Written by After spending a month inside, devouring delicious food at the world’s most incredible international dinner party, let’s all go outside and enjoy a little nature! You know, the birds and the bees, and the flowers and the trees and the… wait that’s just a song and now it’s stuck in my head and likely yours as well. You’re welcome. Join me as we embark on a global nature walk and share what you love by tagging your images with #NatureDoodlewash as you go! Show us the beauty of nature in your part of the planet and I’ll create a featured artist gallery at the end of our journey this month. Together, we can take a virtual nature hike around the entire world!
First up for me is a western honey bee stealing some pollen from a purple flower. We recently had honey bees take up residence at the corner of our roof so enjoying this type of nature was a rather short hike. Though they’ve be relocated now, they were still on my mind, so that’s what came out today. Hornets and yellow jacket wasps freak me out because they’re super aggressive and well, basically just assholes, but honey bees are less likely to be jerks and fun to watch as they work. Plus they have big eyes which is always more fun to doodlewash.
Apparently honey bees big eyes are actually a compound eye that allows them to see things with extreme detail and zoom in on fast-moving objects like a heat seeking missile. They also have three simple eyes elsewhere and apparently need all of them though it does seem excessive. Though they aren’t as easily provoked as other flying stingy things, it’s still better to not make any sharp movements around a group of them. But watching a single bee carefully working on a flower is mesmerizing and fascinating for me. I think I’ll sit here and watch for awhile. In the meantime, I hope all of you will share your #NatureDoodlewash and join me on this month’s adventure!
Join me throughout the month of June on a virtual nature hike! Show everyone what you love most in nature with a watercolor sketch or painting and tag your images #NatureDoodlewash so we can all enjoy it with you! I’ll create a featured artist gallery of our global hike at the end of the month!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Azo Orange, Gamboge, Permanent Green Pale, Quinacridone Gold, Cobalt Teal, Ultramarine Blue and Neutral Tint. Sennelier: Opera Rose. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
A nature hike… I think I can do that, Charlie, but expect some very rare species from me… 🙂
Hehe…excellent! Can’t wait to see what you’ll show us, Tom! 😉
Be afraid… be very afraid.
No way! I was hoping that it would be something really fun. 🙂 I am just a little excited….no I am ecstatic! I would like to join along with you. So, as I post something “naturely” do I simply tag you every post or whenever it is applicable? Am I getting this correct? By the way I love your bee and flower, gorgeous!
Awesome, Margaret! 😃💕Should be easy as it’s what you do so well! Add #NatureDoodlewash tag to anything naturely you make this month! It’s fun to follow the tag and see what everyone is making! 😃And thanks!! Glad ya liked my bee and flower!
So , I have my hiking boots on, ready to go…..just need this weather to clear up so I can get out. Working the next two days, so I will see how it goes…maybe I will start the bee I was planning in oils?
Awesome Rebecca! 😃💕I do want to see the bee in oils, but since this is a watercolor challenge, you’ll need to do a doodlewash version as well!! Hehe 😉
I will, probably do a deer, loads around here, and it’s something I keep planning and running out of time, I will try to set it as my weekend task….I have enough photos of them.
Awesome!! Yay! Can’t wait to see what you do!
I love this painting, and your theme for the month!
Awww thanks! 😃💕And yay! So I hope that means you’ll be joining at some point, Deborah! 😉
LOL! I won’t say never, but don’t hold your breath okay! 🙂
Okay…but if you do Draw A Bird day this month, you’d be automatically in! Just add this tag to the post! 😉hehe
Awesome! Thanks for that info! I feel like making excuses already, but there are 7 days left for that…and while I haven’t been motivated to paint one yet… I might at the last minute. 🙂
Awesome! Do it! Do it! Hehe
OMG – the bumble bee, the little ant, the beautiful flower – such a great doodlewash – and you were right – this is one I am already prepared to participate in! Heeeeeerrre we go! The birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees ………
Jodi….are you going to participate?
