Apple Pie Cooling Window Cat Watercolor Inktober Illustration
By Charlie

Craving A Slice Of Pie

Written by Charlie O'Shields

For our Doodlewash prompt of “Pies,” combined with the Inktober prompt of “Pattern,” I ended up with a pie cooling in the window of a completely imagined place, up to an including the wonky perspective. There’s actually a crazy amount of various patterns on display here as I kept adding things to the scene as I went along. No doubt, adding a bit too much clutter, but I was just having a blast doodling with my pen and couldn’t stop! The real issue, of course, is that I’m totally craving pie now and I don’t actually have a pie to eat. Perhaps that’s why a cat longing for a slice ended up in my drawing. After this drawing, and seeing all of the delicious pies drawn and painted my the wonderful artists in our community, I’m now this cat. I couldn’t ask Philippe to make me a pie because it’s his birthday on Saturday, and we’ll be picking up his favorite cake instead. But this does not mean I’ll forget. I’ve made a mental note to literally beg for a pie next week. He makes a really fabulous apple pie this time of year that I’m so ready to sample again! Yes, one of my favorite bits of autumn is definitely the food!

Since I have sketched quite a few pies and pie slices, I decided to set this particular pie in a scene. When I was a kid, waiting for a pie to cool properly added to the experience. It was agonizing to know that there would be pie at dinner, but that I couldn’t have a little taste right away. Yet, somehow, it made it taste even better in the end.

Apple Pie Cooling Window Cat Inktober 2019 Illustration

I went a little nuts with ink on this one as, beyond the pie itself, I wasn’t quite sure what to add and just starting in adding things. What I’m loving about this month is that I’m doing the one thing I thought I could never do. I’m just glancing at several references and then making up my own sketch. When it’s time to color, I don’t use a reference at all and just color like I’m truly a kid again with a coloring book. As much as I always paint with my inner child, this month, he’s just taken over entirely. And I’m happy to hand over the pen and brush. My adult mind can truly be a bit of a bitch sometimes, stopping me from trying new things by whispering in my ear, “you can’t do that. you have no idea what you’re doing!” And, that voice has a certain logic. I mean to say, it’s actually correct. I don’t really know what I’m doing. But, what I DO know is that I’m having a heck of a lot of fun trying to DO whatever it is!

I’m also learning quite a lot by watching what others are doing as I go. I have the attention span of a flea, so I can only watch bits of tutorials. Mostly, I just watch what others make and observe the lines and choices. I’m humbled daily, watching the amazing artists that I follow. They seem like magicians to me. Am I more experienced and better than some artists? Yes, by this point, I am. But, am I a master? Absolutely not! I’ve stacks of sketchbooks ahead of me, and I’ve no idea if I’ll ever achieve mastery. The thing is, I don’t worry about it. My goal is simply to show up, and give proof to as many people as I can reach that one can sketch and, yes, also write, each and every day. Yet, not to discredit myself, I have become a master at one thing. The simple act of DOing! As it turns out, showing up to just try and practice is a feat in itself in our busy times. So, I feel quite proud that I’ve just made my 1,560th consecutive daily sketch and written post. And perhaps, also just a wee bit melancholy that it’s all still left me craving a slice of pie.

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Aureolin, Gold Ochre, Quinacridone Red, Benzimida Orange, Leaf Green, Cobalt Turquoise, Terra Cotta, and Ultramarine (Green Shade). Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen (Broad Nib) with black ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. 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!
 Apple Pie Cooling Window Cat Watercolor Inktober Illustration Sketchbook Detail

Charlie O'Shields

Creator of Doodlewash, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world!

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47 thoughts on “Craving A Slice Of Pie”

  1. Surely you could come with some excuse … er … I mean perfectly valid reason to take a pie to work? I lucked out. I went to have lunch with a couple of Mom’s friends at her Assisted Living place. Neither has family close, so I’m trying to visit at least once a month. As it happens, they had apple pie for dessert! Good thing, or I might have had to buy one!

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  7. My stove has been broken down for three weeks so far and Joe has to repair it. I told him I wanted to make an apple pie, and he still hasn’t done it. I think he forgot about the pie. And apple is his favorite. Since I’m not a big pie lover, I’m not too concerned, but I am in the mood for pork roast, and I need the oven for that.

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    1. Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕 Actually, the total time is about the same, around an hour. But it’s completely flipped! hehe I used to sketch an outline in 10-15 minutes and then spend 45 minutes coloring… now I spend 45 on the drawing and just 10-15 minutes coloring.

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  16. This could be the view from your new home with the front porch and the swing!! It’s a wonderful Doodlewash and I can’t decide which element I love the most! That pie does look delicious!!!

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  17. So beautiful Charlie!!!! Feels so warm and cozy. This image is very much apart of my “Dream home” White picket fence or wrought iron the porch that curves around the sides of the house, yummy desserts cooling on the window sills the kitty snuggled on the counter. ya that 🙂

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  19. The sketch is positively a dream. Both black ink and color are grand, but it is the color one this time that set’s my soul to sighing at the perfection. The ginger cat is the perfect mood setting touch. Everything about the painting makes me want to be sitting in the center of it, eating that pie and petting that kitty cat. Gorgeous!

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  21. What’re many lovely things in your sketch!!! Lively colorful done, a cat looking so innocent but cannot know when a cat caughing the delicious pie besides, outdoor landscape touching my mind, ink lines are skillful….I love this sketch, Charlie!!! Yub, I love to be known anyone always remember the inner child, I see the that feeling 🥰

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