Written by For our prompt of “Lotus Flower” today, I sketched a single blossom being admired by a little frog. The lotus blossom is a symbol of enlightenment and hope. It rises out of the murkiest of waters and still manages to bloom. It’s my sincere hope that this troubled world will one day rise up and bloom with a spirit of community and equality. Nature always reminds me that we’re all connected as one. We are all equal. And, we are far stronger when we come together and share our art and our voice. Sketching always brings me to a place of zen that provides a moment of quiet meditation. I let my own internal thoughts guide me to create something. And, I’m always led to creating images of happiness and hope. I have to believe that this is what the world is meant to be like. One born out of peace and harmony. At least, in my own childlike way, I know that this better world is the one that we all deserve.
Though I know there are lots of people who like to plan what they create, I tend to just grab for whatever inspires me in the moment. In truth, I think I’ve done that since I was a child. I’ve never liked to fuss over lots of planning and organization. I’d be hit with a burst of creativity and then jump in head first and start making something. I’ve always thought this was a terrible approach really, and one that just wasn’t thoughtful enough. Then I saw an interview with a writer who was talking about how she just jumped in and began writing her stories, letting the characters guide her. Indeed, she’d call out to her husband and remark on something funny that one of her characters just said. Sure, she wrote the dialogue, but she didn’t plan to write it. It surprised her in the very moment that it appeared. I think that’s my favorite part of creating something. When the very act of DOing it reveals the direction the idea should travel next.
I love an organic process where things grow as they should and I get to be just as surprised along the way as to how everything turns out. And better yet, I’m never disappointed because I simply forgot to set any real expectations. I certainly hope that whatever I create turns out to be something rather lovely, but that’s certainly never the goal. I just want to make new things. Things I’ve never quite seen before I made them. I want to go to that special place I’ve found where I get to live inside my own world and shut that other world out for just a moment. Then return with renewed thinking as to how I might do my part to help during these troubled times. My world is one filled with light and hope and love for the unparalleled beauty found in nature. When I’m sketching stuff, I put all of my hopes and dreams into what I’m making. I’m mesmerized, as I once again enjoy that enlightening feeling of finding hope in this moment.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Hansa Yellow Medium, Opus (Vivid Pink), Leaf Green, Cobalt Turquoise, Benzimida Orange, Terra Cotta and Ultramarine (Green Shade). Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain 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! |
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Beautiful Lotus, Charlie! I wish the entire world could understand spirit of community and equality…what a happy day that would be. Iwas thinking about the planning method vs the “wing it” method the other day. My conclusion, since i’m something of a “winger”, is that if i stopped to plan each sketchbook or painting or doodle I would never get beyond the planning. It’s not that I don’t put any thought into the process it’s just that planning it all out ahead of time takes the fun out of it for me!
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 I totally agree! I’m a winger too! hehe… and I agree that planning usually takes all the fun out of it as well!
That froggie is so cute and plump I just want to squeeze him . . . a reflection of your ability to make things look cute and plump in 2 dimensions, not my desire for frog legs for dinner.
Thanks so much, Judy! 😃💕 Thrilled you enjoyed this one!
I’m with you. I want to be as surprised as the viewer. To me, it seems too much like work to plan, study and produce. Much more fun to just hop in and see what happens. I can see, however, how that might not be the most successful for producing professional art where commission – either in painting or writing – were required. Just one of the reasons, I’ve never tried to live off my art.
Yeah, that’s likely true. Most arts mention that commissions aren’t nearly as much fun as their own art. I can totally see that, and equally why I like keeping it a hobby! 😉
I’m kind of a planner. But when I was writing poetry, I didn’t plan at all. Many months I was involved in 30/30 with daily prompts. I wrote a whole book based on one character using daily prompts so I didn’t know what was going to happen. It worked great.
That’s awesome, Lisa! 😃💕 Yeah, I’ve always had the best outcomes without a lot of planning. Indeed, sometimes I wouldn’t have had an outcome at all if I’d tried to plan it!
This is beautiful Charlie! I also let what strikes my fancy to become my daily DOodle. It has become a part of my day. Today I got to leave home twice which was a treat. When did we get to the point that a routine doctor’s appointment was a chance to see people and a bit of an adventure? Sad. My husband treated me to a ride out of town (our first since the first week in March). We went to a restaurant a few towns from here and had lunch at a picnic table socially distanced from the other tables outside. The lobster roll and watermelon slice never tasted so good as we listened to the birds. I didn’t even care that it was in the 60’s. Good day.
Thanks so much, Karen! 😃💕 Oh my goodness, I agree on the outings. I’m just now getting back into the world a bit and have a dentist appointment next week! I’m ready for the adventure and seeing people again. Oh my goodness… I would kill for a lobster roll right now… YUM!
What a beautiful picture! ❤️
Thanks so much, Kellie! 😃💕
Brilliant doodle Charlie. I have say, the first thing I do is go to Pinterest for ideas to doodle.
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕 Yeah, I just sort of jump in and look for ideas too! Then I lurch forward right away! hehe
Wow Fantastic,really vibrant colours😀
Thanks so much, Stephen! 😃💕
Beautiful lotus, Charlie 🥰
Thanks so much, Loan! 😃💕
This is beautiful, Charlie!
Thanks so much, Brenda! 😃💕
Beautiful! Just beautiful. Reminds me of the lilypads we used to see at my Grandparents cabin. Always on the lookout for the frogs.
Thanks so much, Lori! 😃💕 That’s awesome there were lily pads at your Granparent’s cabin… I’d be looking for frogs all of the time!
Beautiful lotus and frog!
Thanks so much, Fatima! 😃💕
What beautiful thoughts and beautiful painting!
Thanks so much, Priscilla! 😃💕
Yes nature is always at it’s best. I love nature too Charlie and this Lotus looks pretty with the little frog too.😊
Thanks so much, Jerson! 😃💕 Happy you liked this one!
Nice painting, I really like how you used magenta, brown and green. In fact, it almost looks like the brown of the frog is mixed from the magenta and green. Not sure what it is, but something about the colour palette just works. lol. That frog is really admiring that flower and I really like how you captured his eyes. Also, really good job on the toes. Something tells me I would have messed up on that part.
Thanks so much, Shawn! 😃💕 So thrilled you enjoyed the colors. I thought they were almost too vivid with my layers, but hoped they came together in the end!