Written by For our prompt of “Macro” today, a first thought of macro photography, but then a magnifying glass jumped to mind so we have a cat interrogating a mouse. A cat and mouse game is an idea that dates way back to 1675 and means “a contrived action involving constant pursuit, near captures, and repeated escapes.” There are many fun stories with this sort of approach, but my favorite were the cartoons I enjoyed as a kid. Some included a literal cat and mouse like Tom & Jerry, but one of my favorite versions of the game was Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote. It was completely silly, but I adored watching all of the various contraptions the coyote would invent. Some seemed quite clever and impressive and I also liked make up little contraptions when I was young. However, most were built from parts from the Acme Corporation, and though they never worked as intended, this never seemed to sway the coyote’s brand loyalty. And even though he never caught the Road Runner, he never stopped trying, so one has to give him credit for his constant diligence.
I’ve often felt like I was in a similar pursuit throughout my art journey. There are ups and downs and twists and turns at every stage. And even if I don’t feel like I’ve managed to capture the prize that was in my head and place it on paper, I always adore the result. It’s fun to see how dreams get ultimately translated from pencil scribble to ink sketch and ultimately to a watercolor illustration. For me, all of this happens in a very short period of time, which adds to the thrill. It’s the thrill of the chase to get a new idea on paper each day. Indeed, though I could try to work on one thing and slowly manifest it over several days, I know me. I would get bored before the thing was ever completed. So, I work fast and fun and just show up for the chase. This is part of what now defines my style, which isn’t super loose as I adore details, but still a bit squiggly and imperfect.
Today, I was half way through the day before I realized it was Tuesday. I thought it was still Monday or at least it sort of felt like it. Days have sort of all run together lately since Philippe and I are always at home now. But, what I’ve loved is that I can usually steal a few extra minutes to sketch! All of the time that was spent traveling to work or going out to lunch is now fair game for sketching stuff. Well, I still have a bit of a deadline as everything still has to be completed before dinner so I can spend the evening with my little family. This includes my dog Phineas who really just wants treats more than attention, but I pretend it’s both. Philippe and I will stream something funny on television and then head off to bed earlier than most people might. Just before I fall asleep, I’ll read part of a book and get a bit lost in another story. And as I drift off to sleep, I’ll sometimes even dream about will appear tomorrow as I once again grab my sketchbook and play my own little cat and mouse game.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Gold Ochre, Hansa Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Red, Cobalt Turquoise, Ultramarine (Green Shade), Terra Cotta, 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? Click here! |
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Wonderful Charlie! I feel your confusion about what day is it. I often have to think of something to but it in context or I often really don’t know what day it is. Thank goodness for my cellphone. 😊😉
Thanks so much, Karen! 😃💕 hehe! Glad I’m not alone… yes! Thank goodness for the cellphone!
Ah Charlie I gotcha beat since I have to force myself to stay awake til nine. I sit in my chair with a book and it becomes a Reading Nap whereby the nap wins. That is what I get for getting up at 4 AM or so.
I stopped pre-sketching my paintings although I do sketch those sometimes in the sketchbook and then replicate what I drew on watercolour paper. Especially with impressionist work, it’s hard to do that if you have hard pencil lines. Ever try it without the sketch?
I love the cat and mouse which looks as if he prays for redemption. Carry on Charlie!
Thanks so much!! Glad you enjoyed this! 😃💕 I always sketch with ink first because it’s really about the drawing for me… I’m not a painter, but an illustrator. I’ve started playing with painting quick abstract backgrounds on bigger paper for fun warmup. If I get one I actually like, I’m sure I’ll share it! hehe… right now it’s just playtime!
Awesome, Charlie. Love to see it!
Love the expression on that little mouse face! I never seem to know what day it is any more either.
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 hehe… and yay! So glad I’m not alone!
Fascinante, Charlie, me gusto
Muchas gracias, Eduardo! 😃💕
After last night’s baby elephant YouTube videos, tonight I’m thinking of seeing if I can find some road runner vids! Beep beep! I loved that cartoon.
