Written by Three years ago, on this very day, I picked up a paintbrush and tried watercolor for the very first time. So, for today’s prompt of primary colors I just grabbed for red, yellow, and blue and made a little celebratory doodlewash fitting for a three year old. Today also marks 3 full years of consecutive daily painting and sketching, or 1,095 daily doodlewashes. Each year, I challenge myself to do something brand new to celebrate. In the first year, I founded World Watercolor Month, and I hope everyone participating is having a blast! In the second year, I added Doodlewash Club, a full social community and watercolor boutique for artists on doodlewash.com. Along the way, our community has grown to thousands of artists and you’ll find wonderful reviews and tutorials written by some of these artists. In truth, the site is rather complete, so I decided to try something completely different. I’ve never once appeared on video yet, being a bit shy, so I thought audio would be the best route to start making a regular appearance in the form of a podcast sharing not my art, but my stories. And I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off in time for today, but the first episode is now available!
As many of you know, this site is not your typical art blog whenever I show up here. Everything around me is as one might expect, but for my own daily posts, I share a pairing of both an image and a story, that’s usually just about life and not specifically about art or art materials. For me, after coming out of the zone of painting, my mind always goes to other things entirely, like childhood memories and thoughts on life. So, I write and ramble about whatever comes to mind after that sketch and have done so for the past three years. I thought it might be fun to select some favorite stories (or rambles) of both mine and yours, and group them by theme into podcast episodes. Full disclosure, here. I had no idea how to make a podcast or how to mix audio, so I quickly had to figure that out and am still figuring it all out, so this is, as usual, a bit of an experiment. Since I mostly share just little bits of life in both visual and written form, I decided to call my podcast, “Sketching Stuff” and it’s currently only available here on Doodlewash, as I’d love feedback from you first, my readers, to know if this is something of interest.
So if you’re curious, you can click here and head over to Sketching Stuff and let me know your thoughts in the comments! The first episode is titled Days To Celebrate, and did I mention it’s a full show? Yep… just shy of 22 minutes, so feel free to wait and listen on your next work commute. This one includes stories from one of my earliest months of sketching where I chose a different National or World Day each day for a month and made a sketch and wrote about it. It was this that inspired me to found World Watercolor Month the following year!
So, it seemed a fitting way to begin this new adventure. Thanks so much to all of you who follow my little blog posts and support and enjoy my daily rambles. I’ve loved hearing your stories that my posts have inspired in the comments. To me, this has been the most enriching part of blogging each day, and also, I can’t write an art supply review to save my life, so I’ll leave that to the crazy talented folks in our community. What I can do, for my part, is show up each day, and hopefully inspire you to smile more and learn that anything is possible in life and art if you just set your mind to it. 31 watercolors in a month? Heck yeah! And though getting humorous thoughts on life and advice on creativity from a 3-year old may seem odd, I can assure you, it’s actually not a bad place to start.
Join Us For World Watercolor Month In July! Click Here To Learn More!
About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Nickel Azo Yellow, Quinacridone Red and Cobalt Blue. 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! |
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Celebration congratulatons on your third year of sketching, painting, blogging and forming this amazing doodlewash community along with your support for all the children dreaming deams just like yours. The bear and cakecake are adorable. Thank you!!!. Going to listen to your podcast now.
Thanks so much, June!! 😃💕So happy you’re part of this community! It’s been such a fun and rewarding journey because of all the wonderful people in it! Hope you like the podcast!
How cool is this!?! What a great edition to the site. Thanks again Charlie.
Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕 I hope you liked the podcast… it’s typical Charlie… not “quite” what one would expect but in the end, exactly what you might if you read my posts! hehe
Yay, happy anniversary! <3 And what a marvellous addition to your ever-growing watercolour empire, one full of possibilities. I am listening to the first episode right now…
OH MY. It's even more infuriating/hilarious/better in spoken form!!! I don't know how you got through it 😛 But it is gold. Looking forward to more!
Thanks, Jacob!! 😃💕 hehe!! Yay!! You saw this post! I was going to send you a note if I didn’t see a comment. lol Yep… I HAD to start with that post, didn’t I? So happy you enjoyed it. (and I think it implants those clichés in your brain even more when listened to with headphones! hehe). It’s gonna be a fun ride! Something new to try and resurrect some of those oldies but goodies from the past. 😉
You always amazed me With your dedication and your stories and paintings seem so fresh and personal. You are so inspiring and I can see you going on for a very long time. 😊 I wanted to tell you that before I listened to the podcast. Hopefully soon, maybe while I make tomorrow’s potato salad. Happy 4th!
