Written by For our prompt of “Chickadee” today, I sketched a couple of little ones on a branch. I’ve painted lots and lots of birds over the years, but this is the first time I’ve made this particular variety. That’s the fun bit about sketching birds, you can never run out of new birds to draw and paint! And though a particular type of bird may share similar characteristics with others of the same type, I always see unique personalities in each one. Or indeed, I tend to invent personalities in my imagination for every animal that I see during the day. Every squirrel, bunny, cat or dog that happens by usually ends up with an entire backstory that I imagine for them. This is something I’ve done since I was a child. I don’t simply imagine what it would be like if animals were human, I like to think they’ve actually got everything figured out way better than we do. In my animal dream world, there’s tons of empathy, acceptance and mutual respect that makes every day glow with endless happiness and hope!
This year has been a bit different for me as I’ve changed up my routine quite a lot. I’ve traded daily posts for daily time spent writing and sketching books, which of course, have animal stars. I announced that I was starting a new series a couple of months ago, when I first mentioned my Sketching Stuff Draw Upon A Time concept, and I’m notorious for waiting quite a long time before a second book appears to make a proper series. This time, however, with a bit more focus, I was able to change that up a bit. So, I’m thrilled to announce that the next book in my series, “One Little Dog” is now available in hardcover and paperback! I hope you’ll grab a copy and, if you do, please leave a review as those really help! (And tell anyone you know who might be interested as I’m still rubbish at self-promotion.) I know my dog Phineas wasn’t pleased that he is not the model for this particular character, but all of my efforts to abstract him looked more like a fox, thanks to his pointy ears and quizzical expressions. But, he was still an inspiration as always! (He insisted I write that).
And I’m super thrilled for next month when World Watercolor Month returns (the prompt list is already published on the main page if you’re curious)! I’ll be doing daily posts again all month long in July so I hope you’ll join me. I’ve always thought that Phineas also expected that I would create a month meant to celebrate him as well. Of all the animal dialogues I create in my head, his is the most robust. But this really is his season. As the sunlight hangs around longer these days, Philippe and I are now on constant door duty. Phineas wants to be outside in the sun and then back inside to cool off on a steady rotation all day long. I can’t really blame him as I’m rather the same when it comes to making up my mind as to exactly what I’d like to do next. I sometimes envy people who seem to have it all that figured out, but I’m equally thrilled that I can still manage to surprise myself. Though this is a busy time of year, I enjoy the longer days. It always feels like I get a little more time, even if there never really seems to be enough. And though I have dreams of all the things I’m going to create next, I continue to take time to experience each sunset with my little family, while we simply enjoy being together.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Hansa Yellow Medium, Terra Cotta, Leaf Green, Opus (Vivid Pink), Benzimida Orange, Quinacridone Red, Phthalo Blue, Cobalt Turquoise and Indigo. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with black 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! |
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Congratulations on the new book.
Thanks so much!! 😃💕
Yay for a new book! A copy is on its way to me! I don’t assign personalities to animals exactly, but I’m always creating a Just So story for each of them, What can I say, Kipling was a favorite of mine when I was a kid!
Aww thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕 hehe…. I loved Kipling as a kid as well!
They look alive!
Aww thanks so much, Lee! 😃💕
I love your birds! Chocolates are my favorite.
Chick a dees are my favorite!
hehe… Chocolates are also awesome though! 😉
So is chocolate for that matter! 😂😂
Exactly! lol 😉
Thanks so much, Lisa! 😃💕
Congratulations on your new book, Charlie!!! Wonderful Chickadees!!! Their cheerful antics on and around our bird feeders kept me entertained many a grey, winter day when we lived in NY. They and their sweet voices are very precious memories to me. We even had names for many of them.
All these decades later I can still hear the chickadees we had in our Vancouver area neighbourhood: “Chicka – dee – dee!” they’d cheer. Awesome little creatures. Well done!
