Written by For our prompt of “Cityscape” today, I thought about the views I love most while living in the city. In truth, though the tall buildings of a downtown skyline are rather impressive, I like them better as a backdrop. And sitting on a city park bench with only a view of the city in the distance is one of my favorite spots. So, I made a quick little doodle of a couple of mice in love enjoying a bit of park time together. I adore trees and nature fair more than metal and concrete, so I like the parks here best as they provide a lovely blend of both. Of course, as the leaves change color, which is also quite lovely, that means the winds will begin and soon really cold weather will be heading my way. That will mean more time indoors, but once all of the leaves fall, I do get a rather lovely view of the city from my house.
On our second floor, we have a little studio area which is now Philippe’s office and doubles as for a few moments as my bi-weekly podcast studio. Once all of the leaves fall, the trees that were once blocking our skyline view are bare and we get a wonderful view of the downtown buildings. At night, it’s really fabulous as we can see all of the lights. Though, we don’t spend much time there in the evening as it’s far more likely that we’ll end up in bed very early during the colder months. Indeed, I’ve been reading before bedtime lately and that always makes me a touch sleepy so I’ve been going to sleep way too early. This means that I then wake up way too early as well. I’ve mentioned that I’m not a morning person before since I require coffee to motivate me to get out of bed. So I’ve been just awake and dreaming up new ideas instead, which is also quite fun.
Tonight, we’re having a bit of chili and are going to watch something on television. It was a super busy day for me today so I’ve been rushed the whole way through. Finally being able to pause a bit and enjoy the night is a wonderful gift indeed. Though I’m a bit later in finishing everything up, I’m still always happy when I’ve managed to do so. And, our little dog Phineas has been going completely crazy this evening thinking that he should have a constant supply of treats. While this is not what he’s getting, I have to be impressed by the idea itself. I think a constant supply of treats would be a wonderful thing indeed. But, life never really works out that way in the end. Instead, there’s usually just a bunch of things to complete and lots of deadlines. So, it’s a real treasure to take a quick little break and imagine that more blissful day when we simply took a trip to a city park.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Hansa Yellow Medium, Yellow Ochre, Opus (Vivid Pink), Quinacridone Red, Pthalo Blue, Cobalt Turquoise, 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? 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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Wonderful Charlie! I’ve enjoyed scenes like this when we have traveled. Our downtown only has 4 story buildings as we have a population of about 22,000. Before so many people started working from home the daytime population would about double as people would come in from the outlying towns to work. We live on the outer edge of town which is nice.
Thanks so much, Karen! 😃💕 That sounds like the perfect spot! I’d love to move to a city with a lower population one day!
The best of both worlds, Charlie!
Indeed! Always my favorite choice! 😃💕
Charlie me too, sleeping at 8 pm and then waking between 2 and 4 am. And I found the other night while I was on the floor upon the yoga mat that I love the lights at night even though I detest big cities and tall buildings and endless rows of condos et al. I was born the Rocky Mountains. Concrete and steel just don’t cut it. Sounds like Phineas is convinced he starves. Hahha.
Indeed! Phineas thinks we’re trying to starve him! 😉 hehe And yeah, lights at night are always lovely, but I do prefer a view of nature!
Life imitates art, and contrast is key in both. A constant supply of treats would soon get boring.. We should appreciate our times without more, because they are what makes a treat so wonderful. The longer without, the better the treat!
So true! 😃💕 Though, of course, you’d never be able to convince Phineas of that logic! lol
Charlie, just when I think I found your cutest painting, you make another one. This one made me gasp! I am most certainly not a fan of real mice, but this is so CUTE! Gosh, so sweet, Charlie! Their little heads together and how cute that their little tails come together almost like a heart. Oh my goodness, super sweet! So cute! I love it! 💜💜💜
I live just South of downtown San Antonio. Literally, a 5 minute drive from The Alamo. Like I told you, we can see The Tower from our backdoor. Well, the top. While I love how beautiful our skyline looks, I am a star gazer. Light pollution is a problem and washes out the majority of stars, but I can still see a good amount and falling stars, too. A couple of nights ago, I could see the meteor shower. Texas is big on Dark Sky Communities. It’s a major selling point. I always pray and ask the Lord that Mister Man will be a star gazer, too. It sounds like you live at just the right distance from the city. I don’t know that I could live out in the country, no matter how many stars I could see. Snakes, spiders, scorpions, and colder temps—- YUCK!
Anyway, I just love this painting, Charlie! 💜 All of your paintings have your polish and flair. No matter how much time you have or don’t have to paint them. Never forget that.
Aww thanks so much, Marisela! 😃💕 So happy you enjoyed this one! And ugh on light pollution… we don’t see many stars at all. There was a meteor shower several days ago and no point trying to go out and look for them. I used know all of the constellations when I was a kid!
Sweet, and I prefer the beauty of Nature to concrete, steel, and glass.
Thanks so much! 😃💕 Yeah… nature always wins!
Check my watercolour post for the Attention of Charlie O’Shields.
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Probably our most favorite place is a bench, facing the ocean, in patch cleared of the tall grass, at a monastery in Big Sur, California. We sit like those mice in sun or cold in silence and appreciate just being. Where it is makes it great, sitting together makes it perfect.
Oh wow!! That sounds like the perfect spot indeed! So lovely!! 😃💕
Hello Charlie,
That park is simply splendid! The mice are adorable too and going by the way they’re holding each other, they seem to be keeping each other warm too. 🙂 And I was very surprised to know that you’ve never watched David the Gnome. You might just like it coz you like miniature stuff… David’s front door is at the end of a tunnel near the base of a tree. Though when you enter his world, everything stops looking tiny coz it’s seen through his eyes. But when he’s helping the forest animals, it’s very sweet. If you do watch an episode or two, please let me know if you liked it.
Love,
Mugdha
Cute painting Charlie. We have a cathedral with a tall spire in the city we live near. Even after all these years, it’s always nice to see it in the distance, if we’ve been away.
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕 Yeah, I love coming home to a familiar skyline. Always lovely!
When we lived in the suburbs of Chicago I loved riding the train into the city and getting that first look at the skyline filled with tall buildings. My other favorite was to go in to the city right after Thanksgiving and see all of the trees wrapped in white lights. It was beautiful.
Aww yes! Chicago is really lovely during the holidays. Though, even colder than here usually! hehe 😉
I agree that KC has some fabulous buildings, including at least two great art museums.
Yes! There’s actually quite a lot of wonderful things here in KC to enjoy. 😃💕
Too cute!! Love this
Thanks so much, Helen! 😃💕
These mice certainly are getting around! Adorable! I too think a cityscape is best enjoyed as a backdrop. Whenever I venture into London or somewhere like that, I feel totally out of place. Country boy I guess.
I don’t normally go to bed earlier at this time of year, but I do seem to wake up later, especially if it’s cold and gloomy outside. I’m not a morning person either, so it’s just as well really!
Thanks so much, Jacob! 😃💕 hehe… nothing wrong with being a country boy. I hope to be one too one day! Yeah, I don’t feel like I miss much if I sleep in just a little more in the morning. Cold and gloomy days never inspire me to get out of bed! hehe
Your city mice look so happy on their vacation, makes me envy them, Charlie!
Aww thanks so much, Fanna! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed this!
Fantastic park scence
Thanks so much, Susan! 😃💕
One of the few things I miss about living in the city is the lights…and it was a nice place to visit but I know I could not live there any more…Love the painting!
Thanks so much, Priscilla! 😃💕 Yeah, I do enjoy the lights a lot… especially the holiday lights this time of year!