Aww thanks so much, Margaret! 😃💕I really appreciate that! I’m always thrilled when people enjoy my little illustrations and rambles. Making art is such a joy and it makes me think of everything BUT art sometimes. So I figured a podcast was a good place for that!
Great idea! I can’t wait to listen. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying your sketch of an adorable bear celebrating 3 wonderful years of Doodlewash.
Thanks so much, Sharon!! 😃💕 Hope you enjoy the podcast!
I totally loved hearing your voice and your stories. You made them come alive with not only your voice but the added soundbites. There is so much I related to though I do believe that I am older than you, maybe you are an old soul and happen to catch the end tail of that era. Your last story was great, well all of them. I think that it bothers me that everything is super sized in American restaurants. Perhaps that is why I prefer to eat at gourmet restaurants though we couldn’t afford it every time we go out. I really appreciate hearing about Philleps’ perception of America. (I hope that I spelled his name correctly) Anyway, I am looking forward to hearing more episodes. I felt right at home. Cheers!
Aww yay! Thanks, Margaret!! 😃💕 I’m so thrilled you want more! I hoped this would be a fun way to do a podcast Charlie-style. hehe… and it’s actually spelled “Philippe” but I think we were dating a year before I finally got it right. 😉 And glad you enjoyed these stories and could relate. Yes… America loves things BIGGER than life, including food. hehe… but it’s such a ridiculous fun country, isn’t it? Happy 4th of July! 😉
Haha! A year? He must be such a patient person ❤️ yep, crazy country, hope that you had good eats and a good day.
Thanks! You as well! 😃💕 I did actually as Philippe made the most amazing burger with homemade buns. I didn’t know buns could be made at home! lol
Ooh! Sounds good! I am a vegetarian but my husband isn’t. I tried something different with his hamburger in that I finely chopped up onions and bacon and seasoned well with pepper, salt and lemon pepper. He said it was the best ever. Philippe is doing so right making his own buns, tastier and better for you. Try looking up pretzel buns recipe on the web, they are so good! Perfect for burgers and sandwiches or toasted. Ok I have exhausted this conversation lol cheers!
hehe! Love that! Philippe did actually make actual pretzels once and they were SO good! It’s been a couple years though… hmmm…. you’ve given me an idea! lol 😉💕
Haha and they are easy to make 😊
Congratulations on reaching three years of watercolor and launching a new venture with podcasts as well! Your beautiful cake and teddy bear are well deserved! Off to listen to your podcast!
Thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕 When I was actually a three year old, you would never find me without my teddy!! Hope you enjoy the podcast!
What a great new idea, Charlie! Loved to hear your voice and find your podcast very entertaining. Congratulations! 3 years of watercolors? At least we have this in common. And starting with painting watercolors made it the best 3 years for me. Looking forward to the next 30 years of painting watercolors and the WorldWatercolorMonth! Cheers!
Thanks so much, Carsten! 😃💕 I’m so thrilled you enjoyed it. It was a bit of an experiment for me as I have no idea how to create a podcast and am still learning. hehe And congrats to you my friend! Your watercolors are amazing!! Here’s to the next 30 years for both of us!!
Thanks so much, Charlie. What the podcast is for you is making music and combining it with painting video for me. Sometimes I am a little bit jealous about people who have the “ability” to get bored – I guess it won´t ever happen to us.
Yeah… I bet those people sleep more! LOL But yes, there’s no chance of that every happening to US! 😉
Thanks so much, Charlie! 🙂
Three years! Congrats Charlie, and thanks for all the smiles and good vibes! (K)
Thanks so much, Kerfe! 😃💕 And thank YOU for all the wonderful words of encouragement and support. It’s tough showing up each day sometimes, but it’s always wonderful to know that people enjoy it when you do! (and I’m wildly behind on comments on other blogs, but I’ll be back!!)
Don’t worry about the comments…I think we are all overwhelmed these days…just visit when you have the chance. In the meantime, keep up the good work!