Thanks so much! 😃💕 Yeah, they’re wonderful little creatures… can’t believe this is the first time I’ve painted them!
Hola, mi amigo, Charlie! I thought of you on Friday because I had pizza! It wasn’t healthy like yours, but it was good! 😀 Yay, Charlie! Congratulations on your new book! (I already pulled it up on Amazon to see it! ) It looks wonderful, Charlie! Okay, I was expecting Phineas, but the doggie is super cute! I am so happy for you!
The chickadees are so beautiful! Do you know what I was thinking about? Remember when I told you about the Greenjays? The green version of Bluejays. I love Bluejays! Maybe one day you will paint a Greenjay.
Have a wonderful week and congratulations, my friend! Sending you warm hugs! 💜💜💜💜 We are melting in this oppressive humidity! I hope things are better in your neighborhood.
Thanks so much, Marisela! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, I just couldn’t get Phineas to look like anything but a fox… which sort of fits him though! lol And yes, I still need to paint a greenjay one day… also ran across a green woodpecker that looked cool as well! Sending warm hugs… well maybe cool hugs?… hehe… your way my friend!
Lovely painting, Charlie. Congratulations on your new book. I look forward to #worldwatercolormonth
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕 Yay! It’s going to be an awesome month indeed!
Lovely Chickadees, Charlie! Congratulations on the new book!!!
Hello hello Charlie!!!
Many congratulations on the new book! You deserve every bit and more of happy success. The chickadees are lovely and you are so right about each bird (and animal) having a unique personality. Having spent almost 2 whole years in a jungle lodge, I’ve had access to tons of information on which bird is the comedian, which is a bully, which one announces a predator to warn others… Am glad you’re enjoying every moment of your life. 🙂 Wishing you a happy safe summer. The monsoon FINALLY started here today. Yaaayyyy for the rain. 🙂 🙂
Love,
Mugdha
Thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 And yay for rain! And love that you know each of those personalities of birds. They’re amazing creatures indeed! Hope all is well with you and you have an inspiring and creative summer!
Congratulations! So excited for you, Charlie! Your first book is awesome (I’m saving a copy for when my newborn grandson is old enough to enjoy it), and I’ll be sure to grab the second one! I’ll leave reviews, too. 💖💖💖
Thanks so much, Carol! That’s so wonderful! 😃💕 It’s so hard to market myself and books in the midst of all the other things I have going… hehe… so I super appreciate it!!
Nice Chickadee’s you really captured them well!!
Thanks so much, Shawn! 😃💕
Bonjour de France, comme je suis heureuse de vous retrouver dans une aquarelle “comme avant” classique, avec de vrais oiseaux, avec de vraies plumes et non les derniers, ceux du livre, même si je vous admire pour avoir réalisé ce livre, je n’aime de vous, que les vrais dessins de la vraie vie, et non comme ceux que les petits enfants réalisent – trop épurés. vous faisiez de si beaux dessins, mais je suis toujours là, à vous suivre, je suis allé sur Amazone et vôtre livre n’est vraiment pas cher du tout, très étonnée de ce faible prix en euros, donc à vous suivre, et heureuse de la parution du couple oiseaux “réels” “vrais”
Merci Beaucoup, Cathy! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed this! Yes, I still move between both styles. From the more whimsical to the more realistic. And yes, I wanted to make my children’s books accessible in price, so I hope you’ll check it out, even though it’s a different style! 😉
Charlie, I keep wanting to tell you that THIS (whatever image I’m looking at) is my all time favorite painting of yours. But this painting of chickadees is absolutely enchanting. Chickadees are such common little birds but you’ve shown their lovely colors and charming personalities. Truly, one of my favorites.
Aww thank you so much, Sharon!! 😃💕 I’m so thrilled you enjoyed this one! I keep bouncing between more realistic and more animated, and I like the blend that comes out when I combine the too. Glad you do as well!
Nice Folks!
Thanks so much, Klaus! 😃💕