Written by It’s a new month and time for a brand new Doodlewash Adventure! It’s also April Fools’ Day, so I thought it would be fun to try something a little different. This doodlewash of a frog in a pond is actually an update to a classic optical illusion. If you’re on your mobile phone, turn your phone 90 degrees counter clockwise, or if at your computer, simply turn your head to the right and look at it from that angle. April Fools! It’s not a frog at all, but a horse, of course! Not actually a prank, per se, but the only thing I could think to do for today.
Also, April is my birthday month (that’s actually true and not an April Fools’ joke), so I’m sure you’re all wondering what to get me, right? Okay, maybe not, but a really great gift would be for YOU to join the adventure and celebrate with me in April! Last November, I chose a National or International Day being celebrated somewhere and made a doodlewash to honor it. I’m going to do that again, but this time around the twist is that I’m inviting you to join me on the adventure!
The following two sites are great resources for the “official” days that people are celebrating somewhere in the world: National Day Calendar and Days of the Year. Simply choose a celebration on any particular day that inspires you and make a watercolor sketch to celebrate! Either join me daily or whenever you feel the urge and tag your image #doodlewashaday on your WordPress blog or on Instagram. On the last day, I’ll provide links to all the awesome doodlewashers who celebrated with me, making this the best birthday month ever! (if you use another social media site, just send me a note here with the link!)
Here are some upcoming examples of days that I’ll definitely be celebrating and I’d love to have you join me:
-
April 8th – Draw a Picture of A Bird Day
Though this comes annually, for many artists on WordPress, we celebrate this each and every month! If you’re on WordPress, this extended tradition was championed by Laura at Create Art Everyday and is currently hosted by Kerfe and Nina at Method Two Madness, so let them know you played along!
-
April 25th – National DNA Day
What better way to show off your DNA than with a selfie? If you’re on WordPress, participate in my pal Teresa Robeson’s #SelfieArt Day, which occurs on the 25th of every month. Be sure to also tag this one with #SelfieArt along with your #doodlewashaday tag!)
I hope you’ll join me on this special adventure month as we Celebrate April! I’d love to see what days you’ll choose to celebrate and what wonderful doodlewashes you’ll create!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Quinacridone Gold, Permanent Green Pale, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Teal, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
Now that is amazing – tickled my brain 😁
Hehe…thanks Karen! 😃💕Glad you liked this!!
Very clever!
Thanks so much!! Happy April Fool’s Day!! 😃
Charlie! First, this is a fantabulous painting! What a wonderful way to celebrate April Fool’s! I’m working so many hours lol I actually thought I was seeing things at first. I saw a frog that turned into a horse, then back to a frog lol! Woo, wonderful job, Charlie! An inspiring piece. Way to get the month started! Looking forward to joining your celebration! And thanks for the mention, my Bro and friend! 😘🙇💜💛
Hehe…yeah…I thought my eyes were going to cross trying to doodlewash this sketch!! Lol Once you see them both its hard to focus!! 😳 Glad you liked it! Hope you’ll join me sometimes along the way this month, sis! 💜😍Had forgotten that the annual Draw a Bird day was in April! Yay!! Works out well!
Yay yes it does! I will try but I’m in an abstract place these days and work won’t allow much post able art anytime soon I’m afraid. But I’ll do my best, bro! Promises to be an exciting month!
Awesome! Yeah, I picked this type of challenge because pretty much anything goes! Hehe For instance, tomorrow the 3rd is National Find A Rainbow day which could just mean lots of colors!! 😉hehe
ooh that sounds awesome, Charlie! 😀 I have always loved rainbows, so I’d be inclined to paint one!
