Written by For Day 24 of #WorldWatercolorMonth and our prompt of “Treats,” I opted for coffee and a donut, as that’s what I wish I had sitting in front of me. Instead, this is another fantasy doodlewash, brought to life via watercolor. I made it a pink donut because that’s always been my favorite ever since I was a little kid. It’s more about the color than the flavor, because I can’t really remember if the one I had all of those years ago was meant to be cherry or something else. It was just delicious. I did actually sample a donut at work recently and it was so sweet my jaw locked. I only had that one bite and moved on. I don’t like sugar when it attempts to become an actual flavor. To me, it’s just meant to enhance flavors, but when it becomes the star of the show, I find it a bit too showy and pass on whatever the treat might be. What I really love most is the idea of getting a treat of some kind. I think it’s a very healthy thing to reward ourselves at times. As a kid, this always meant something I probably shouldn’t have much of the time, like candy, ice cream, or indeed, donuts. And, I still like to live that way as an adult, though the treats are much rarer in number, making them even more amazing!
During the summer months, Philippe makes several different salads on rotation. They are perfectly delicious, insanely healthy, and exactly what I should be eating. This last bit is what I actually have to tell myself, since I’d really love some mac & cheese instead. Dishes like that will return in the fall and I’m already impatient for them to do so. I’ve no idea why during the winter months, instead of hibernating like bears, we choose to eat like them instead. But, I adore this tradition! Lots of savory sauces and cheese! Yeah, I now realize why our summer menu is full on diet. If we ate like that all year round, we’d be as big as as bears. But, perhaps that’s why I love autumn and the holidays so much. It’s when all of my favorite foods return and it feels like the season of endless treats! Not to mention the presents as well! Oh my goodness, I have to calm down a bit as there are still way too many weeks to go before all of that returns. My inner child just danced around the room and then left me entirely while he rushed off to make this year’s Christmas list.
While he’s gone for a moment, I’ll mention that, even as adults, we should always look for ways to truly celebrate each little victory. It doesn’t have to be something sweet to eat, but DO take time to enjoy whatever it is that makes you happy. Look for any excuse you can to steal a bit of time to doing something that simply brings pleasure. For me, indeed it’s definitely showing up to sketch and paint each day, but some days, I procrastinate a bit. This is simply because I’m not quite in the mood yet or something else is striking my fancy in the moment. I don’t let it bother me. I just blame Agatha Christie for creating a puzzle so complex that I simply must stop and finish the book before I can concentrate properly. Any number of things can distract me on a given day. And, I always let them. One thing I can say for this approach is that sketching daily has never once seemed like a chore or created any bit of stress. It’s never felt like it’s some job I must accomplish. No, it’s still just that delightful moment that I love to steal each and every day, enjoying the bliss of getting a little reward.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Yellow Ochre, Opus (Vivid Pink), Cobalt Turquoise, Terra Cotta, and Cobalt Blue. 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! |
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Great treat Charlie! I agree that treating yourselves is important. I hav been treating myself to lovely bouquets from the farm stand which I use as my subjects for a series of paintings. Maybe next year I will actually plant flowers so that I can go outside and paint. Watercolor is such a happy medium.
Thanks so much, Karen! 😃💕Yay to lovely bouquets from the farm stand! That’s so lovely! And yeah, we need to plant flowers next year as well. hehe… it’s always more enjoyable!
What? No time for a few sprinkles? And quit wishing your life away! I do that sometimes too and have to remind myself that it all goes too fast anyway without my pushing things. And now you’ve put delicious cool season food in my head I’m thinking a summer minestrone will help with that. Ask Philippe to make up a pot. All full of healthy summer veg, it should pass his rigorous testing!
Haha! I actually don’t like sprinkles… too much of a sugar burst! 😊Yeah, I think I just love warm food most! lol That’s why I can’t way for autumn and winter!
I completely agree with the concept of treats. As a child, I was definitely rewarded with sweets, and it was wonderful! These days, I have to selectively indulge, but occasional treats are still fun and delicious.
Yay to that Sharon! 😃💕Yeah, these days, I have to be so selective that nearly everything counts as a treat! lol
My, that donut does look good and the next best thing is a fresh cup of hot coffee. I agree, we need to treat ourselves sometime. I may just take myself to see a movie tomorrow.
Thanks so much, June! 😃💕You should totally take yourself to a movie tomorrow!!
Isn’t it wonderful that picking up a paintbrush everyday has no calories attached? One of life’s sweetest treats. That donut sure does look delicious!!
Thanks, Mary! 😃💕 Yeah, I love that I can enjoy these fantasy treats without a single calorie! lol
I had a busy day yesterday with work and all I could think of was, ” I can’t wait to get done so I can sit down and sketch!.” Yeah, it’s in my genes. Even though I spent the day creating for work, I needed to do some relaxing creating. I love donuts! Yours looks tasty. It is one of those foods I have to stay away from completely. Bahawaha!
Thanks, Lori! 😃💕 hehe.. yeah… I can only have a donut occasionally or I’d eat them by the box! lol And I agree… I’ve always had a creative day job, but sketching is MY time and I love it!
Charlie says, “I did actually sample a donut at work recently and it was so sweet my jaw locked. I only had that one bite and moved on. I don’t like sugar when it attempts to become an actual flavor.”
It was the humor that caught my eye, but then I realized there is wisdom too. That is a winning combination. It’s the kind of stuff that makes the reader keep coming back for
more…that and the fact that this is my favorite art blog in the confines of the Milky Way.
Just the facts : )
You’re the sweetest person in the world Sarah! 😃💕 Thank you for always reassuring me in my writing. I’ve only ever had training in art, yet weirdly always wanted to be a writer. So your comments make me so happy!
I miss these exchanges…still enjoying your art and wit though!
Aww yay! So happy to know that! 😃💕
shoot…wrong log in on the above comment. sowwy ’bout that.
No worries! I always know it’s you! 😉
I feel the same way – every time I eat a donut, I wonder why I bothered. The appearance is so much more promising than the delivery. Though I do feel that no celebration is complete without something to eat. I just doesn’t have to be a donut. Now, a home baked chocolate cake with butter icing – i could go for that!
haha! So true! 😃💕Yeah, I agree… food is required for any proper celebration. But, yeah, I just want it to come with flavor that’s not simply the sugar or spice involved. hehe
I wouldn’t mind that coffee and donut. No such thing as too sweet for me!
hehe! Yay! 😃💕 You can have my donut then most days. I think they’ve gotten sweeter somehow… or I’ve just gotten older.