Snowman Wearing Scarf And Hat Watercolor Illustration
By Charlie

Happy Holidays!

Written by Charlie O'Shields

For our prompt of “Snowman” today, I made a quick sketch of one wearing a hat and scarf. I wanted to pop in and wish everyone Happy Holidays! I hope you’re enjoying the sparkling lights and cheer of the season. That’s why I adore this time of year the most. There’s a ripple of love and happiness that can be felt from miles away. Though, sure, I still have gifts waiting to be wrapped and things to do before Christmas arrives. For me, it’s still just gift concealment as true wrapping looks much prettier in its final form. My style is much like how I paint. Fast and joyous without fretting too much over the little details. I can’t wait for Philippe to see what I got him this year. Not because the gifts are grand, but because they’re fun and will definitely make him smile. I love seeing other people smile. It’s a reflection of how I feel throughout this season and a smile always shines brighter than any twinkling light ever could. So, I’m sending a huge smile to you and yours and wishing you a delightful holiday season!

Philippe and I are already working on the second puzzle of the season and listening to Christmas albums on the little suitcase record player he gave me last year. Brenda Lee is inviting us to join in for some “rockin’ around the Christmas tree” and we’re having some coffee to keep us warm. Philippe always sings along with every song that plays. When he sang this particular one upon arriving from Paris, he misunderstood Brenda’s elf-like voice and thought she was saying “f***ing pie” instead of “pumpkin pie.” He would happily sing along, and I didn’t have the heart to correct him at first. In truth, it just really made me giggle every time so I kept playing it on repeat. Now, it’s actually hard to hear the original lyric. We just went for a long and very cold walk with our pup Elliott who doesn’t seem to mind that’s it’s colder outside than our refrigerator freezer. Elliott is now resting before the next burst of energy and sleeping in a little ball on the couch.

I’ve got to get back to the puzzle now, but it was nice to take a little break to collect my thoughts. They’re pretty much the same thoughts that I feel each time I experience this season. It’s a mixture of unparalleled hope combined with giddy happiness. And there’s only a few days left in our countdown to Christmas, so I’m cherishing each moment before it all ends. I always try to hold this feeling in my heart so that I can recall it throughout the year, but it’s never quite the same. There’s something so magical about all of the lights and the quiet calm that we experience. Also, they’re predicting snow for the end of the week, so we just might have a white Christmas this year. Brenda Lee is currently singing the last song on side two of the record, so it’s time to switch to Elvis now (Philippe’s Elvis impersonation is getting rather good). Much love to you, my friend! I hope your days ahead are merry and bright, full of hope and love, making this year, the happiest of holidays!

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Sketching Stuff Coloring Set – Da Vinci Watercolors: Charlie O’Blue, Gold Ochre, Quinacridone Red, Leaf Green, Terra Cotta, and Ultramarine (Green Shade). ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Pen with black ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note and I’ll add it to my shop!
 Snowman Wearing Scarf And Hat 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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45 thoughts on “Happy Holidays!”

  3. Charlie, thanks for a walk down Memory Lane today.

    I was in the same Springfield MO high school class as Brenda Lee’s sister, Linda Tarpley. Brenda Lee was a year younger.

    I clearly remember when Brenda’s career started off on Ozark Jubilee, a country western music show which was produced on Springfield MO’s own television station. Brenda’s mother was a “stage mom,” personally managing & directing the path.

    Wanting to cross-check my memories, I found this, & more, on Wikipedia: “On March 31, 1955, the 10-year-old made her network debut on Ozark Jubilee in Springfield, Missouri. Although her five-year contract with the show was broken by a 1957 lawsuit brought by her mother and her manager, she nevertheless made regular appearances on the program throughout its run.

    Less than two months later, on July 30, 1956, Decca Records offered her a contract, and her first record was “Jambalaya”, backed with “Bigelow 6-200”. Lee’s second single featured two novelty Christmas tunes: “I’m Gonna Lasso Santa Claus”, and “Christy Christmas”. Though she turned 12 on December 11, 1956, both of the first two Decca singles credit her as “Little Brenda Lee (9 Years Old).”[citation needed]

    Neither of the 1956 releases charted, but her first issue in 1957, “One Step at a Time”, written by Hugh Ashley, became a hit in both the pop and country fields. Her next hit, “Dynamite”, coming out of a 4-foot 9-inch frame, led to her lifelong nickname, Little Miss Dynamite.[1]

    Lee first attracted attention performing in country music venues and shows; however, her label and management felt it best to market her exclusively as a pop artist, the result being that none of her best-known recordings from the 1960s were released to country radio, and despite her country sound, with top Nashville session people, she did not have another country hit until 1969 with ‘Johnny One Time’.”

    Other performers moved on from Ozark Jubilee to Grand Ole Opry & beyond, only to return to the beautiful Ozark Mountains when ‘life on the road’ drew less than glamorous. Hence, the birth of Branson!

