Written by Today marks the beginning of a new art challenge and a brand new adventure! This month is focused on painting different types of textures, which is something a little bit different and kind of tough sometimes when it comes to watercolor. When I built a prompts list for this one, I had no idea how easy it would be to find enough different textures to fill the month! Some of them overlap a tiny bit, but they are all quite distinct. We’re kicking things off with “glossy,” a texture that is actually a combo of shiny and smooth. And a pinch of difficult, apparently, as this was tougher than I thought. I chose cherries to begin this month as they always make me happy, because of the childhood memories that I’ll explain in the rest of this post. But, they also seemed to fit the bill for glossy and were a good way to challenge myself while kicking things off for the month.
Whenever I think of cherries, my mind always goes back to when I was a kid. My mom was a huge Erma Bombeck fan and the incredibly fun book, If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? , sat for many years on the coffee table. I loved Bombeck’s wit and humor and loved even more that my mother shared that same sense of humor. It made growing up so much fun. I had friends with “serious parents” and that always made me a bit sad for them. When it came to being a member of our household, life was always just a joke, but one of those jokes you really loved to tell. Nothing was considered sacred or off-limits when it came to conversations and that kept life interesting and full of surprises. And best of all, full of laughter, which is probably the most important thing in the world.
I remember one friend’s mother who I never once saw laugh. It was creepy. So, I assumed it was a forced state of composure she adopted in public and that she would giggle to herself privately later, while reading an Erma Bombeck book once the kids were gone. At least, I had to assume that must be true. It would have been horrible to think that someone went through life without seeing the humor of it all. Life is perfectly ridiculous and that’s exactly why it’s so fantastic. It’s not about seeing the world for what you imagine it should be, but viewing it just as it is. Bizarre, even sometimes meaningless, and always incredibly funny. I’ve always cherished the fact that I don’t take life too seriously. In the end, there’s very little point. It’s not a serious thing, it’s a beatifully ludicrous series of events that if I look at them just right, will still make me giggle. If that doesn’t work, I’ll just think of that back to the wise observations of Erma Bombeck. And cherries always make me smile.
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About the DoodlewashSennelier L’Aquarelle: Red Orange, Sennelier Red, Indian Yellow, Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalo. Green Pale, Burnt Sienna, and Payne’s Grey. Lamy Safari Al-Star Fountain Pen – Extra Fine,
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with Platinum Carbon black ink in an A6 
Deliciously glossy cherries!
Thanks so much, Susan! 😃💕
I was thinking while you were writing what I was thinking about the same way…overlapping etc…but what the heck I hope to get better with a whole month of it….Erma Bombeck had some great recipies…one was take all the toll house cookie dough and bake it all at once spread on edged cookie sheet…saves a lot of fussing around and time. Your cherries are super dooper great !
Thanks so much! 😃💕 Hehe… and yum! I think I approve of that recipe! Delicious! And yeah, why all the fuss when the result is just as tasty! She was so brilliant!!
Can I please grow up in your childhood home?
awww… I think we would have had a LOT of fun if you had!! My sister Sharon! I like that! 😃💕
“Life is perfectly ridiculous and that’s exactly why it’s so fantastic.”–yes indeed. And cherries are a summer treat! (K)
Aww… glad you liked that bit. Thanks so much, Kerfe! 😃💕
It’s hard to imagine that friend’s mom never laughing, Charlie — especially in your presence, because your humor and joy are contagious! So glad you escaped the experience unscathed, and that you continue to find humor in everything.
hehe! Yeah, it was totally weird!! I couldn’t make her laugh and it was so awkward! lol But I certainly had a lot of fun trying. 😃💕
Did you try the trick with putting your hand in your armpit to make fart noises? I use that one to defuse tension during staff meetings, lol.
You know what? I honestly can’t do that… I’ve tried soooooo many times as I think it’s hilarious, of course, but I can’t quite get it to work. So I guess we’ll never know if that could have swayed her. lol
Beautiful Cherries Charlie you nailed the texture! 😉 <3
awww thanks so much, Carolina! 😃💕
I love Erma Bombeck’s books and columns, through them she lives on.
I feel a little sad for your friend’s mom. There was probably more to that story than a very young Charlie could have known. My own mother had clinical depression that went un-diagnosed for a long time. Additionally she was, and is, very shy and reclusive.
I like your theme for the May challenge. It may even coax me into finding out how to get a sketch from paper to a computer, and then to a post online.
Thanks, Elizabeth! 😃💕 You are sooooo right! I’m sure young Charlie was clueless as to whatever else might be bubbling under the surface there. In my innocent way, I just wanted desparately to make her smile. In hers, she probably wanted that as well. Glad you like the May theme, and yay to posting it online!! Do it! Do it!!
I confess, I saw these gorgeous cherries and was immediately hungry! XD I love how you included a story too–makes them that much more meaningful!
Thanks so much! 😃💕 I’m so happy you enjoyed them and my story!
It’s amazing how something so small can bring back so many memories. I really enjoyed reading the post. 🙂
Aww thanks so much, Anjana! 😃💕 So happy you enjoyed this!