Butterfly And Lilac Flower Leaves Watercolor Illustration
By Charlie

A Pretty Day

Written by Charlie O'Shields

For our prompt of “Lilac” today, I added a butterfly for a touch more color and interest. Though flowers haven’t quite started to bloom where I live, it was a beautiful sunny day today that felt like spring was already here. Even with the tiniest of chill in the air, it was truly exceptional day. Philippe and I, along with our dog Phineas went for a long walk to enjoy the weather. Even without leaves returning to the trees, the sparkle of sunshine made everything just really pretty. A perfect reminder that world is filled with truly beautiful things. Phineas has been sort of hibernating all winter and is used to only short walks, but today he was ready to explore. Though, he was panting by the time we were heading back home and is currently curled up in a ball and sleeping again. I have to admit that he really knows how to truly enjoy a weekend properly and I envy his dedicated approach.

Last night, we went to our friends’ house for a fantastic evening of fun and food. It was so good to get together as it’s been several months since we’ve been able to meet up like that. When I was young, hanging out with friends was an almost weekly if not daily occurrence, but as we’ve all gotten older it gets much more difficult to do so. Our lives aren’t built around the same activities anymore and often go in very different directions. So, it’s often tough to find a time when we can spend the evening with each other. Though I wish this wasn’t the case, it does make each moment matter even more. And, being with the people you love always makes the day feel much brighter and happier. The current headlines we are met with each day aren’t particularly sunny. The world seems to be struggling to keep up with itself. So, I just keep right on making the most of each and every day, one sketch at a time.

And this is the weekend that’s also the shortest one of the year. Clocks jump ahead and we’ll lose an hour. While I don’t like that one bit, I do love that the sun will stick around a bit longer each day. I love when winter begins, but I always get tired of it well before it officially leaves. Though I can handle the colder temperatures, I just want a day filled with more sun. Though I don’t like the heat of summer, the super long days are something I really do love. Phineas is a true sun worshipper, so he’s perhaps the most excited about the days ahead. Also, super excited to spend them sitting outdoors rather than sitting on the heater vents in our floor. And I have to agree with the little dog on this one. It’s very energizing to have a lot more sunshine filling each and every day. And, though I don’t know what the future will bring, it’s more than enough for me to enjoy this very moment, and one singularly pretty day.

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Hansa Yellow Medium, Opus (Vivid Pink), Cobalt Turquoise, Vermilion, and Indigo. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen (Extra Fine 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!
 Butterfly And Lilac Flower Leaves 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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33 thoughts on “A Pretty Day”

  2. What a fantastic feeling this painting has. Spring is coming! I went downtown this afternoon to get a big piece of watercolor paper for a class and to buy a birthday gift for my mom. It was nice to walk around in the sunshine!

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  4. With daylight savings here, we’ll soon have light from about 5:30 am to almost 10 pm. I do kind of like that but I really hate the change. Oregon is trying to move off of Daylight savings time and I’m all for it.

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  5. Clocks don’t roll back, they spring forward. But we do lose an hour. I prefer the evening light, so I’m good with it. Joe hates it because he says it messes with his sleep. I think it’s all in his head. Since he works from home and has no exact time he needs to get up, what possible issue could he have? 😂😂
    I saw a robin this week, and my Lenten roses are out of the ground, so something is definitely happening. Can’t wait!

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  8. I will love the longer sunlight in the afternoons, that will mean I can draw and paint longer. But over here the clock will change the last weekend of March.
    It’s too warm for the time of the year, so trees have start to blossom and there are flowers. I hope we don’t get icecold nights (or days) anymore, because it can happen, and then many fruit trees will carry no fruits.
    No lilacs so far over here, certainly not such a beautiful butterfly. But I enjoy your painting.

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    1. Thanks so much, Heidi! 😃💕 yeah, each year I’m almost shouting at the flowers that try to come out early. Wait! Wait! hehe… we always seem to get one late freeze here. I’m so excited for longer sunny days!

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  10. Because of your wonderful sketch, I can smell the lilacs. I love lilacs. On warmer years, they are blooming for my birthday in April. One year I drove up to the Hulda Klager Lilac Historical gardens(Google it!) and bought a pink bush for my birthday. The flowers on it are much larger than my two older bushes and the fragrance from it much stronger.

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  11. Breathtaking!!!! I know what you mean i don’t even watch the news for all the intensity. I am not oblivious to it all but choose to feed my mind and life with the things that make me happy. Right now I feel like Snoppy doing his cute doggie dance.
    Remember that? lol I am so elated its almost spring!!! 12 days to be exact!!! Happy dancing!!! lol 🙂

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