Written by It’s not a big secret that I love food, but when summer comes around, there are three things I look forward to most: extra virgin olive oil, basil, and homegrown tomatoes. That last one is truly my favorite. For just a short period of time each year, tomatoes are suddenly a main event and actually edible entirely on their own. The rest of the year, they taste like tomato-flavored water and are best used as an ingredient rather than consumed on their own. Admittedly, some fresh mozzarella and balsamic vinegar isn’t usually far beyond this trio, but even just a tomato satisfies this time of year. My favorite are the heirloom tomatoes, not actually because of taste but because they just look so alien and bizarre.
I didn’t always love tomatoes, but as my tastes changed when I got older, I really started to enjoy them. I have to confess, it felt kind of cool to be so “grown up” and eating something that I would have despised previously. For all my talk of preferring to be childlike, sometimes getting older has its perks. At the moment, learning to love tomatoes is all that’s coming to mind, but I’m sure there must be other positive things, despite the gray hair and wrinkles. I remember a friend once remarking about the laugh lines on my face, saying that I could get those “fixed,” which was terribly rude in an attempt to be awkwardly helpful. I politely declined, though, as I didn’t at all understand why someone would want to look like they’ve never laughed in their life.
As I quickly type this, I’m fighting a sore throat and realizing that I’ve been moving too fast and should probably get some rest soon. But I wouldn’t change a thing. This has been such a fabulous thrill ride this month and I’ve been meeting so many new artists from all over the planet. With so many various styles of painting and sketching in one amazing group of people, I’ve never been more inspired in my entire life. If I could, I would invite every one of you over for a lovely dinner. If you happened to come during the summer months, you’d be sure to find some fresh tomatoes. Once we’ve enjoyed them, though, we can just go back to being kids again. And make some laugh lines together.
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About the Doodlewash
Sennelier L’Aquarelle Watercolours: Bright Red, Quinacridone Gold, Olive Green, and French Ultramarine Blue. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon sepia ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal.
My dear Charlie, I hope you get your rest and feel better soon. Your painting is lovely, the glow from your olive oil is as divine as the tomatoes and basil are luscious. A summer tea party with tomatoes and sharing laugh lines would be fantastic…you always make me smile. Thank you for sharing the joy.
Thanks so much, Haunani!! 😃💕hehe… I’m a little tired these days, but feel a little better today! So glad you liked this one… we would definitely share a laugh if we met in person!
Thanks for adding to my laugh lines. That is a good thing. 🙂 Today you have made summer candy into eye candy!! A treat for the taste buds and pleasing to the eye. Take care of yourself.
Awww thanks so much, Susan! 😃💕Appreciate it!!
Wonderful yummy looking painting with happy conversation.
Hope you feel better after some rest. Have some tomatoes.
Hehe… yeah, tomatoes should help! Thanks so much, Teri! 😃💕
I have a few of those laugh lines myself! 😄 I love fresh tomatoes too! 🍅 Love how you painted your vinegar bottle – you are getting really good at painting glass! 💕🎨😍 Hope you can get some rest soon!
Thanks Jill! 😃💕 It’s been fun to paint a lot of the same type of subject. Definitely gets easier each time! And yes to rest… hehe… can’t wait for the weekend!!
Love these things too! Great painting.
Thanks so much, Jodi! 😃💕 Just need to add wine and we have a lovely evening together! hehe
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It has been a journey to say the least…. feel better and get that rest that you deserve. 🙂
Thanks so much, Margaret! 😃💕 Yeah, I’m loving it, but learning I am still just one guy…. lol… sometimes it’s tough to keep up with it all! 😊
This Doodlewash is so charming, and it’s got well earned laugh lines of its own. I see those tomatoes grinning.
Drink some tea, also ginger is good, and sleep. Do feel better soon, Charlie
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 I got some sleep and resisted the urge to visit my blogs…. hehe… but must get caught up today! Glad you liked this one!
Tou are perfected your glass painting to an annoying degree😠 I tried one the other day and it was pathetic, I shall have to copy you as an exercise. Luscious drawing. Get better soon!
Copy away! Lol … I keep telling people to just draw the shapes and forget they’re making glass. That’s how it’s working for me at least. Sometimes the shapes I’m making seem completely counterintuitive and frankly… weird. But the end result always seems to look more like glass than ever! And thanks so much, Marina! 😃💕I got some much needed rest last night!
Ohh Charlie! I can suggest you Indian Home Remedy-gargling several times a day with luke warm salt water can reduce swelling in the throat! Get well soon friend! Your Illustration is too good 💕
Thanks so much, Snehal! 😃💕 Actually feeling much better today, but super tired. I think WWM is wearing me out a bit, but it’s sooooo worth it! Such a blast!!