Hehe!! I thought you might be in for this one, Jodi! 😃💕yay! Super easy to play along! And now that song has been in your head all evening hasn’t it. Darn ear worm! Lol
Hooray, so excited to go on this new journey with everyone and to post some nature-related drawings! Love this little bee and the colors in this painting, lovely work!
Thanks so much Annie! 😃💕 I need more practice on flowers so this will be a good challenge for me. 😊 So thrilled you’re joining the adventure again! Yay!
Awesome macro look at that bee. I love sketching nature so I’ll be with you.
Thanks Teri! 😃💕And awesome!! Figured this would be a good adventure to join for you! Yay!
What a great idea! 🐛
Thanks Catherine! 😃💕Hope that means you’ll be coming along on the nature hike? 😉
For sure. I walk the dog at least once a day 🙂
Awesome!! 😃
Sounds awesome!!! 😀
Yay!! So you’re in, Sibella?! 😉😃
Yep! Working on a little piece as we speak! 😁
Excellent!! Yay!
👍👍👍
Love, love, love this sketch! Yay nature! I think I need to go on a diet after the last set. 😉
Awww thanks so much, Jessica! 😃💕 Bees I’m cool with, but I struggle with flowers so this will be a good challenge month for me. AND a good one for you to play along on! 😉hehe
Great idea Charlie, Nevada has beautiful Flora and Fauna for me to draw and share. I’ll look forward to the month long contributions. The detail of the bee and the flower is beautiful.
Thanks so much Sharon! Glad ya liked my bee and flower! 😃💕And yay! Thrilled to hike with you in Nevada!! Can’t wait to see what you’ll show us!
Nature is an awesome theme! <3 Love your bee and flower!
Thanks, Teresa!! 😃💕Hope you’ll play along at some point!
I’m not sure how much hiking I will do, but I will participate! Love the bee!!
Hehe…actual hiking isn’t required unless you’re an urban sketcher. Doodlewashers can do it however they like! 😉Yay! So glad you’ll participate, Kari! 💕
The flower is gorgeous and your honey bee magnificent! Love how you capture such detail and made those beautiful bee eyes just shine! Your post is so entertaining, now I make sure I have no liquids or food items near by due to periodic bursts of laughter…bees are just awesome.
Hehe…glad you enjoyed this post, Haunani! 😃💕And I hope you’ll join in on the adventure at some point this month!! 😉
YAY!! I could really use a hike to work off all that great food from last month, Charlie! 😄🌲👍 I look forward to participating more this month! 💕🎨 And I like your bee and purple flower! 💜
Thanks Jill! 😃💕And yay! I was hoping you’d say that! This should be an easier one to play along with since you’ve been making so many beautiful flowers!! 😉🎨
Thanks Charlie! 😍💕🌺
Great idea, Charlie! I’ll definitely be joining in❤️
Thanks! 😃💕Yay!! So excited to hear that! Can’t wait to see what you’ll show us!
Awww I just came back home from a hike!!! LOL that’s too cool Charlie! I love this adventure thanks you got a great idea for this June adventure! 😉 yay! btw your flower with bee is so beautiful! <3
Thanks so much Carolina! 😃💕And yay! perfect timing! Can’t wait to see what you’ll show us!
I just love your bee and flower doodle, Charlie! And, you’ve chosen the right season for this challenge! Looking forward to your ‘take’ on Nature. 😀
Thanks so much Janina! 😃💕 Will be interesting… I need more flower practice so this should be good! hehe
Well, there are plenty of images on Bing/Google Images for inspiration! 🙂
Yay how exciting! Sounds like an awesome month ahead of us 😀
Great painting, Charlie, very well done!!
Thanks so much Sissh! 😃💕And can’t wait to see what you’ll tag this month! Hehe Yay!
Wow, so much detail! So nice and colourful! 🌸🐝
Thanks so much, Ann! 😃💕 Hope you’ll joining in the adventure at some point this month! 😉
That´s a wonderful idea Charlie, I will! 🌞👍
Oh, yes, this is going to be fun! So many inspiring things to see on our little nature walk. Thanks, Charlie, for a great theme this month.