Yay!! Hehe 😍
beautiful colors, lines, patterns and design Charlie!
and Hey, I saw that CTB !!
so, are you like registered at Saks, Nordstroms, etc for your birthday Or just at all the online ART SHOPS! ….LOL
Thanks so much Debi!! 😃💕 Haha…I don’t shop at those places…I stick to Marshall’s! And not registered anywhere, but yeah…definitely would be Blick or Cheap Joe’s if I were!! 😊
🙂
Oh how fun! Love the April fools doodlewash and look forward to celebrating your birthday month! I even remember the day! April 13! 🙂 xo
Hehe…thanks Jodi!! 😃❤️And Awww you remembered! It’s on a Wednesday which isn’t ideal so I think a birthday month is far better! Lol Hope you’ll play with me along the way!! 😉
It’s on my calendar buddy! 🙂 xo
hehe! Yay! 😊
That’s so cool! I didn’t see the illusion because I’m dreadful at deciphering these things, so thank you for pointing it out – I see it now! And this sounds great! The journey through the calendar was a lot of fun and certainly an education last time – Cliché Day!!! <3 – so I'm sure this will be more of the same, only this time you'll have every celebration covered!
Thanks Jacob!! Yeah… I like these illusions, but never tried to doodlewash one. It was tough! Kept getting confused as to what the heck I was painting! Lol Ohhhh, it’s going to be a challenge to beat Cliché Day…that one was still my favorite!! Hehe
Charlie, what a fun April Fool’s optical illusion! Love it! So far the adventures I’ve followed you on have been lots of fun, and I am sure April will be just as great!
Thanks Carol!! 😃💕 So happy you’re coming along for the ride in April! I loved the day celebration so it will be fun to do it again. Always something new and different! No two months are ever the same!
What fun! And what a pretty horse! And what a funny frog!
Thanks Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah…totally not my usual style, but fun to try! Glad you liked this!!
Great illusion! When I first saw the thumbnail I thought it was a horse, then the frog appeared when I opened it.
And, I also have an April birthday. I see yours is the 13th. Mine is 16 days later. Close enough. Lol
I have done those national days and they are fun so I may join you now and then. Going to be a fun month.
Thanks Teri!! 😃💕Lol…I just noticed that WordPress decided to use the other one as the thumbnail. No idea how that gets selected. Kinda fun that way! And Yay!! Another April birthday! Cool!! Hope you’ll join from time to time! Will be fun!
What a Super excellent idea to celebrate birthday month 😍 loved the illustration 😍😍
Thanks Snehal!! 😃💕 I know people have there own themes going, but would be cool if you played along every now and then and celebrated with me!! 😉
Yes I would love to celebrate with you friend ☺️💕
Yay!! Awesome!! 😃💕
I think Charlie stands for clever! Great doodlewash today – love that it is an optical illusion! 💜🎨👍 And what a fun way to celebrate your birthday! 🎂🎈🎉 My nephew’s birthday is on the same day! 😄 I remember how much fun it was when you did this before so I look forward to it again and hope to participate when I can! 😍
Thanks Jill!! 😃💕 Yeah, I figured the best gift is what I always love most…other people’s awesome art!! 😊 Cool that your nephew and I share a birthday! Along with Thomas Jefferson! And hope you’ll play with me sometimes!! Would be so fun to see what you do!! 😉💜💙🎨
It sound like fun! 😃
L-O-V-E it!! Love your frog/horse and your brilliant challenge! ❤️💙 I had thought of something else to do this month but I may hold off on my idea and join you instead since I’ll need something to do next month anyway. 😊
And thank you for the holiday tie-in and shout-out for me and #selfieart day! I look forward to seeing your piece this month! 😘💜
Thanks so much Teresa!! 😃💕 I had several requests on Instagram and since I can’t for the life of me plan anything in advance, I thought this challenge was wide open and gave people options. Plus it works nearly with the two days we already celebrate on WordPress! Win win! So that means I finally have to do a proper selfie! 😊Yikes! Hope you’ll play along!! Please! Please!! Will be fun!!
Doing anything with you would be fun…anything art related with you is triple the fun! 😄💕
Hehe! Yay!! Let’s have some fun then!!
Cool froggy horse, so clever Charlie. I like your new adventure! I’ll be joining in.
