Written by After a rain, it’s common here to see snails sliding around in shallow puddles as drops of water continue to fall from the trees. They seem to come out of nowhere, most likely washed into that location, but then moving so slowly that it’s nearly impossible to see any movement at all. Since snails come with shells, they’re actually rather beautiful, albeit slimy, and much preferred over slugs, their homeless, naked cousins who also show up to the party. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a snail. I admire their patience. I’ve rarely move at snail’s pace, usually bouncing around from one thing to the next, trying to get everything I can done in a day. Modern communication methods seemed to have sped up life. Everything happens simultaneously. No more waiting for “snail mail” to arrive, texts can be sent in an instant. It’s amazing, to be sure, but sometimes it feels like something has been lost.
I’ve never liked talking on the phone, so when texting became a thing, I was one of the first to sign up. It’s not that I didn’t like talking to people, it’s just that if I was going to talk to them, I wanted a face to go with the voice. Texting seemed more efficient. You could simply compose a message, send it, and wait for a reply. This type of delayed communication meant that you could continue doing whatever it was you were doing and simply hop back into the conversation when it was convenient. You could even have several conversations going at one time. Very efficient. But it was something so new. You could never have had ten conversations going at once when I was younger. That would have been considered both rude and well, sort of maddening, because who the hell would ever want to deal with that?
Yet, here we are, in a time when that’s exactly what a day might look like. It’s no wonder so many people feel like they need to rush about and never have time to get things done. As much as I love social media and am very active on it, I now schedule time for it. Just like how I carve out my little time each day to paint and write, which is precious to me. The truth is, we have just as much time as we always did. It just takes a little more thoughtful planning, to make sure in all the fuss we’re always finding the time to do what matters most to us. At least, that’s what I always try to do. It’s not easy, but it’s always worth it. On those days when everything seems a little too hectic and crazy, I just think about those spring rains. And slow down instead. I may not get everything done on that blasted list, but I know I’ll be truly happy. Slowing down to experience a simpler life so that, even for a brief moment, I can finally feel as content as a snail in a puddle.
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About the DoodlewashSennelier L’Aquarelle: Quinacridone Gold, Red Orange Dioxazine Purple, Perylene Maroon, Phthalocyanine Blue, Cobalt Turquoise, and Ultramarine Deep. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon with black ink in a little red cloth hardbound l’aquarelle journal I found in a Paris shop. |
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Reblogged this on Whoodles and commented:
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If snails could be considered lovely your meets the criteria. If only the ones in my garden were as glamorous I wouldn’t try to get rid of them.
P.S. I hate talking on the phone . . . two-way disembodied conversations are stressful for me.
Thanks so much, Judy! 😃💕 Yeah, snails get a bit more glamorous in watercolor. Hehe And totally agree… disembodied conversations are stressful for me as well!
I love your snail. She is beautiful.
Awww thanks so much, Lisa! 😃💕
Your reflections always dazzle me Charlie…both painting and words. That snail is a beauty. Definitely has a good stylist. (K)
What a sweet thing to say! Thanks so much, Kerfe!! 😃💕
loveliest snail I ever saw! 🙂 And perfect words!
Awww thanks, Jodi! 😃💕 Glad you liked this post! And my snail! hehe
So pretty she is! 🐌 Well done Charlie 😀
Thanks so much, Snehal!! Glad you liked this! 😃💕
wow this is beautiful
Aww thanks so much! 😃💕
You make a snail look stunningly beautiful Charlie!! 💕🎨👍
Thanks, Jill! 😃💕 They aren’t quite this colorful in real life, but I figured they could use a little boost! hehe
That is a beautiful snail…..I still don’t like them visiting my garden 😀
Thanks so much, Rebecca! 😃💕 Hehe… yeah… they aren’t great neighbors. Best when they stay in puddles. lol
Yes, let’s train snails to stay in puddles…puddles of beer would be best 😉
This is a gorgeous chap – bravo! 🙂
Aww thanks so much, Rebecca!! Appreciate it! 😃💕
I love this snail, and especially its reflection – a very dreamlike quality.
Thanks, Sharon!! 😃💕 I was hoping to get a little dreamlike sense to this. Glad it came through!
Beautiful Colours!
Thanks so much, Marylin! 😃💕
I love your snail! So pretty. They are really fascinating for their shells, and their general lazy demeanour – I can understand the hate, but I really don’t mind them. Perhaps it’s because I used to ride giant snails as child? And they were almost as colourful as your doodlewash. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJa3ZeA8qkE Remember when I kept building fairground rides? Well, this is surely the best attraction there ever could be – just such a thrilling experience. Hilarious.
Thanks, Jacob!! 😃💕 Oh wow.. now THAT would definitely form a life-long love of snails. What a fun little ride! Though the pink one has a rather pompous expression. Lol
Haha! It is a classic. I always wanted to ride in the green one. Some of those faces seem a little creepy, though – much more than I remember! It’s a wonder I didn’t have nightmares. Perhaps I was too enraptured by the sheer excitement of such a ride. 😉
I dislike texting. If you want to talk to me, call please. Or invite me out for coffee or a walk. I usually delete texts and then pretend I never got them. My friends caught on and those who aren’t my friends, well I never wanted their texts either.
When we first moved to this house (32 years ago!) the yard swarmed with snails which devastated the plants and slimed their way all over the sidewalk. After a rainfall it was impossible to walk without squishing them, and though I have to admit I didn’t mind their deaths, I hated being anywhere near their smashed bodies. (Yeah, I’m a bit of a monster that way.) Only you, Charlie, could paint a snail I could love. You actually made him look adorable. How did you do that?
Hehe… thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 This was quite an accomplishment then given your disdain for them. I have to agree that they’re kinda slimy and weird in person though. Best left to sketches I think. And yeah, the older I get, the less I like texting. I was so into it when it came on the scene, but less so these days.
by now, you know we all love… this snail!! well done Charlie. loving the CTB accents to make it sing, the shell is fab and your adding the hint of background color wash – wonderful! 🙂
boy. I am missing cobalt teal blue! lol cheers, Debi
hehe… thanks, Debi!! 😃💕 So happy you liked him too. I think it was definitely the CBT accents that made this one pop more!
it did!! 🙂
Fantastic job making the snail look like a fantastical puddle monster!
Thanks so much! hehe… that’s an awesome description! 😃💕
Really like painting <3 Would it be ok if I share it on my snail blog? I will of course credit you and link your page. Also doodlewash looks really neat, is it strictly water colors?
Thanks so much! 😃💕 Feel free to share as long as you link back to doodlewash! And yes, the focus of doodlewash is watercolors as a featured medium, though also in mixed media pieces as well.
Will do and very cool, I mainly paint with acrylic but I might have to give watercolors a shot after seeing your work.