Written by This month has flown by and there’s only one week left of World Watercolor Month! So this made me think of time, and well, that’s why today’s doodlewash is this red vintage alarm clock. I kind of miss these old clocks as they seem to have more charm than the little phone bricks we carry around in our pockets today. Also, the sound they made was perfectly startling and the digital version can’t quite replicate the sheer terror one felt when hearing one of these burst to life on a Monday morning. Although time is fleeting for this first annual global event, I hope most of you have discovered the joyful addiction of daily painting and will keep on painting as we move into August. For those of you in the Facebook Group, stick around, as the group will continue as World Watercolor Group moving forward!
When I was a kid, time didn’t seem to move this quickly. Summer days would linger on in a fabulously endless way as we’d ride our bikes through the neighborhood, dreaming up something brilliant to do each day. I now realize it was because our mothers and fathers took care of all that awful “adult stuff” and we were free to play and be kids. Now I have to do all that stuff myself and frankly, some days it kind of sucks. But painting has become my play time and I’m very protective of the precious little time I’ve set aside for it. It’s become my time to recharge and relax in a way that I just can’t get from doing anything else. Not even wine. And that’s saying a lot.
During that amazing time when I’m holding my paint brush, I fall into a zone and time begins to slow down a bit. Just like when I was a kid. All the noise of the world goes away and it’s just me and those little swirling pools of pigment and water. I’m not actually shutting the world out so much as letting it all in. Letting my thoughts and everything I experienced that day wash over me without really stopping to question anything. Every worry, every little doubt, flows out onto the paper and I’m left with a quiet contentment. I’m at peace. And no matter what happens the next day or the day after that, I always know I’ll have this moment again. Me, my pen, my brush, my paints, and that perfect little moment, when time stands still.
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About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Pyrrol Red, Burnt Sienna, Cobalt Teal, and Ultramarine Blue. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal.
love your post 🙂 and your vintage alarm clock of course
Thanks so much, Margaret!! 😃💕Glad you liked this one!
The clock is so cool
That last paragraph says it all Charlie!! Painting is my escape, providing that perfect little moment when time can stand still. I had a white version of your clock when I was growing up. I can still remember the clattering of that ring every school day morning. 🙂 Memories……. Thank you.
Thanks, Susan! 😃💕Yeah, it’s such a glorious escape isn’t it?! Glad you liked the clock…that sound was so iconic!!! And loud! Hehe
Exactly on all counts! 🙂
Exactly! The zone is the perfect place to be and I try to get in there as often as I can.
Excellent, Teri! 😃💕Best place in the world to be!!!
The “sheer terror” of a real alarm clock on Monday — or any other — morning. You captured it.
Lol… Thanks so much, Kristy!! 😃💕
Charlie, just reading your last paragraph made me feel peaceful and I wholeheartedly agree with you! We are truly blessed to be able to experience this through watercolor, in my opinion. Now, for that noisy, skillfully painted alarm clock – I might have been known to throw a pillow at a similar one back in the day 😉
Awww thanks, Carol! 😃💕I know! Feels so lucky to have watercolor to turn too! And yeah…those clocks deserved the pillow!!! Haha!
Well it’s about time! This certainly makes me tick! 😉 How wonderful. I have one of these at my bedside, but have never used the alarm, for that terror you mention would just be too much at the start of the day. When I was younger I had a digital clock whose alarm sound was your own personal recording. A sixty-second loop of me shouting insults at myself proved surprisingly good for getting me out of bed, so naturally I didn’t use it for very long! 😉
Yes, things move so fast, it’s nice to have a device with which to slow it all down; I’m sure it’s a good thing you’re depending more on the doodlewashes than wine for that! Your contentment is clear with each post.
So nice to hear about the peace your daily watercolor brings to your day. I don’t have an alarm clock. I do dream about sketching🙂
Hehe! Thanks Carmel! Sketching dreams are the best!! 😉💕
What a wonderful approach to life you have. And all of us benefit.
Oh, and a red alarm clock – that is so cool!
Awww thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 I just always try to keep life fun! Glad you liked my clock. Hehe…it was fun to paint!
Indeed it was terror every morning, one of these had to wake me up when I was still in school. And it still has a place in my cupboard, hiding behind books and candles and stuff. And it is a red one too just a little more oval shaped:-) I always look forward to your doodlewashes and thoughts!
Awww thanks, Birgit!! 😃It makes me so happy that you like my posts! And yeah…sounds like you found the perfect spot to hide this little terror! Lol
I love these vintage clocks, and you are so right, they made you get out of bed……my fruit brand of phone seems to allow the odd lie in, I think it decides, ‘ no alarm today, so you can sleep through’ not ideal, why does it sometimes not work? And it’s never loud enough! Fab doodlewash, this month is flying by 😀
Thanks, Rebecca! 😃💕Yeah well it’s good to have a clock to blame the lie in on anyway! Hehe
He he😀
What fun…until the alarm clock goes off and all that adult stuff kicks in!
Yep! That darn adult stuff!! Lol
What a beautiful painting, and Charlie, not sure if your words this time may have outranked it. What a wonderful way to express what we all feel when we squeeze in a little time for art each day. Just fantastic. Beautifully expressed and painted, my friend. <3
Awww thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed the post. I sometimes worry I’m rushing so fast lately I’m not even making sense. 😊hehe So glad you liked it!!
You make perfect sense, you were built to do what you’re doing, my friend. You always make it look effortless. 💙
Thanks! Some days it feels like it’s flowing, but some days… feel like a lot of effort! hehe… at least I’m glad it “looks” effortless mostly!
So lovely Charlie. ❤️
Thanks so much, Jodi! ❤️
Keep playing, Charlie! (K)
Always!! 😉Thanks Kerfe! 💕
I loved hearing you say ‘not actually shutting the world out so much as letting it all in.’ That’s exactly how I feel and why it makes you feel so connected. There’s nothing else like it, I agree!
Nothing in the world!! It’s such an amazing feeling. I wish I had time to paint more, but any little time is a gift and worth the wait until the next little time! 😉💕
Lovely painting, so charming and delightful…a perfect little moment. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much, Haunani! 😃💕Happy you liked this one!