Written by For today’s #NatureDoodlewash we’re pausing along the path to watch this tiny little chipmunk. This little guy is the smallest member of the squirrel family and it’s always fun to spot one scurrying across the grass. They’re incredibly cute, but can reach havoc on your yard since they love to make extensive burrows that can be pretty deep. Luckily, I don’t have a yard, so I’m free to just enjoy how cute they are and not worry about the collateral damages they bring. Also, they always make me think of the cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks, which I always liked as a kid.
Though you sometimes see more than one at once, chipmunks are social animals. They pretty much like to keep to themselves, except during mating season in the spring. Like bears, chipmunks hibernate, but unlike bears, they don’t store fat to help them through the long winters. Instead, they have massive cheeks that can stretch nearly three times larger than their head. When its warm, they stuff their face like a grocery sack and make trips back home to store the extra food. Then they can simply eat from their well-stocked pantry when the temperatures start to freeze.
As a kid, watching chipmunks run around, I often worried for them as they’re so incredibly small. So many predators existed that could harm them, and I always hoped they’d make it back home safely. As an adult, I realize now, the human world can also be a dangerous place. At least animals know which of the other animals they should avoid. But, for now, I’ll just sit here and focus on the peace I wish were more prevalent on this planet today. Quietly watching the beauty of a more natural world, in the charming antics of a tiny little chipmunk.
Join me throughout the month of June on a virtual nature hike! Show everyone what you love most in nature with a watercolor sketch or painting and tag your images #NatureDoodlewash so we can all enjoy it with you! I’ll create a featured artist gallery of our global hike at the end of the month!
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About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Gamboge, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Teal, Burnt Sienna and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pens with Platinum Carbon sepia and black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
Oh, yes. Alvin, Theodore, and Simon. I love the chipmunks…this one, too.
Thanks so much, Judith! 😃💕I’m glad you liked this!
This little guy is just adorable! Sadly it is a dangerous world we live in. It doesn’t matter whether you are great or small. Next time I go for a walk I will remember your words Charlie. We all need to stop and look around us, take time to see the beauty.
Thanks Susan 😃💕 Such strangely horrible times. But I have hope there’s still a brighter future ahead. And lots more beauty to enjoy and share in the world.
Ditto 🙂
Charlie, what a compassionate way of acknowledging today’s distress.
Thanks Sharon💕Just makes you pause and wonder what’s going on with this world. Hope we’ll survive us.
what a cutie….you know, you are darn good at this nature thing 🙂 maybe you are a country boy deep down, just saying.
Thanks Margaret! 💕😃I don’t know if I could ever be a full on country boy, but I do love nature! Hehe
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Thank you for reminding us of the beauty that exists, not only in your artwork, Charlie, but in you and the other members of the WP community here. Love you, bro. 💜
Thanks Laura! 💕Our community will band together to put the beauty back into this crazy world!! Love you back, sis.
Yes, Charlie. We recycle hate and turn it into love and beauty. Thank you. 💜
Charlie, love your chipmunk! I could watch them for hours as a kid. I’m in agreement with your thoughts in the posts.
anyway, 3 cheers for chirpy chipmunks Charlie!
Thanks so much, Debi! 😃💕 Something cute seemed right today to add a little balance to things.
Perfect little antidote for today x
Thanks so much, Catherine 💕
Indeed, a sweet little chippy doodlewash. They are very entertaining to watch as they scamper around our yard, and I like how their tails stick straight up when they run. I am very thankful to be on this nature doodlewash path with all of you where we share inspiration, hope, peace, and love through our art and words, especially when ugly, tragic things happen in the world. 💖🙏🏼💖
Thanks so much, Carol! 💕Glad you liked this and I’m thankful as well. We have each other and a group bringing beauty, art and love into the world is always an amazing thing!
Aww, he’s gorgeous! He looks hopeful. And now I’ve got the theme tune to Alvin and The Chipmunks in my head. Thanks for brightening the day, Charlie – I thought you would.
We used to have some pet chipmunks actually – I may or may not have crow-barred this into our conversations before. I don’t remember much about them but I’ve no doubt that I found their antics entertaining – I’m guessing, as we never got any more, that said antics weren’t terribly welcome!
