Cuckoo Clock Bird Funny Watercolor Illustration
By Charlie

Just A Little Cuckoo

Written by Charlie O'Shields

For our prompt of “Cuckoo” today, I felt like having a bit of fun so I sketched a little cuckoo bird careening out of a cuckoo clock. Indeed, this is the image in my mind each time the alarm goes off most mornings as I leave my happy dreams and blast back into another new day. I’m not really a morning person, at least until that first cup of coffee, so I’m often just wishing I could stay snuggled up in bed for a few more minutes, or hours, depending on the weather. Yet then, I do get really excited to find out what might happen that day in my sketchbook. These days, anything goes! I’m currently using my sketchbook to capture all sorts of zany ideas and doodles, and then once a week, I always make my usual little watercolor illustration to post here. It’s been fun to play more and dream bigger! And, though I often talk about my Inner Child, I feel like my connection with that little kid is growing stronger each and every day! So, I’m excited to share all of the novel things we’ve come up with together in the coming weeks!

Since spring is nearly here, I’m starting to get completely consumed with spring fever. For me, this always means becoming even more like a big kid and so I start working on all sorts of new projects at once. This has happened once again, but thankfully, I’ve managed to actually complete a few of them in the process. I’ll be announcing a brand new book when I return as a one of the presenters at the Free Online Sketchbook Revival workshop this year. It all starts on March 21, so sign up now and join me! This new book is focused on creativity and using your sketchbook to reconnect with your inner child and create more inventive ideas. I’m thrilled as this approach is for all types of makers and includes sketchbook activities that work for writers, artists, and anyone who loves to make new stuff, in any medium they choose! So, if you’re ready to take a wee little break from practicing all of those careful techniques and want to join me instead for a bit of recess, then come on over and play!

I’m continually amazed by the patience of my dear husband Philippe as I constantly zig and zag my way through my creative journey. His support means everything to me, even though I know that bouncing into uncharted territory as I’m prone to do, is never the safest approach. But, it’s just who I am. I’ve always thought that “Sketching Stuff” was simply a way to live a more creative life by capturing those little ideas that we often overlook. It’s about writing stories, doodling, and looking at the world with the hopeful eyes of child. Rather than define ourselves by what we do, I think it’s better to define ourselves by who we naturally are and have always been. We are all creative. How that innate superpower manifests is unique to each of us and ultimately becomes what some like to call art. I simply call it, “look what I made today!” as Philippe breathes a sigh of relief that it’s captured in my sketchbook and he doesn’t have to start plastering things on the kitchen fridge. Yet, creating with the wonder and curiosity of a child makes the most thrillingly unexpected things happen, proving time and again that it’s totally okay to be just a little cuckoo!

Wanna Sketch Stuff With Me? Check Out My New Interactive Picture Book Series!

About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.:  Hansa Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Red, Vermilion, Terra Cotta, Leaf Green, Cobalt Turquoise, Ultramarine (Green Shade), and Indigo. 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 with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop!
 Cuckoo Clock Bird Funny 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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20 thoughts on “Just A Little Cuckoo”

  1. I wrote this note earlier today to Steve Mitchell, and it fits here too. Forty plus years ago when I started college as an art major, I learned how to draw. Then when I found I wasn’t good enough to be an artist, I gave up drawing. Now I have to learn again. Loving the line is a good mantra to repeat as I fill sketch books to find my 18 year old artist.

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    2. Well said, Lisa! I stopped drawing after art school and took a “real job” in design that lead to never drawing again for years. It’s been a gift to slowly get that part of my life back. And full sketchbooks are the coolest thing in the world!! 😃💕

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  6. Hola, Charlie! You’re not cuckoo. You’re happy and positive and excited about life. We should all be like you. 💜 Your cuckoo bird is so pretty. I wonder who thought it a good idea to have a bird come out of a clock to announce the hour? I have to say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE grandfather clocks. 😀 So excited for your new book and your class! I need to sign up.
    I hope you guys have warmed up already. Winter has been WEIRD! Hot, cold, hot, cold. We were in the mid-80’s one day and the next day we were 42*F. I’m ready for Spring so I can complain about the heat and humidity. haha haha 😂😂😂 Warm hugs, mi amigo.

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    1. Thanks, Marisela! 😃💕 hehe… yay for being happy and excited about life. And I LOVE grandfather clocks as well. Philippe and I were looking at one to buy, but not only was it a too-expensive antique… we really don’t have a place for one.
      As for winter… it came back for a last little show. It’s currently been snowing all day long here, but is scheduled to all melt again on Sunday when the temperature jumps from 26 -60! Sounds like how you’d describe a car speed, but nope… it’s just the current weather. Warm hugs!!

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    1. Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕 And yay! Glad you’ll be there, too! It’s my 3rd time and so far it’s the only place I’ve done anything resembling a demo. This one will be a bit more playful though. 😉

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  8. Hello Charlie,

    I love the Doodlewash but I love the expression on the bird’s face even more. It’s a totally ‘cuckoo’ expression! Like it’s saying ‘Im crying myself hoarse announcing the hour – somebody tell me you heard me!’ And am sorry if this sounds stupid but I don’t know what a sketchbook revival is all about, so am gonna sign up to find out. 🙂 🙂
    Feeling excited!
    Love,
    Mugdha

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 hehe… glad you liked my cuckoo. I was trying to get just that feeling across so yay! And great for Sketchbook Revival! It’s an online workshop where you get emailed videos from over 27 instructors over the course of a little over a week. And one of them is mine! Though I never remember what I said as it’s more live rambling, but since you read what I write, it should feel much the same! lol It will be fun!! Glad you’re doing it!
      Much love! 💕

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