    I was born in Kansas City MO, my family moved to Springfield MO when I was 2, & I grew up knowing Branson as a tiny-tiny blip on a very curvy 2-lane road.

    Ah, look what all those cowboy singers created when they retired in the beautiful area they deeply remembered loving ‘in the beginning’ — coupled with openly admitting they still wanted to hear the applause!

    Branson was born & has grown up to continue to share their legacy with the world.

    Reply

    1. Hola, Sandra! Feliz Navidad to you and your family! 🎄⛄🎄⛄🎄 Life has been interesting, but I hope you are well. That cold is headed Texas way. It’s even going to reach us here in San Antonio! I don’t know how I feel about that either. Of course, in true Texas way, two days later, we will be in the low 70’s! 😂😂😂 I hope you are well! Sending you hugs, my friend.

      Reply

  5. Have a totally beautiful Christmas, Charlie!!! I will be giggling about Philippe’s misunderstanding of the word Pumpkin until I fall asleep tonight. I will never hear that song the same way🤣.
    Today I worked at the co-op gallery I’m in and the 12 mile drive took an hour and 20 minutes, so to pass the time, I turned the radio on high and sang along with the Christmas music. I’m pretty sure I misinterpreted more than one word. It’s all part of the joy of the Christmas season 😘🤗

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, we can’t un-hear that bit now when we listen to the song. Yay for singing along with Christmas music… hehe… that’s definitely a bonus when stuck in traffic this time of year! Have a very Merry Christmas!!

      Reply

  7. I completely agree with Mary – lol! I will never hear that song the same way again either. (**more giggles**). I feel exactly the same way at Christmas and even the derailing that I have received yesterday, today and tomorrow can’t ruin Christmas for me. 😉 Here it is really cold right now. Expecting to hit -38C tonight. We had to be out all afternoon but so happy that I don’t have to go out tomorrow. I hope that you can all stay cozy and I wish you so much happiness over the holidays. Hugs!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Zoie! 😃💕 Hugs to you as well! And hehe… glad you liked the bit about the song. It makes us giggle every year! And here’s to a beautiful Christmas no matter what life and the weather send our way. We’re going to cozy up for the next couple of days and enjoy!

      Reply

          1. It’s funny Charlie, the word that just popped into my mind at the beginning of December for this year was Transformation and it certainly is already coming true. Late evening on January 1st my husband and I decided we were going to reno (as if we had not done enough already). Too funny!! The answer for a problem we had been facing just jumped into his head – but, here’s the thing. One side effect of all of this means that I will have a dedicated art space in our living room area – pretty exciting (but I already just want to take over the whole room 😉 – who needs company – lol)

  10. Great snowman, Charlie. I have very mixed emotions. This will be the first Christmas that I don’t spend with my lovely Kath since 1975. That makes me so sad. On the other hand I still have my daughters and grand children around me. We are having our annual Christmas get together on the 27th. Kath will be with us in spirit. I hope you both have a lovely Christmas.

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  11. Charlie, my sweet friend! I love your Snowman! ⛄⛄⛄ He’s so beautiful! Your Christmas sounds so lovely! I love all of the Christmas traditions that you guys have. Feliz Navidad to you and Philippe and Elliott! 🎄⛄🎄⛄🎄
    Christmas didn’t turn out the way that I would have liked……again, but it doesn’t mean that next year can’t be different or that my dreams won’t come to pass this coming new year, right? And so I hope in the Lord. Who knows where the new year will take me? Maybe a swing through Kansas City, MO? Would you meet me for dinner? 😂😂😂
    Merry Christmas, my friend. I’m thankful to God for you. Te quiero mucho, mi amigo. 💜💜💜

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, mi amiga! 😃💕 It’s been a beautiful Christmas break so far… I’ll be sorry to see it end. I hope you’ll find the joy in the season, even if it doesn’t quite match your expectations. And definitely shoot me a note if you’re heading through KC! A very Merry Christmas to you and much love! ❤️

      Reply

  14. The snowman is cool, in more ways that one I guess! As a fan of that Brenda Lee classic and playing it as I type, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to NOT hear that now. That’s hilarious!! I actually listened to a metal version of it just this afternoon, which was amusing to begin with and I guess it would have worked there, but it’s way funnier to imagine Brenda singing it.

    Merry Christmas to the Doodlewash crew!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Jacob! 😃💕 hehe You totally have to listen to Brenda’s version with that new lyric in mind. lol We basically can’t hear the original word anymore and it never gets old. A very Merry Christmas to you, my friend! And much love!! ❤️

      Reply

  15. A very Merry Christmas and the Happiest New Year to you Charlie and Philippe and pup Elliott! I ❤️ the lights too! I hope your holiday is blessed beyond measure and so fun singing! I put Elvis on my phone ringer singing ‘Silent Night!’ Trying to paint my way through the holidays

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