Written by Although I love the sunny days of summer, the one thing I hate is that it also marks the return of that tiny little bloodsucker called the mosquito. Thankfully, they’re not normally this large, as this has simply been magnified to these terrifying proportions for the purposes of this doodlewash. If you’re wondering why anyone would choose this as a painting subject, then you might be new to my side of Doodlewash. Hi, I’m Charlie, I’m your host, and I like to paint whatever weird thing pops into my head. There, now that we’ve been properly introduced, I highly encourage you to do the same at some point, because it’s super fun! Though after painting this one, I admit to slamming my sketchbook hard in hopes that I’d actually squashed it.
I’m still wanting to try some looser painting, some urban sketching, and some full landscapes during this fabulous celebration called World Watercolor Month. But, old habits die hard and those aspirations will have to wait for the weekends when I have more time to paint. So, today, you get a hastily crafted mosquito. Mosquitoes have bizarre abilities usually found only in science fiction stories. They can find their hosts by not only sight, but by detecting infra-red radiation emitted by warm bodies. This is simply disturbing and makes an already irritating pest, beyond creepy. And, as if this tiny titan of grossness couldn’t get worse, some species are attracted to smelly feet.
And that’s literally all the mosquito facts I could take before moving back to those funny cat videos. Although, I’m not sure what I expected to find about these little guys. Their usual role in the news is as some tiny harbinger of the next plague against humanity. So, no, there really isn’t much that’s not disgusting about these guys and their main positive effect on the ecosystem is as food for other animals, but that’s only assuming they’re plague-free. The real lesson here, if one can be found in this ridiculous, rambling post is that it’s incredibly fun to sketch and paint literally whatever comes to mind. I hope all of you fabulous folks out there celebrating World Watercolor Month are focusing on the joy that comes from playing and never taking yourself or your art too seriously.
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About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Quinacridone Gold, Pyrrol Red, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal.
LOL! Back to bugs! It’s so Charlie O! 🙂 Best mosquito EVAH!
Thanks, Jodi! 😃💕Hehe! Just couldn’t stay away from them. Which is also true of the actual mosquitos…eewwww…I don’t like them, but they’re fun to doodlewash! Lol
I got a bunch of mosquito bites this past fourth of july weekend from sitting around a bonfire – YUK! Feel like I haven’t had them in a long time, so quite annoying – LOL!
Great painting! My first reaction was to swat the computer screen, thankfully I stopped short of sending it off the desk…creepy, but brilliant painting…it looks well fed….ick. Your posts are always a treat and uplifting delight, thank you for sharing.
Haha! Thanks Haunani! 😃💕Yeah, this is super gross actually. But wanting to swat my art is a high compliment in this case so thank you!! Lol
Wait a minute I better get out the big bug zapper! I don’t want the welts this mosquito is going to leave. Lol 🙂
Haha! Yeah…better grab the zapper…this one needs to go! Though at least he doesn’t appear to be hungry! Lol 😉
Oh dear, you are having way too much fun with bugs. And the awful thing is that this nasty one will not even reward you for your excellent portrait by ignoring your flesh to bite, ungrateful pest that it is. You could at least have painted an ugly mustache on it.
Ooooo I villain mustache would have been amazing!! Haha!! Perhaps next time, Sharon! 😉
Fantastic! I don’t know about ‘hastily crafted’ as I see how much effort and intricate detailing you have put into ms. mozzie!!! it is A -mazing 🙂 and I so love your statement…… ” the Joy of Playing” yep!! awesome – cheers, Debi
Thanks Debi!! 😃💕I’ve just gotten really good at making squiggles appear to be something real! (Just don’t look too close! Hehe) So glad you liked it, and yes…to play!!!
I am getting my rolled up newspaper back out of the recycling bin, Charlie! Actually, this is a great, expertly detailed doodlewash, but hopefully tomorrow something more “lovely” pops into your mind! 😉
Thanks so much, Carol! 😃💕I have no idea why flowers and other loveliness doesn’t call to me. Hehe…but today’s is much prettier I think. I’ll let you be the judge!
