon, I can’t wait!
Haha! Cheeries works for me! That’s awesome! Thanks Margaret! 😃💕 and I think it should also be called Cheery Season officially! Yum!
Gorgeous doodlewash, look at them shine. I always look to pick the deep red cherries over the orange/red ones, I think they taste better.
Thanks, Rebecca!! 😃💕 I agree..I think the dark ones are tastier!
Yum! Great looking and lovely cherries! Great light and reflections beautiful work Charlie! 😉
Awww thanks Carolina! 😃💕 These were fun to doodlewash… wasn’t sure I’d be able to get all the reflections liked I wanted, but turned out okay I think!
You did great reflections I like it! It turned out great! <3 🙂
Love your wonderfully painted cherries.
Let me also mention the cherries from Door County in Wisconsin are also awesome, especially when soaked in vodka for 6 months. It’s called cherry bounce. Be careful or you will be bouncing.
Thanks Teri!! 😃💕 Oh wow…that sounds awesome!! I totally want to be bouncing right now. Send some over! Lol
I love cherries! You did an amazing job!
Awesome! Glad you liked these!! 😃 Cherries are delicious aren’t they?!
My favorite thing to snack on!😊
Great choice! 😉👍🏻Hehe
Yum! We can’t buy locally grown cherries here until July. Love how you added blue to your colors – another awesome doodlewash by Charlie! YAY!! 🍒😄💜
Thanks Jill! 😃💕 This was a little preview of what’s to come, like tomatoes. Yum! Glad you liked the blue…I normally blend it in too much and Philippe told me not to. Works well this way I think! Hehe
Yes! I really like it like this, Charlie! You are giving me ideas for my rose! Thanks! 😄
Awesome! Can’t way to see what you do!
a cheery cherry doodlewash Charlie!
Hehe..:thanks so much Jodi! 😃💕 Hope you’re have a cheery weekend!!
Each cherrie a little gem, beautiful Charlie.
Awww thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 Glad you liked them!
My favourite fruit, and you’ve totally done them justice – the hints of blue are genius. 🙂
Awww thanks so much Rebecca! 😃💕Glad you like this. Trying to play with color a bit more! Hehe
The cherries look so delicious! Beautiful painting, love the mix of color and layers along with the reflective light. Would love a handful of these right now, or maybe a bucket…that would be great. ;D
Thanks so much Haunani! 😃💕 Glad you liked this… I think we should go for a whole bucket. A handful is just a horrible tease! Lol
Love the blues which deepen the reds! Great sparkle, Charlie! And hungry again lol. 💜
Thanks Laura! 😃💕It was fun to try cherries… they’re more intricate than I realized (at least when you are obsessed with all the little details like I am 😊hehe).
This is why we love you, friend! Your work is always top-notch!
Awww… now I’m just blushing😊Thanks sis
And truly we love you for many more reasons …. you always make us feel like Picasso and G’ma Moses! 😀
Hehe…now there’s an interesting duo! Love it! 😃
Beautiful doodlewash Charlie 😍🍒
Thanks Snehal!! 😃💕Glad you like this one!
I love your cherries Charlie! Cherries mean summer to me and lazy backyard days eating cherries and enjoying the sunshine!
Thanks Cathe! 😃💕Yeah… I think I have summer on the brain lately. Keep wanting to paint all the food that coming next! Lol
Merely halfway through, and already we have the cherry on top! I hope you’ve picked enough to go round! These are some splendid cherries, Charlie – the touches of blue work really well. I certainly couldn’t turn them down – even as a child I loved them, which is quite something!
I think you need to go over in your Pie Police tee and verify these cherry pie ‘records’.
Thanks Jacob! 😃Cherries are awesome… I’m totally craving some right now. But that’s an excellent idea… I should put on my Pie Police tee and check out these claims. But they’re just pans now… if they were actual pies still I’d be there in a heartbeat!
I’m hungry again too. Still waiting for the prices to go down, but I’m ready for my summer cherry treats! You’ve caught the color and reflections perfectly. (K)
Thanks Kerfe! 😃💕Found these to be more complex than I expected, but fun to paint! I’m sooo ready for affordable cherries too!
Your cherries are JUST RIGHT!
Awww thanks, Sharon! Glad you liked them!! 😃💕
These juicy-looking cherries are truly just right, and the colors and reflected light are excellent!
Aww thanks so much, Carol! Glad you liked it!! 😃💕