Awesome Judith! Can’t wait to see what you’ll show us! 😃
Great opportunity to get out and visit the park. I’ve been planning to do that. 🙂
Awesome! It’s the perfect month for it!
Now I do have that song in my head…love your bee, and I’m sure some nature will show up…well in fact it did this morning! (K)
Thanks so much Kerfe! 😃💕And I was pretty sure you’d be in for this one! Yay!
What a beautiful flower and bee Charlie! Hiking adventures sound so ideal! Love this theme, hits my list of favorite things! Count me in!
Thanks so much Cathe! 😃💕And yay! So glad you’re in! Though it’s pretty much just tagging every lovely thing you already about to make! Hehe Perfect!! 😉
Great idea! Do you tag your post in wordpress?
Yep! Just add #NatureDoodlewash to your tags for any post you want to include! And yay, Beverly! Thrilled you’re joining in! 😃
Bee-autiful! I love bees so much, especially the big fat bumblebees, and their declining numbers makes me sad. It’s so much fun and indeed totally captivating to watch them work their way around the garden. I’d like to keep some actually… now I’m just imagining some mischievous bees circling a poor seal’s head just to torment him. Aww 😛
Perfect after-dinner theme! I like how these are becoming sequential 😉 Let’s walk off those calories!
STAY AWAY FROM THE SEAL YOU BEES!! Awww… that’s just horrible… the seal would totally freak out. And ha! I didn’t even think of it as walking off the calories, but that’s just perfect! Thanks Jacob! 😃
Absolutely love this doodlewash, Charlie. The detail on the bee is wonderful, just perfect, and I like the upside down ant, creating a yin/yang composition.
Yeah, we all need a walk now that we’ve all overeaten desserts last month. You know, in the name of Art.
Awww thanks, Sharon!😃💕 I’m so happy you liked this one! I’m challenging myself as flowers are not really my thing. Happy you liked it! And yep… time to walk off that food but anything in the name of Art is fine!
Lovely bee and flower. And a great theme again. I hope to join in for some days!
Thanks so much! And awesome! Holding you to that, Kathrin! Hehe… I want to see what you’ll make!! 😍
That bee is just full of bee-ness Charlie, fab 😊
Hehe… That’s an awesome compliment! Thanks so much Phil! 😃
Wonderful idea and painting, my friend! <3 I guess nature includes flowers too? And birdies? Woot, easy to join in with ya this month! Have fun, Bro!
Thanks Laura!! 😃💕Now this HAS to be one you’ll participate in right? Birds count! 😉hehe
Yes! And I love sketching flowers in WC too! I’m only into living things, Charlie, can’t seem to help it. Things just don’t do it for me, don’t even like drawing them. Will be fun exploring nature! 😍🌻🐳
Awesome! Nothing wrong with that! This is your month to play then! 😃
Yes, and I may even throw in some nature abstracts! 😎🌅⛵️🐿
Ooooo yes please!! Bring it on!! Let’s dance!! 🎉💜💜Hehe
Red shoes and the blues, Charlie? 😜
Lol…sounds perfect!
Love this drawing! I dont own hiking boots. And the world au naturale is more like the Gowanas canal. But i will give this my best.
Excellent! Hope you’ll be joining in!! yay! Hiking boots and actually hiking are optional, of course! 😉
This is gorgeous Charlie! Nature sounds good. I’ll bear that in mind this month then.
Thanks, Alex! 😃💕Excellent!! Yay! See you on the trails! 😉
I plan to send you something very Aussie. Great idea!
Awesome! Thanks! 😃
Is there a limit of one?
No limit! Just tag anything you post on Instagram that’s a nature watercolor this month with #NatureDoodlewash as there’s a lovely gallery forming there! And then I’ll select examples and feature everyone who participated at the end of the month! 😉