Today my helper girl was here to do yard and garden stuff. We watered everything and my new iris plants came in the mail, so we got those in the ground. It still looks like a park around here due to getting some timely rain. Usually it’s dead grass season, so this is a bonus. Green beans are still coming on strong, so I have to pick tomorrow. A Gardner’s work is never done.
Yay! Glad I could inspire you on new vids to kill time! lol 😃💕 Oh wow! Your garden sounds gorgeous! Yeah, it’s not been as dry or hot as usual around here either so the grass has stayed green.
“Road Runner, the coyote’s after you. Road Runner, if he catches you you’re through.” I have to admit, I always thought the road runner was a little mean. He deliberately egged the coyote on. It’s surprising, but ‘prey’ animals will do that sometimes in real life. You can find all sorts of videos of monkeys and otters teasing tigers or lions. I guess if they can see the predator, they aren’t really so afraid – it’s the unseen ones that get ya!
So true! hehe… and I agree on Road Runner… he wasn’t really as likable as the coyote in the end. No personality and just a bit of a meany! 😉
Great idea for the doodle, Charlie. I’m a morning person. I’m usually in bed by 9.30 but I’m usually up at around 4am, even this week when I’m on holiday. I loved Tom and Jerry, and discovered it was on one of the streaming services the other day, so sat and watched some.
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕 Yay! That’s awesome you saw Tom & Jerry recently. I’ll have to look them up again and stream some. So fun!
So cool! I love the painting!I agree with you and wily coyote and road runner…Loved them!! You must paint the road runner one day..I am sure that would be great!! And the only way I know the days is when I look(when I look) at my calendar LOL.
Be well!
Thanks so much, Priscilla! 😃💕 hehe! Thank goodness for calendars, eh? lol I’ve never tried fan art, might be fun to do my take one day!
What a wonderful painting, Charlie! I love how the kitty has the mouse under an interrogation lamp on him and a magnifying glass to look bigger. I think Kitty is shaking down the mouse 🐁🐁🐁 for information. I think Kitty is still on his revenge streak. “Now, tell me again. You saw the dog and the squirrel chatting where?” haha haha So cute. Cute mouse 🐁 .
I am a night owl. I can get up early and adjust to a schedule when I have to, but nighttime is my jam! I crawl into bed when most of you are getting up and starting your day. 🌃🌌🌆
Thanks so much, Marisela! 😃💕 hehe! I love that take on this one. That’s totally what’s going down here! Yeah, I used to be more of a night owl, but these days, I’m asleep before midnight…. even on New Year’s! lol
This is so cute! Those were the good old cartoons. You know the early Mickey Mouse cartoons were that style They were created by men and weren’t geared towards children. Sleep is overrated in my book. 😉
Thanks so much, Lori! 😃💕 Yeah, a lot of those early cartoons were not for kids at all! And most on Disney Plus come with a disclaimer about outdated views. hehe
Hello Charlie,
Such a cute Doodlewash! At first glance I thought the mouse was holding up the magnifying glass in the hope of confusing the cat into thinking “that’s one mouse I can’t mess with!”. I loved Tom & Jerry too and the other cat and mouse cartoon I loved was Speedy Gonzales. I saw both versions – when he was up against Sylvester Cat and the ones featuring Daffy Duck. My sister and I used to religiously watch the show every evening and then my sister would run through the house yelling “Andale! Andale! Epa! Epa!” with a straw hat for a pretend sombrero. 🙂 And yes, I think the whole world is with you on not knowing what day of the week it is. But I kind of like this feeling… I really never saw the point of Mondays looking like monsters waiting to grab you while Fridays or Saturdays looked like Candyland waiting to make everything fun. Maybe this will be the new normal. Only time will tell…
Love,
Mugdha
Thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 Aww Speedy Gonzales is awesome! hehe And I agree… I actually like that the days aren’t so rigid now. Though weekends are still my Candyland… I always look forward to a break from the work week!
Another great idea Charlie
Thanks so much, Linda! 😃💕