Written by When thinking about the prompt of “bubbles” for today, my mind simultaneously went to blowing soap bubbles and blowing bubble gum bubbles. Bubble gum won out and that’s how we ended up here today with this fast and loose sketch. I remember as a kid having contests to see who could blow the biggest bubble. The trick was not just blowing a large bubble, but also getting it to pop in a delicate way that didn’t plaster your entire face with gum. At least if you’re the one blowing bubbles. If it was one of my friends, I would watch and secretly hope for a total eclipse of the face. It was hilarious. We’d all laugh and cheer as the victim of the bubble gum face mask began lashing their tongue in a futile attempt to escape it. And yeah, chewing gum is a bit gross and the bane of teachers everywhere, but it was just so much fun! There were all different kinds, but only some could produce the full face bubble. Those were the best and the most sought after brands of all.
Of course, there was much debate as to which brand was the best. As it turns out bubble gum blowing was far more complex than most people realized. We would argue over which type of gum made the best bubbles, but in the end it never mattered. The only real proof was the actual bubble, and I’d watch my friends do amazing things with bubble gum that just sat on my tongue refusing to comply. I don’t know if bubble blowing can be considered an art, but much like art, the tools we choose are rather personal. I miss those carefree days of blowing bubbles, but I’ve been known to sneak a piece of bubble gum here and there. It’s not good for your teeth to be sure, but some things are just good for your soul so it all evens out in the end. So if you haven’t guessed it yet, mine was Super Bubble, but probably just because the name made it seem so heroic.
When I try to blow a bubble today, they tend to be small and not very impressive. I’m not sure, looking back, how I managed to blow such amazing face-eclipsing bubbles. Well, yeah, I guess my face got a bit bigger, but that’s hardly the point. I think despite all of my childlike attitude, I still face a bit of restraint that my childhood counterpart simply didn’t have. That gleeful and exuberant feeling of doing things and never worrying that someone might judge you for them. These days, we get judged all the time as artists when we dare to place our paintings and sketches out for the world to see. Not as many likes for this one or that one, but in the end, I say, who the hell cares? The point is simply to have fun and share your fun with others. The idea to remember is the only thing that matters is if you like what you’re making. When you do, there will always be people who feel that love and like it as well. Sometimes, the things we love can be a bit contagious, like those amazing little works of art we made while chewing bubble gum.
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About the DoodlewashM. Graham Watercolors: Pyrrol Red, Azo Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine Blue, and Neutral Tint. Alvin Draft-Matic Mechanical Pencil in an A6 Hahnemühle Watercolor Book. |
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Aww, love this sweet little post! <3
Thanks so much, Jessica!! 😃💕
Ah, few confections (beside the obvious) are so tastily nostalgic as bubblegum – even if that taste did last all of two or three chews in the stuff I had (Hubba Bubba, usually). I was always rather pathetic when it came to blowing bubbles, though – I either stood there making faces like a fool or ended up spitting the stuff out. I stuck to blowing bubbles with a wand instead. But my Graphics teacher at college used to chew the stuff all the time – how professional 😉 – and I used to laugh at the idea of him deciding to blow a bubble and the unfortunate pop taking place, but unfortunately it didn’t happen!
Haha! Oh my gosh… he should have just gone and blown a bubble already! Lol Yeah, it’s not really a fun habit for anyone watching. So true though, the flavor didn’t last very long at all and it seemed like chewing actual rubber! 😉
Quick, unwrap them, chew, blow – oops – another failure. I liked the ones with the comics though they were more silly than funny. And of course the baseball card bubble gum where the card was the real prize and the gum hardly worth chewing. Fun days, fun memories. Your painting is much fun also, Charlie.
Ooooooohhh! Yes! The comics were the best! Bazooka all the way! hehe… so much fun! Yeah, the gum never did live up to the expectation. Thank goodness for the comic! hehe 😉💕
Ah, blowing bubble gum bubbles! I never really mastered that but I remember trying and trying. And of course, that funny moment when someone would blow a gigantic bubble and then it would plaster their face. Thanks, again, for finding those memories that have been hidden away! And for doing it with such a great painting and wonderful words!
Thanks so much, Ellie! 😃💕 Hehe… yeah, the face plaster was really the best part. I think I was too rubbish at making them, because I never had that happen to me. But my friends were much more skilled and it was freaking hilarious! lol
This is like an advert, Charlie! Fabulous!
I could never blow bubbles, mind you, I never liked bubblegum either for that matter, so that probably didn’t help! 😀
Thanks, Tom! 😃💕 hehe… yeah… I’m not sure if anyone actually liked bubblegum or just liked the fun of making bubbles. It never kept its flavor long enough to enjoy!