Thanks, friend! 😃💕 I’ll definitely be back once World Watercolor Month ends. It’s such a fun month, but takes lots of energy!
Congratulations, Charlie! Can’t wait to listen to the podcast!!
Thanks so much, Mary!! 😃💕 I hope you enjoy the podcast!!
Loved the podcast! Looking forward to the next.
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 So happy you enjoyed it! Total experiment! hehe
What a fun project! Congrats! Now you have me looking forward to year five when you get you’re own show on public television! I’d watch!! I’ll listen to the podcast later.
Aww thanks so much, Lisa! 😃💕 Thrilled for the vote of confidence! I hope you enjoy the podcast!!
Congrats on 3 years, Charlie, and thanks for taking so many of us along for the ride! It’s been delightful, and I can’t wait to listen to your podcasts – so exciting! If it weren’t for you reaching out to me on my humble blog, I’m not sure I would have continued. You have made a difference to so many! 😘💖🎨
Thanks, Carol! 😃💕 That is the BEST note I could ever receive. I’m so thrilled I was part of making sure your awesome painting continued and were shared with the world. You’re amazing! Never doubt it!
You are but a few months a head of me charlie. I started with urban sketchers in late August of 2016 and thanks to @Chopinbach joined you shortly thereafter. What a terrific ride! Your work is getting better all the time and it’s nice to see your choice to draw other then fattening desserts has finally taken hold! Thanx for featuring me way back when and for continuing to support, encourage and provide a place for all us crazy watercolor artists to call our own. Yours,….xxo
Thanks, Suzala! 😃💕 hehe… you KNOW you secretly love all my fattening desserts! lol And thank you so much for being along with me for this crazy ride. It’s WAY more fun with friends!
Happy birthday Charliewash!
Thanks so much, Rod! 😃💕
What a lucky day it was for us when you picked up watercolors. Congratulations on all you’ve accomplished in three short years.
That’s such a sweet thing to say! Thank you so much, Eliska! 😃💕
Discovered your blog for the first time today and love how you paint! I am very new to the drawing and watercolor scene. Always wanted to and never thought I could. I too also started just a few years ago and love the learning and seeing the progress! It brings me a lot of joy! Excited to dig deeper into your older posts and podcasts. Congratulations!
What a beautiful note to receive, Lisa! 😃💕 I’m so thrilled you found Doodlewash! There’s lots for folks who love watercolor. Hope you’ll join our community of artists and are enjoying #WorldWatercolorMonth!! And hope you enjoy the podcast as well, though it’s far more about life than art techniques, it’s definitely inspired by sketching and painting each and every day! Keep on joining me! It’s such a fun habit!
happy 3rd ! and #lovedoodlewash
Awww thanks so much! 😃💕 So thrilled you enjoy Doodlewash!
🙂
I love your celebratory bear and cupcake with candles! It’s amazing that in three short years you’ve mastered sketching and watercolor (as a beginner no less), established Word Watercolor Month and thousands of followers, Doodlewash Club, and more. Now it’s Podcasts! Now we learn you are a great speaker. It was a treat to hear your voice, and along with your humor and the content, I enjoyed that first Podcast very much. I look forward to your growth down this new avenue because I will be listening! P.S. Love how you nailed Corporate America and buzz words. So funny; so true!
Thanks so much!! 😃💕 Aww I’m thrilled you liked my voice… it doesn’t sound anything like it does in my own head, so it was surprise to me as well! lol And hehe… yeah, corporate buzz words probably deserve an entire podcast of their own! lol
Really love the cute teddies bear and the cupcake! And happy 3rd! The podcast was really interesting and really good, I hope you will make more!
Thanks so much, Mélissa! 😃💕Thrilled you enjoyed the podcast! Yes, I’ll be making more every couple weeks (at least that’s the plan!). So happy you’ll be listening!
the podcast is super… a really professional job!
I love that Teddy. He looks soft and cuddly and he has smiling eyes.
The red bow is ‘the icing on the cake’.
Happy third birthday. You have amassed an awesome collection of
paintings, stories and witty bon mots. You raise the banner high.
Thanks so much, Sarah! 😃💕I honestly have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to podcasting and audio mixing. It’s all totally new to me! Glad you enjoyed it! And thank you for your constant encouragement of my little adventures and writings. I really appreciate it!