EEEEUUUW! and How cool!
So gross isn’t it?! Haha!! No idea why I would choose to doodlewash this, but there ya go! Lol
Fantastic painting. It’s like a character design for a B Movie monster.
Ohhhh what a cool thing to say!! I love that!! Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕
wow…..looks so real that I could feel myself wanting to Swat! it looks very full and rich with juicy blood….and ready to pop!
Eewwwwww! I know, eight?! It’s thoroughly gross, but weirdly fun to doodlewash! Lol Thanks, Margaret! 😃💕
Eep! I hear that awful, high-pitched buzz! Fantastically horrible doodlewash, as I’d expect – I’ve never really studied one so closely before. At least we didn’t walk into any on our nature trail! One this size would have been pretty darn scary. 😛
Yeah, luckily there were no mosquitos on our nature hike. They’re so gross! lol I have no idea what possessed me… 😊Hehe I’m having way too much fun being random this month! Lol
I knew the insects would return! This one definitely needs to stay on the page, though…(K)
Agreed!! Mosquitos should only be allowed in sketchbooks and even then….only rarely! Lol
Your painting almost, I repeat, almost makes a mosquito beautiful. Love the commentary.
Awww thanks, Teri! 😃💕I have to agree with “almost” though as I still think this is creepy as hell. Lol
zzZzzz……zzZZzzZZzzzz,,,,Ouch!!!! LOL what a details Charlie you learned these bugs so well! Great doodlewash! <3 😉
Awww thanks Carolina! 😃💕I do now have a strange visual dictionary of bugs parts in my head. And that’s just so weird! Hehe
Ahaha lol 😉 <3 but they looks great!
I have a swollen, itchy bite on my ankle from this insect over the weekend! 😬 Did you discover why they make such an annoying buzzing sound in the middle of the night when you are trying to sleep?! 😴 Love that you paint insects, Charlie! This is just not a favorite! Lol! 😆
I hate mosquitos!! Haha! Which is precisely why I thought I should paint one. Felt like a fun challenge. That, and I should paint before having wine. 😊😉🎨🍷
Lol! 😉🍷
I can confidently foresee a future when mosquitos will be as big as what you’ve drawn – at night that horrible whine will sound like a helicopter… Cool drawing, btw!!!
Eeeeeek! That’s a terrifying future!! Lol They’re creepy enough when they’re tiny. Hehe
Oh gosh, I can’t look, they make me feel itchy, I need a swatter, yours is too big and lifelike, kill it!!
Lol! Mission accomplished! Thanks, Rebecca! 😃💕I could do a whole series like this… “Art You Want To Kill” haha
Sounds like a fun title , I bet it would be full of interesting stuff 😀
Oh a monster mosquito! Yikes! Mothra will surely have a grand time fighting with your monster. 😀 😀 😀
Haha! True!! Ooooo…Godzilla would be fun to paint!! Yeah…this one is weird. Mosquitos need to stay just tiny and irritating.
Mosquitos, hot humid midwest summer…smelly feet?!? Very cool Doodlewash and great shadow…nasty pest!
Thanks Cathe! 😃💕Yeah, this post when south really quick! (All the way down to smelly feet) I’ve done something more colorful and cherry today. Lol
This is an amazing painting, in spite of the subject matter. Really wonderful and I always love your shadows, Charlie, they’re almost as good as the whole picture itself!
This was mainly an excuse to practice shadows. So glad you liked them, Laura! 😃💕That and being generally silly and in full on play mode! Lol
Well I’m certainly not, Charlie! Taking myself seriously, I mean… I am enjoying the fun though!
I had a spider the size of your mosquito in the corner of my bedroom the other night – that was like something out of a horror movie, and I allowed it free reign. I could see it watching me. Your little lovely appears to have just fed…
Yikes!! I got chills thinking about that! Spiders are fine when they’re small, but the big ones freak me out!! And cheers to playing! It’s way more fun that way!! 😃