Thanks Jacob! Yeah, I’m pretty sure Alvin was based on the real thing. They can get up to a bit of mischief. But they’re so cute! You should definitely consider getting one again to add to your menagerie. 😉hehe
Once again, you’ve made something I dislike really cute and adorable…LOL! <3 Not only do they burrow but they break the peace and quiet by chipping incessantly at ear-splitting decibels. And while we're willing to share our produce with them, they're not willing to share back…they will take ripe and unripe so that there is nothing left on our blueberry bushes (and they leave the unripen lying on the ground without even eating; they just like to make sure we don't get any).
Lol…thanks Teresa! 😃💕 I thought sure this would be a better break from the crawling things, but I had no idea that were so naughty! Hehe…still…just look at those little eyes!! Awww!
Like some people, chipmunks look lovable…until they open their mouths. LOL! 😉 Almost makes me appreciate spiders that are quiet. Hah!
What an adorable rendition of this little cutie! Oh how many of these we have in our yard! Our Charlie has fun playing “catch me if you can!” with them. Most of the time they win – sometimes he wins!
Thanks Jodi! 😃💕 Something tells me when Charlie “wins” the game doesn’t turn out very fun for little chipmunk! 😳Hehe
Often times that is the cash……………… :\
case – lol!
haha! I’m still thinking of cash! 😊
We have lots of these cuties running around here. I wondered what they did in the winter cuz they don’t go to AZ with us. 😄
I see a few here and there, but they always move so fast and disappear!
What a cute fellow. I love how you painted the fur. I always think of Disney’s Chip and Dale.
Thanks Sharon! 😃💕 I loved them too! but loved just about anything Disney really. Hehe
I have fond memories of watching the chipmunks come into our cabin and eat peanuts off the fireplace mantle when I was a kid. It was free entertainment. (It was a very rustic cabin). We don’t see these little fellas much anymore. The squirrel population kind of took over. Thanks for the reminder of these wonderful memories with your sweet doodlewash, Charlie! 💕😍🎨🌈
Thanks, Jill! 😃💕Awww that sounds like it would be so cute to watch!! Totally fun free entertainment!! So glad this brought back wonderful memories!
This guy is pretty cute. I love Chipmunks. Didn’t know they were part of the squirrel family since they don’t sport a big bushy tail. Maybe I’ll have to rethink that, but how can you resist them when their cheeks are stuffed?
Thanks so much Beth! 😃💕 Yeah…when they get those giant cheeks they even manage to get cuter!! Hehe
You are so good at insects and animals!
Aww thanks so much Jessica! 😃💕
He is so so cute, I always wanted a pet chipmunk when I was young…..no idea where from as we don’t get them here in the uk. Now I have got older I prefer to watch in the wild, or in this case of non native creatures, look at a wonderful doodlewash by Charlie. Next best thing to the real thing ❤️
Thanks Rebecca! 😃💕You can adopt this one instead! hehe… They are super cute. I wanted one too!!
Lol, they would run riot, but yes so cute ❤️❤️
What a little beauty Charlie! I love it it’s so cute and has lovely and charming eyes! The beautiful details and the colors of his fur are brightening the darkness that sadly came upon us today! As we are searching for answers I am so glad and happy that we all can get relief and enjoy life just looking at this little beauty from nature that you painted beautifully! <3
Thanks so much Carolina! 😃💕All we can do is continue to bring beauty into this world to counteract all the bad things.
My father used to despair at the chipmunks digging around the house foundations, but I always thought they were cute.
And as to the world…nature is always a good place to find solace. Thanks for another bright spot, Charlie. (K)
Thanks Kerfe 💕Yeah… they can really cause a lot of damage! But they’re super cute! And the world needs more happy these days.
I’d rather have him than the scorpion, that’s for sure!
Hehe… definitely!! Lol Thanks so much!! 💕😃
Adorable, cute, gorgeous watercolor. Brings a smile and a wonderful reminder of these little pockets of peace.
Thanks so much, Haunani! 😃💕 Yep…pockets of peace are what we need more of these days.
Soooo Adoooorable!
Thanks so much Alex!! Glad you liked this! 😃💕
This little guy is a cutie. You did a great job on the fur.
Thanks so much! 😃💕