By Charlie

A Seat By The Window

Written by Charlie O'Shields

While we were out driving around today, there seemed to be lots of dogs enjoying a ride in the car as well. Little noses seemed to be poking out of every car window we saw, so that’s what inspired the doodlewash for today. I love seeing what appears to be a smile on their little furry faces as they enjoy the wind and breeze, no doubt exhilarated by the vast variety of smells around them. With their advanced olfactory sense, the experience is by far more thrilling that we humans could ever truly enjoy. A smorgasbord of scents that we can’t even begin to comprehend. Perhaps that’s why you don’t see humans doing this as often. That, and it would look a bit weird to see a person dangling their head out of a window with their tongue flapping in the wind. But don’t think I haven’t thought about trying it, just to see what I might be missing.

Whenever I’m traveling by plane or train, or going to a little cafe, I always prefer to sit close to a window. It’s lovely to be able to view the outdoors, even when sitting inside somewhere. If I’m with someone else, however, I have to be careful as I’m very easily distracted. People watching can often be rather addictive for me, and I like to invent whole stories in my head about the characters that I see passing by. Sometimes, I can get a bit lost in my imagination and don’t even realize that I’ve left the conversation for a few moments. My friends call this “Charlie world” and are used to it, knowing that I’ll indeed return in due time and there’s nothing to worry about. This doesn’t happen as much in one-on-one interactions, which I prefer, but in a group setting it happens all the time. The introvert in me always gets a little exhausted in a large group and I think it’s a way to escape for a moment. A way to find that window.

But I truly love spending time in my thoughts. It’s fun to think of things that are completely made up in my head. I like to daydream and let my mind wander to places that surprise me. Even if we can’t smell all the things a dog can, I feel like our imagination is the human equivalent of a super sense. At least, if we choose to use it. It’s a bit like a muscle that can atrophy if we spend too much time worrying only about facts and reality. But when we let ourselves dream, life just gets so much more enjoyable. Potential outcomes seem endless and for a brief moment, anything feels like it could be possible. I love that feeling most of all. It’s a feeling that has gotten me quite far in life and given me opportunities that I would have otherwise missed entirely. And it makes me so happy to know that thanks to a vivid imagination, no matter what’s really happening around me, I’ll always have a seat by the window.

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Yellow Ochre, Da Vinci Yellow, Leaf Green, Terra Cotta, Opus (Vivid Pink), Cobalt Turquoise, and Payne’s Gray.  Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book.
 #WorldWatercolorGroup - Day 10 - A Seat By The Window - Dog Riding In Car - 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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31 thoughts on “A Seat By The Window”

  1. How sweet! I’ve seen people do it, but it’s not nearly so charming. I too always plump for the window seat. It feels so much freer, a welcome refuge from that frightful spectre of social interaction!

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  4. This is a darling painting! Such a sweet expression on the dog’s face. I can nearly feel the wind myself. Who wouldn’t want a seat by the window if it’s this much fun? Well done, Charlie.

    (And please don’t tell me you painted it in 20 minutes. That will make me cry.)

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  15. Back when I was a teen and a “moon roof” was totally awesome to have on your bitchin’ Camaro (ahem), I thought I’d be all happy doglike and shove my head out of it to feel the wind in my hair once. (We were a little lax on seat belts in the 80’s in rural Nebraska).

    Let us just say this: Bugs, despite being extra unintentional protein for your diet, are GROSS to pick out of your teeth.

    I’m just saying.

    Still, dog glee and imaginary worlds are still both totally awesome, with no bugs involved. Love this post. 🙂

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