Day 15 - World Watercolor Month On The Beach Ghost Crab - Doodlewash
By Charlie

Day 15 – #WorldWatercolorMonth – On The Beach

Written by Charlie O'Shields

Though I can’t actually be on the beach, our prompt for today, I can dream about being there vicariously through this happy little crab. I assume he’s happy, it’s rather hard to tell with a crab. I also tried some new colors on this one, so it was a chance to play a bit. The weather here today is ridiculously hot so Philippe and I have been hiding indoors. Our dog Phineas who loves the heat, however, is in heaven, albeit via the temperature of hell, and insists on going outside periodically to lay in the sun. About every 10 minutes, he insists on coming back in for a drink and to cool off, and then wants to head right back out again. He’s there again now and literally looks like he’s melted into the ground, so I might have to pry him up with a spatula this time, but he does seem incredibly content. Once the evening shade arrives, Philippe and I might attempt to join him, but for now, we’re far more comfortable indoors. And we’ve nearly reached the half way point for World Watercolor Month, so now’s a great time to celebrate with some free samples, so please read on!

Today, I have some lovely samples to give away from Official World Watercolor Month Sponsor Winsor & Newton. This one is only open to residents of U.S./Canada, so if you’re located elsewhere, please click here to see our latest International Giveaways (and more will be launching this week!). If you live in the U.S. or Canada and would like a 5×7 sample of Winsor & Newton professional watercolor paper and a professional watercolor 6 color dot card, simply add the comment “I love Winsor & Newton!” to let me know as you comment below. The first 10 eligible folks to do so will receive one! (just be sure to also watch for my comment back confirming as I’ll be giving you a link to my contact form to send me your address!). It’s been a wonderful and exciting month so far, and there’s much more to come! If you haven’t yet, please consider making a donation to The Dreaming Zebra Foundation, the heart of our celebration. You can also give by purchasing souvenirs in our shop, where 100% of proceeds go to Dreaming Zebra (these special items are ONLY available in July, so make sure you get them now!).

As we head into the evening, Philippe and I are going to have a champagne toast since France won the World Cup today, exactly 20 years after their last win! Our family in France has been sending us photos and videos today of the celebration there, so we figured we should join in remotely. I didn’t watch the game, as I don’t really watch sports, but I always love seeing throngs of people come together in pride and joy. It makes me happy. That’s why I love July each year when thousands of artists come together across the globe to share their pride in their watercolor art. It’s a shared pride like this that can bring us all together, forgetting all other differences and making the world a bit brighter and more hopeful. So, as I brave a heat wave summer that often keeps me trapped indoors, I can only smile with extreme joy. Life is rather beautiful and everything in it is worth celebrating. So, I’ll raise my glass in a toast to it all, and enjoy every wondrous little moment, like a happy crab on the beach!

Join Us For World Watercolor Month In July! Click Here To Learn More! 

About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Aureolin (Mixture), Cerulean Blue (Hue), Indigo, Quinacridone Red, and Terra Cotta. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia 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!
  Day 15 - World Watercolor Month On The Beach Ghost Crab - Doodlewash

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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54 thoughts on “Day 15 – #WorldWatercolorMonth – On The Beach”

  4. I can see Phineas melting into a canine puddle in this heat and hooray France! I imagine there is dancing in the streets of Paris this evening! Wonderful colors in your crab and a lovely post, as usual, they always make me smile.

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  6. I did three watercolor paintings today, and explored having one from a couple of days ago made into placemats. And there is not a single crab to be seen in any of them.😀 Much more likely to see a crayfish in mine anyway because that’s what I grew up with here in WI.

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  7. Well, Basenjis do come from Africa so it makes sense the Phineas would like the heat. I don’t know that crabs are generally happy, because their very name says something about their personality. Your crab makes me happy, though. I had to smile when I saw him. that I won’t comment since I’ve received so many wonderful goodies for reviews this month.

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  10. I love Winsor & Newton. As well as your blog and “doodles.” Thank you for sharing and he encouragement your words bring.

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    1. Aww that’s so wonderful! I’m so thrilled you’re enjoying Doodlewash, Karen!! 😃💕I just ran out of samples for this post, but keep watching my posts each day this month as there are more chances to get them coming! 😉

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      1. My problem is, I get up at 4:45 a.m. PT weekdays and your posts aren’t up until later. I only check email once a day. (gasp! lol) and so I am always a day behind. See, always late to the party. I might want to change that this month! I rather be sketching & painting than on the internet. 🙂

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  18. Wouldn’t you know. The day I miss reading your blog, you have a give away. I love Winsor & Newton! They’re the paints I used in art school, back in the 70’s – the student grade oil paints. It wasn’t until years later that I decided to try watercolor, and of course, that’s the brand I bought. Your crab reminds me of low tide on the beach in Bay St Louis, MS. We vacationed there as kids, in the 50’s. The crabs would be scuttling around the wet sand during low tide. When they felt the ground vibrate as we approached, they’d all race to their little holes and dive down out of sight! Yeah, I’m pretty old. Been painting a looooooong time 😀

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  22. Charlie, I look forward to your posts daily and just so you know, your posts are a calming influence to me because I always think of the fun things that my grandchildren have missed out on because off technology. Your thoughts on your childhood are right on, and each of your paintings are a highlight to life. Thank you for your thoughts and beautiful artwork. As for Windsor Newton, I started out using their inks doing pen and ink and I loved them. I have branched out to their watercolors to learn that medium. Sandra got me onto your Blog and between hers and yours, I am kept busy trying to learn from you both.

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  23. “He’s there again now and literally looks like he’s melted into the ground, so I might have to pry him up with a spatula this time, but he does seem incredibly content. ”

    That paints the grandest picture and writes a story in a few words.

    You are right…”life is rather beautiful”

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