Ghost Potion In A Bottle Watercolor Illustration
By Charlie

Ghost In A Bottle

Written by Charlie O'Shields

For our Doodlewash prompt of “Shadows,” combined with the Inktober prompt of “Dark,” I ended up with this quick doodle of a tiny ghost escaping from a bottle. In truth, I had just gotten a new brush pen and had made a quick doodle to test it out. Then I had to run errands that took longer than expected, and I didn’t have time to sketch anything else today. So after I got home, I simply splashed some watercolor on the practice sketch. There are shadows, and the darkness is implied as I’m assuming ghosts usually come out at night since that’s how they’re often portrayed. Although, if I had a little pocket ghost like this one for a friend that would be rather cool. Perhaps, it’s since I liked watching Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoons as a kid. He was a little ghost that didn’t want to scare people and instead just wanted to be friends with them. Of course, being a ghost, he still managed to scare people unintentionally. But, I loved the message of being true to oneself, despite the expectations that come from the rest of the world based on perceptions. All of my life, I’ve sort of forged my own path and not worried much about how others judge me, thanks in part, to a little friendly ghost.

If you’re curious, I was testing out a new Kuretake Sumi Brush Pen, which I instantly loved. The ink flow is wonderful and doesn’t switch to a dry brush effect for fast strokes. This was what I was experiencing with my previous brush pen, and since I work fast and furious, I needed one that could keep up with me. This was the original 5-minute sketch I made before running errands.

Ghost Potion In A Bottle Inktober 2019 Illustration
Beyond my errands, I also had to do laundry today and other household chores. Those things that remind me I actually am an adult after all. But, when I get to take even the smallest break to doodle and play with color, I always feel like a kid again. And today’s sketch is pure Little Charlie as I just let him make whatever came to mind. I do this, whenever I have very little time. If I turn the crayons over to him, then we can get something done very quickly without that silly adult brain slowing us down.

Today, Philippe and I went to lunch at our favorite Austrian restaurant and had a lovely time. We always split portions so we can enjoy the food without coming home feeling like we want to nap immediately. In doing so, we also got to share dessert which came in the form of a sort of pancake called Kaiserschmarrn and it was absolutely amazing! Yes, I had pancakes at lunch and Little Charlie was well and truly unleashed. In truth, as much as I talk about my inner child, summoning him isn’t always the easiest thing to DO! My adult brain most often steps in to criticize me and tell me that what I’m doing isn’t good enough. But, in the process of ridiculing me, it fails to answer the all important questions. Good enough for what? Good enough for who? Little me does things simply for the joy of DOing them. And best of all, everything made is a wonderful masterpiece! That fabulous feeling of making something and having it proudly displayed on mom’s refrigerator. So, today, I got to throw all caution to the wind and just have a ton of fun! Look mom, I made a ghost in a bottle!

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Gold Ochre, Quinacridone Red, Ultramarine (Green Shade), and Cobalt Turquoise. Kuretake Sumi Brush Pen with black 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!
 Ghost Potion In A Bottle Watercolor Illustration Sketchbook Detail

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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22 thoughts on “Ghost In A Bottle”

  2. Charlie, I love your little ghost in a bottle! Have fun with the brush pen. I bought a sample set of brush pens from JetPens a year or so ago and it was fun trying different ones.
    I spend part of the day researching website design options. I think I am going to make that leap for me emerging art business. I’m trying to gather all the facts but not letting it take over the DOing of creating my art. We shall see where this all leads.

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  4. Well isn’t he a creeeepy little guy, but not gory creepy! I love his little shadow, but is it a shadow or a fellow friend??? Only one person knows. 😉

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  5. I was a big Casper the Friendly Ghost fan too. One of my friends claims her house is haunted by her husband’s great grandfather’s ghost. I just have trouble not laughing at how ridicules that sounds. Or maybe I’m just not sensitive enough to feel the presence of ghosts. But tell me, since you live by a graveyard, have you seen any ghosts hanging around? I would think that if anyone was going to see them, it would be you. Or maybe your pup suddenly stops and stares at something that isn’t there? These proofs are more anecdotal than scientific, but it would be a start.

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    1. Thanks, Lisa! 😃💕 Yeah… we’ve seen some weird things in our time here next to the cemetery. I had a friend who insisted I was talking to her when she stayed in the downstairs bedroom, but it wasn’t me. And Phineas seems rather cued in on something much of the time. It was just he and I years ago and he would stare into the darkness as though something might pounce. Totally creeped me out! lol

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  10. Charlie says, “Look mom, I made a ghost in a bottle!”

    and the whole world smiled with pleasure and pride.
    That is a grand little ghost and he and the glass bottle are
    objects of delight. Bravo!.

    Reply

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