Written by My earliest memories of making things and getting creative all involved building something. In my house, you’d find Erector sets, Licoln Logs, TinkerToys, and my favorite of all time, LEGO®. Shown here in this super quick and loose doodlewash as I had very little time to paint today. There was never a shortage of parts back then to construct something amazing. I loved to combine things that weren’t included in the sets and then combine all of the different sets themselves. I wasn’t a purist when it came to these toys as my mad genius could not be contained. Actually, I wasn’t all that impressive at building things in reality. But in my mind’s eye, I could imagine that I’d just formed an amazing skyscraper or a log cabin from outer space. Looking back, I think I used my imagination far more than skill, so it’s lucky that I chose not to become an architect. It didn’t matter that the thing I made didn’t look accurate. I could transform it with a little imagination into anything I wanted to believe that it was.
Out of all of those building toys, you’ll still find LEGO around our house. Probably more than one should find in a house with only two fully grown men and a small dog, but that’s the way it is. Those little bricks are just too enticing to leave behind and it’s fun to feel like a kid again each time we make something new. We’ve slowed down a bit on that as we were running out of shelf space for the completed projects. So, the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine and Mystery Mansion only come out at Halloween and Santa’s house and the toy factory get put away until December. The building process is really the most fun with LEGO and sometimes we’re left looking at the finished thing thinking, what the hell are we going to do with it now? But that doesn’t stop us from continuing to grab the occasional set and happily put it together.
Though I don’t go quite as crazy with my building as I did when I was a kid, I’m thankful that I had that experience. I’m pretty sure it’s helped me become a rather good problem-solver as an adult. Or at least, I don’t have trouble grabbing at whatever is in reach to make a creative solution. And each time I sit down to quickly sketch a doodlewash, it all feels the same. I don’t spend any time planning. I just jump right in and see what happens. Letting the next thing lead me to the next until I’ve finished or grown too bored and tired to continue. Either way, the time I spent imagining something is a wonderful moment. It rarely turns out as I expected, but that’s still not an issue. I’m not trying to make art. I’m the happiest when I throw caution to the wind, close my eyes, and imagine how I’d like something to look in watercolor. It’s not about making a perfect little illustration. For me anyway, it’s still simply the amazing thrill of building dreams.
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About the DoodlewashSennelier L’Aquarelle: Indian Yellow, Sennelier Red, Red Orange, Phthalocyanine Blue, Dioxazine Purple, and Payne’s Grey. 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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Really great post
Thanks so much, Chris! 😃💕
Absolutely, Charlie, that’s exactly what it is.
Thanks, Michael! Glad you liked this post! 😃💕
Keep building dreams !
Yay for Lego! What fun to all get together round the table of a rainy afternoon and try to come up with something vaguely resembling the picture on the box… or indeed, snub everyone else and dream up your own masterpiece, block by block. Lovely memories!
Hehe… Thanks, Jacob! 😃💕 Yeah, it was so much fun to venture off on your own. Still love Lego! But now I often find that following the instructions is fun too!
Delightful wee painting. I could see that on my kids’ bedroom wall. It’s really lovely. We are big Lego fans in our house. My 13 year old isn’t into it but four of us are mad for it and my husband dabbles. My husband got the Lego Death Star for his 40th birthday and this Christmas got the Beatles Yellow Submarine. My kids are also running out of shelf and storage space for their Lego – and yet we keep adding to our collection.
Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕 Yay! Love that you’re a Lego House! hehe… we are too. And ohhhh… I’m jealous of the Death Star… I really wanted that one, but got the Beetle instead. (we really had no idea where to put a Death Star! Lol)
Yeah, finding space for the Death Star continues to be a challenge.
I loved Lego as a kid. Now they have these elaborate sets but I’d much rather create from my imagination. I’m a lot like you, Charlie… I enjoy the discovery rather than the finished product! Your Doodlewashes are always FUNtastic in my opinion! 🎨👍❤
Thanks so much, Jill! 😃💕 See? This is why we’re friends! hehe… imagination is the best. Always more fun that way! But yours is SOOOO much fun to watch! Love it!
Keep building dreams !
Thanks so much!! You as well! 😃💕
Awsome🎨💖😃
Thanks! Glad you liked this! 😃💕
One of the best toys ever. Smiles for this one, Charlie. (K)
Hehe… Thanks, Kerfe! 😃💕 Glad you agree… Lego is the best!
lovely
Thanks so much! 😃💕
my little nephew 4 y.o also learn lego now and he’s starting calm down a bit and more absorb his serrounding. Lego indeed one of a good way to educate to a child. Nice sharing 🙂
That’s so awesome to hear! I was definitely and still am a huge fan! Thanks so much! 😃💕
Ah… Lego! I used to love it, and had what seemed like millions of bricks, Charlie… although I was always missing a particular sized brick when I needed it!
Yay, another Lego fan! 😃 hehe… yeah, it always seemed like there was a brick missing to finish a masterpiece!