Please get some rest and get well soon! Tasty tomatoes and basil are such a gorgeous combination. I really enjoy them. But you are right that a “tasty” tomatoe is hard to find even among organic grown vegetables:-)
Thanks so much, Birgit! 😃💕 I managed a little rest last night. Glad you liked this one… it was fun to doodlewash! Had to sneak some glass in, of course, as I’m still trying to practice that!
I love the trio Oil of Olives Basil and Heirloom Tomatoes a perfect summer tomatoes salad! I love the bizarre heirloom for shape, wonderful colors and great taste! Your watercolors is beautiful Charlie and btw the lines as result of smiling are perfect I have them too! 😉 <3 get well soon!
Yay to laugh lines! hehe Thanks, Carolina! 😃💕 Yeah… those weird shapes and fun colors of heirlooms are fascinating to me. Glad you liked this!
You got in the glass and food together, and painted beautifully, as always. A great food choice, always appealing to me, toms and basil….I would have a few olives 😀 Hope you feel better soon, only a few days to go, I am not surprised you are exhausted, do take some rest, we need our superman to be well ❤️
hehe… thanks, Rebecca! 😃💕 I’m finding I’m sadly mortal which is super depressing. Kari posted an image of me as a super hero in the Facebook group… I looked hot! Lol Lots of muscles and such. Best of all I got my requested Cobalt Teal cape! haha But sadly… I’m only human after all and a wee bit tired lately! 😊Glad you liked the doodlewash!
You are still super, and human…even if at the moment your body feels like a less well one 😀❤️
awww … thanks friend! hehe😃💕
Tomatoes, one of my fav. Lovely scene you’ve captured! Sometimes indeed time calls for slowing down, a good night sleep and a good break from the everyday routine to recharge the batteries. Get better soon!
Thanks so much! I’m so happy you liked this! 😃💕 And yes to rest! I actually managed some last night! hehe
Summer’s bounty. As usual, looks delicious.
I think a vacation is in order…(K)
Definitely a vacation soon!! I need it!! Thanks so much, Kerfe! 😃💕
Yes make those laugh lines together you crazy fantastic human being! I’m so glad you are enjoying your wild and crazy July WC trip!
Thanks so much, sis! 😃💕 hehe… you’re so sweet!! I’m totally enjoying the ride, but probably burned a few too many candles at once to take it! lol That’s nothing new with me though.😊 hehe
WWM has been a wonderful and joyful experience, Charlie. I love today’s watercolor, you captured all the nuances perfectly.
Thank goodness we have laugh lines. We are living a happy life. Take care of yourself, Lots of liquids and rest are needed!!😀☕️🍵
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕I love knowing you’ve enjoyed it! And yes… I’m taking care of myself… or at least trying to rest and relax. I’ve just never been good at that. hehe… want to go! go! go!
We creative folks have a hard time slowing down, there is always something to make, hehe!
So true!! Hehe 😊
I hope you’ll get better quickly, my dear fellow foodie (whom I’ve missed in my time off)! <3 Your food paintings show your love for them…and your glass depictions are so awesome now!
Teresa!! Miss you!! hehe… thanks! 😃💕I’m feeling much better today! I’ve been practicing glass for a few times this month. Turns out when you actually draw the same subject and don’t bounce around like a pinball you can improve! Lol
You spoil us with all the glassiness, Charles! And great tomatoes, again. Yes, I always feel properly proud of myself when I eat a tomato as I too didn’t think much of them as a kid.
Indeed, it’s those without the laughter lines that could do well to be ‘fixed’. What a thing to say, I can’t believe it!
Hope you feel better soon!
Thanks so much, Jacob!😃 I’m in America where they try to “fix” and “normalize” everything. It’s a mess! hehe… but the worst is when they medicate the creativity out of kids. I’m sure I would have been hospitalized if I had been born here today! 😊 Feeling much better today though! Probably the tomatoes!
Heritage tomatoes have wonderful names, too. You can just imagine what Mr Stripey and Heartbreaker tomatoes look like! We grow so many in our local museum kitchen garden. I love cherry and baby plum tomatoes, and snack on them practically everyday. Well they are healthy!
yum!! Those all sound fabulous, Cooper! I love the name Mr. Stripey… I think I’ve had one like that (or one that should be called that) and it’s fabulous! 😃
This is purely Mediterranean and very healthy (to eat and paint 🙂 )
Indeed! And yummy!! hehe 😉