Flamingo Doodlewash
By Charlie

F Is For Flamingo

Written by Charlie O'Shields

The hands down most suggested bird was a Flamingo for today’s doodlewash and entry into Draw A Bird Day (hosted this month by Kerfe and Nina at Method Two Madness on behalf of Laura at Create Art Everyday). I decided to try this one fast and loose and limit the palette to just three main colors. I also had precious little time to paint today, so this was really my only option.

Flamingos have rather tiny eyes, so getting an expression was a bit tough. I prefer things with larger eyes, but it was fun to play with brighter colors. Had I more time, this one would be standing in water, but I purposely cropped that bit and just focused on the bird instead. Flamingo comes from the Spanish word flamenco, “with the colour of flame”, or colloquially just meaning “cocky” which I guess you can be when you are this incredibly colorful.

I started this little project thinking that I’d leave it open to anything, but I’m rather liking animals, birds and reptiles, so I think I’ll stick to this for the month. Though I suppose an insect or two isn’t out of the question. Perhaps it’s simplest to just say, I’m going to try to stick to living things for the month. So “G” is up next, and if you have a suggestion of a living thing to fit this letter, please let me know in the comments!

About the Doodlewash

M. Graham watercolors: Azo Orange, Opera Rose, Ultramarine Blue, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon sepia ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal

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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66 thoughts on “F Is For Flamingo”

  4. Fabulous Flamingo, Charlie! Love that Opera Rose color, don’t you?! It really makes your bird sing! hehe! 😉 Gosh, the only animal for G that comes to mind is Gorilla. And I’m thinking you have done one of these? ;-0

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  5. Very beautiful and colourful flamingo !
    I have a colony of flamingos nearby where I live but they’re way much paler (it has something to do with what they eat , it seems)
    How about a gecko for tomorrow ?
    Turtle Hugs 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks!!! That’s so cool to have flamingos nearby!! Yeah…I went for the super colorful ones. Didn’t know that about their diet. That’s interesting. And geckos are awesome! I almost sketched one of those previously and ended up doing a collared lizard because I’d stumbled across a few photos and they looked cool. 😊hehe

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      1. Yes! now I remember the collared lizard (my memory takes lots of holidays , you know 😉 ) . And I just suggested the gecko because I couldn’t remember any other by G
        Turtle Hugs 🙂 🙂

        Reply

  7. Great stuff Charlie, the colours are suitably scorching! That eye may be small but note the beady stare. It knows we’re jealous.

    G is for Goat. Gazelle. Grasshopper. Giraffe. Golden Retriever.

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      1. Ooh! I know which my fingers are crossed for, we’ll have to see if its the one you choose! 😉 I was sure you’d already done a giraffe a few months ago, but it appears I imagined that.

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  25. What a fun doodlewash! Really love the colors here. Kids are always fascinated by them. They wanted to feed them something other than shrimp so they would turn a different color.. Hehe.. My youngest loves blueberries and I always tell her she’s turning bluer each day.. 😊 I will check out your G entry later today!! Off to do more math planning! ❤️

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