Thanks Sharon!! 😃💕 was a fun change to try this, though hard to doodlewash!! Hehe… And yay!!! So thrilled you’ll play along with me!! 😃😃😃
Well you know I’ll be doing birds (thanks for the shout out) and selfies, but I’ll have to see what fits with my attempt at 30 days of poetry…I can write a poem about anything, right? Sounds like fun, as usual. and I love the optical illusion. (K)
Thanks Kerfe! 😃💕 Yeah…figured I had at least a couple built in days! And since its Poetry Month, you’re pretty much all in and playing along! Hehe… But also, April 17th is National Haiku Poetry Day!! 😉👍🏻And April 23rd is National Talk Like Shakespeare Day! Yeah…I can’t make these things up!
Thanks for the heads up Charlie! I’m definitely writing those down…
Awesome! Hehe 😃👍🏻
Now I see the horse! I had to go away and come back to it. Too much online today. This is beautiful Charlie. And Happy Birthday to you! Thanks for being born!
Awww thanks so much Jessica!! 😃💕 That’s so sweet! Hehe…when I was doodlewashing this I actually couldn’t see either of them at one point! Lol Wasn’t sure what I was painting!!
This is so cool Charlie the frog and the horse they are beautiful especially the unexpected horse! Nice to know that is your B-Day month awesome sure I will celebrate with you! 😉 <3
Thanks so much!! 😃And yay! Thrilled that you’ll celebrate with me, Carolina!! 😃❤️
You’re welcome Charlie I am happy to do so! ,-)
Very nice Charlie! Love that frog horse!
Hehe!! Thanks!! 😃💕It was fun to do something a little different!
Now that’s an optical illusion I haven’t seen before, very clever. Now let’s celebrate with you, party time!🎨🎁🎂
Yay!! Hope you’ll join me Rebecca!! Will be so fun!! 😍😃
I sure will be, just need a list online of the days in April that are significant, will try and find out 😀
Hm, I’m going to join in at some point! Great idea!
Awesome!! So happy to hear that! Can’t wait to see what you’ll choose to celebrate! 😃
Aw man that’s a brilliant drawing! People who can do TWO pictures in one have talent.
Awww thanks Naomi! So glad you liked this!😃💕
Happy April, Charlie! And I guess we’ll be celebrating your birthday all month! I will do my best to participate in the bird day and DNA day. How fun. My birthday is next month but I’m not celebrating anymore. I think that means I don’t get older. Haha! 😊💕❤️
Thanks Kari! 😃💕Hope you’ll play along sometimes! There are some fun days to choose from this month, would love to see what you make! And yeah… I think that DOES mean you’re not getting older! Clever!! 😉
By the way, such a clever Artsy April Fool’s piece! Love that.. I actually had to flip it back and forth in the WordPress app to see the difference.. Lol. Love your creativity!!!❤️❤️❤️
All around super fun post! Happy April!
Thanks Cathe! 😃💕Appreciate it! Hope you’ll play along at some point this month! National Orchid Day is April 16th!! 😉
Sounds like a whole lot of fun Charlie!! I will try to play along. Happy April!
Awesome! SO happy to hear that Susan! It will be a super fun month then! 😃💕
Yup super fun for sure. Time? Always the question. 🙂
Hehe… Just takes a few minutes to make something fun!! Do it! Do it! 😉💕
🙂
Would a digital watercolour count, Charlie? I haven’t started in the real world yet.
Loved the frog / horse / frorse!
Good question, Tom… I haven’t opened up Doodlewash to digital art yet, just the old-fashioned stuff. But what better opportunity to try your first non-digital watercolor!! DO it! DO it! hehe😉
Too funny….and absolutely brilliant painting! Great start to April’s adventures, looking forward to the journey.
Thanks!! Hope you’ll join me at some point along the way!! Would be fun to see what you’d celebrate and doodlewash, Haunani! 😃💕
So exciting! I’ll have to check out the April holidays and see what’s coming up. Can’t wait!
Yay!! 😃💕Really hope you’ll join in Annie! Would LOVE to see what you choose to doodlewash!
I missed this one on Instagram. Really cool!
Awww thanks Louise! 😃💕 Glad you caught it. This was a fun one to try!! Hehe…happy you liked it!