Rooster Cockerel Cock Colorful Watercolor Painting
By Charlie

A New Day

Written by Charlie O'Shields

For our prompt of “Farm” today, I decided to make a quick little doodle of a rooster. I still remember the sound of the rooster in the mornings on my grandparent’s farm signaling a new day. I adored hearing this sound when I was a kid. It was so comforting to know that I was once again waking up to a day of fun and adventure on the farm. I usually didn’t have a plan for how I’d spend my day back then. I would just let the day lead me naturally to whatever happened next. These days, I’m just finding myself at home in the city all of the time and really wishing I were back on a farm again. It would be a lovely place to quarantine indeed. Although I know I was a kid when I was visiting a farm regularly, those open spaces seemed absolutely gigantic to me! I felt like I was looking across a field and seeing the curvature of the earth as one might when observing an ocean. It was the most magical time of my youth, and I have so many fond memories of the experience. Today, I’m revisiting those memories in my mind and it makes me feel very happy!

Last night, I ended up posting much later than usual because we had a lovely surprise FaceTime chat with our friends. We were supposed to see them this past weekend as well as again this upcoming weekend, to go see live theatre. But all theatre shows have now been cancelled due to the current pandemic. It was so great to see them again and catch up on things, even if only virtually. We’ll likely have another session soon so we can catch up on nothing much at all. Truly, not much is happening these days that’s very different. Each day is the same routine and there are no longer opportunities to get out and about and experience something different or indeed completely new. While Philippe and I do enjoy our routines, we’re realizing just how much we also enjoyed our little pleasures that mixed things up a bit. It’s a very strange moment in history indeed.

Our little trio, which also includes our dog Phineas, is doing fine. We’re determined to find fun things to DO and to spend this moment enjoying the same things we’ve always enjoyed. Those little moments. While I’ve often spoken of them, I now realize just how important they actually are. In lieu of anything new or noteworthy, I’ve been only able to experience my very simple everyday life. And it’s a rather wonderful life indeed. While I do dearly miss spending time with my friends, I’m happy enjoying time with my family. And yes, our dog Phineas thinks it’s both odd that we’re encroaching on his personal space all day now and rather wonderful that he’s getting more walks. He’s a bit on the fence really, but I think he’d say it was a pretty good outcome if he could actually talk. And though we can’t possibly predict what will happen next, I’m just content waking up each morning, even without the lovely call of a rooster, to enjoy a new day.

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Hansa Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Red, Vermilion, Cobalt Turquoise, Terra Cotta and Indigo. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen (Broad Nib) 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!
 Rooster Cockerel Cock Colorful Watercolor Painting 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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43 thoughts on “A New Day”

  2. I love everything about this from that fierce eyed rooster (love the colors and the expression!)
    to the very last paragraph and everything in between (especially that last paragraph)

    Reply

  3. It’s nice in a way that we’re experiencing life a bit more like our ancestors did. Of course, they didn’t have TV or the Internet. But they did quite well with drums and smoke signals and runners with memories like steel traps for communication, and they didn’t mind just being one with the world around them. It’s all so crazy right now, but if we are wise, we will come away from this with an appreciation for a slower way of living.

    Reply

    1. So true! I’m not sure I’d be very good at smoke signals though… hehe… I’d probably just start a fire. lol But we will definitely come away from this smarter and with a new appreciation of the simple things! 😉

      Reply

  4. Fantastic rooster Charlie! It is great to be able to see family and friends on a call. The Jetsons tv show comes to mind which ages me. Our cars don’t fly yet. We got to see one of the daughters and the granddaughter on a call tonight. It was good to connect.

    Reply

  8. Nice rooster! I don’t really remember them from our days in the farmette. Except I remember being warmed about how they jump up and attack you with the spurs on their legs. Luckily that never happened.

    I made a couple of loaves of banana bread this evening. I was transported back to grandma Mabel ‘s house by the aroma and sight of the bread sitting on the cooling rack. It’s her secret recipe and it’s delicious. I was thinking of giving one loaf away, but I suspect that will not be a popular idea with Joe. The stuff is additive.

    Reply

  10. Charlie, Thanks soooo much for your consistency. The world out there is so strange right now but every day you’re here with your delightful sketches and words. You are such a blessing. Thank-you.

    Reply

  14. Wonderful rooster and memories, Charlie! I’ve always loved hearing a rooster sing its morning song….memories of my grandparent’ s farm. Hoping to join my local sketching friends in a virtual sketching get together this morning. Should be fun! We’re very lucky to have so many wonderful resources at our fingertips during these bizarre times.

    Reply

  16. Beautiful rooster! A long time ago, I used to collect chicken stuff. In that collection I had a taxidermied rooster just like this one……gasp! My husband brings it up every once in awhile. I sold it in a garage sale. I have a great idea for you to help with the shelter in. Why don’t you host a virtual paint time for all of us? I know nothing about coordinating one of these events. A Disney art group I am on had one the other night,.
    Unfortunately it was during our dinner time so I missed it, but she recorded it for us. I am enjoying even the recorded one, its over 2 hours! It’ll give you something to ponder. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Lori! 😃💕 hehe… a sketch time would be fun. In truth, I’ve been so busy with my day job lately that it’s been hard for me to even find time sketch! (I work in food packaging design and art production… busier than ever these days!) I’m not sure when I’m going to get any down time during this. 😊

      Reply

  19. LOVED your rooster, Charlie! Completing one that actually resembles a rooster is my goal this month. Especially the tail feathers. Unique, shiny. Bravo!

    I was reading some older blogs of yours on DW, and uncovered something really interesting! Some years back, Phillipe bought you a tiny book entitled “10 Minute Watercolors,” Hazel Soan edition. Crazy enough, but that itty bitty book turned my watercolor painting around 360! Looking at it now, sections falling out, rubber bands, paper clips holding it together. I thought that was cool to discover someone else also read that book, helped him a bit. Anyway, just a mention.

    Have a lovely weekend!

    Reply

      1. Thank you, Charlie! Didn’t know Hazel was a feature. Her absolute joy at wc is childlike wonder–love her enthusiasm and approach. Yep. That itty bitty book I fussed about as being too pricey turned out to be the best investment. Maybe one day I’ll have a nice selection of paintings and perhaps be a DW guest artist? Many say my pieces are really great, but we all know how sheepish new watercolorists can be. Working on a Birgit O’Connor 22×30 now, and half sheet. Watercolor 24/7. 🙂

        Reply

  20. PS: I enjoyed reading about your grandparents farm, your time as a young boy there. Great visuals. Heard the rooster, smelled the farm smells, vast expanse of green, land as far as the eye could see. I grew up in the country, not a farm, but large enough to appreciate the beauty and delight that only a child can experience. Thank you for sharing that memory. Was really nice. 🙂
    Fanna

    Reply

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