Although I nearly did a doodlewash of Lovebirds in honor of Valentine’s Day, I decided instead on a lion. It occurred to me that not everyone who wants to be is actually in a relationship, so this day can often be a unwelcome reminder of what’s missing. I figured the king of the jungle was something everyone can appreciate regardless of their current romantic situation. For those of you still longing for Valentine’s Day imagery, I invite you to simply focus on the pink nose as it does rather resemble a heart.
This is a rather young lion with a lighter mane. The darker the mane, the older the lion, which is sadly, exactly the opposite in humans. African lions are the most social of all the big cats and live in prides. Though the females do most of the hunting, the male still gets to eat first, which is hardly shocking but still terribly unfair. The heaviest lion on record weighed in at an incredible 825 pounds (375 kg) which still pales in comparison to the heaviest human who squashed the scales at a grotesquely bloated 1400 pounds (635 kg).
A lion’s mating ritual is rather grueling and takes place over 5 days during which they mate every 15 minutes. This basically means that if the lion has the stamina to last the entire time, they can mate over 250 times in less than a week. An exhausting thought, I’m sure, to human couples who are feeling lucky to simply have their ritual Valentine’s Day mating. Odd mating habits aside, the lion has always been a symbol of strength and courage, so however you spend this Valentine’s Day, I hope you’re doing what you love most, and most of all, doing it with the heart of lion.
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Quinacridone Gold, Azo Orange, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, Pyrrol Red, Neutral Tint and Titanium White Gouache. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink and second Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon sepia ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in By Charlie
Beautiful
Thanks so much! 😃
LOVE. Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
Thanks Eric! Happy Valentine’s Day to you as well! ❤️
Instead of letting my imagination run amuck I will just say, what a beautiful facial expression. Particularly that nose. 🙂 ;0
Lol… Thanks Susan!! Glad you liked this one! 😉💕
*snort*!! You need to mention that this was a PG-13 posting. Hahaha! I love your lion so much! <3 It makes me want to break into song…"Born freeeeee! As free as the wind blows…" 😀
Haha…was is PG-13? I never did understand those ratings. Lol Thanks Teresa! 💕😃Glad you liked him! Hehe
Thank you for the lion.
You’re quite welcome! Thank you, Marcus!! 😃
Well, now I understand why they are “king of the beasts.” 😉 Great Doodlewash wash, though. Love his expression.
Haha! Learning something new every day on this adventure! 😊Thanks Nancy!! 💕😃
I have never thought about the color of the mane being a sign of age. That’s fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! I’m learning as I go on this one. It’s fun! Hehe…glad you’re enjoying it too! 😃
That’s a lovely idea and fabulous painting, Charlie!
Thanks so much Catherine! Glad you enjoyed this! Hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day! 💕😃
Very precious, Charlie! You know how to entice us to go from the wonderful painting until the last word of your great text. And you have empathy, and passion, in between. Thanks so much! Hope you are having a great evening! 🙂
I’m blushing Fabio!! What a wonderful thing to say! I’m so happy you like the words and images so make. It means a lot to me! 😊😃
Your doodlewash of the lion is beautiful (and it’s not only the nose that is cute , his eyes have a very sweet expression ), but it was your words that I loved more than anything 🙂
Turtle Hugs
Awww thanks!! I’m so happy you liked the words! Sometimes I’m not sure what to write so I’m super happy you liked this!! 😊😃Hugs!
We love your doodles 🙂 for themselves and it’s great that you started inserting the coulours you used , for the benefit of other doodlers <3
You really don't need to write anything to go with them – they are IT – I think any words that you have the time/and or inspiration to add are a Bonus – the stories , the humour , the trivia are the cherry on a perfectly scrumptious cake 🙂 🙂
Turtle Hugs
Glad you liked that addition…then realized I hadn’t added it to this post! Hehe….whoops! It’s there now! I had big dreams to do a demo video, but I just don’t have time to do anything but my little daily painting. 😊
Beautiful and Majestic! Happy Vamentine’s Day!
Thanks Damita!! Hope your Valentine’s Day was fantastic!! 💕😃
Wonderful soulfulness in his lovely gaze and eyes, Charlie. Really nice job with this. Again, terrific underdrawing makes the painting shine even more. Thanks for sharing! 😀 Happy Valentine’s Day!
Thanks so much Laura!! ❤️😃I’m glad you liked him. I’m realized just how much I’m real a sketcher at heart lately. Hehe… Nearly brining the drawing to a finish so it’s been a bit like a coloring book lately. 😊Which is super fun too!! lol
Thanks for the roar (lion speak for laugh)! 😜 Amazing details in your doodlewash Charlie! ❤️ I vote for a monkey for M! 🐵😃👍
Haha! You’re quite welcome, Jill! Thanks! 💕😃And I didn’t know you also spoke lion. Your skills know no limits my friend! 👍🏻🦁hehe… Love it!!
I think you like doing fur! You do it well! How about a Marmot or Millipede for M
Hehe…thanks Carmel! 💕😃 Fur totally freaked me out at first, but now it’s become sort of just a fun problem to solve. And thanks for the M suggestions!!
Eeek! You’re spoiling us, Charles – your lion has all the majesty and commands all the awe and respect that a real one would (and should!) I’m digging his hairstyle, too… oh they’re so wonderful. I can’t stop thinking of the Lion King now; I need to see that film again. (yes, *again*! There’s a shocker!)
You didn’t ask as you were too busy talking about mating, but I presume you’re still open to suggestions for the next one. 😉 M is for Mongoose. Millipede. Magpie. Muntjac. Mockingbird.
Awww thanks Jacob!! Glad you like the hair. A lions mane always reminds me of Fabio Lanzoni (who reminds me of a lion). And I was thinking of the The Lion King when I was doodlewashing this one! Hehe… It’s a great movie… And one that I would be horribly depressed to discover you hadn’t seen! Lol And yeah, I totally forgot to ask for suggestions! So thanks!! 😃
Hahaha, wow, now I’ve looked up this chap of which you speak, I can see the similarity! The Lion King is beautiful. I’ve also seen the West End play which was great, but the film is the magic for me. I must make my niece watch it sometime, and try not to cry. I think I did the last time I saw it! 😛
I’ve actually never seen the stage version! Yeah…it’s not a good Disney film unless you cry a little! (Also kill off a parent of the central character…that’s usually a go-to option as well)
We went as part of a school trip (we also went to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and We Will Rock You). It was really impressive! And ha, you’re so right! I was most nervous going into watching Frozen with my niece, with all that I’d been told about it; I felt quite proud of myself when I got through the whole thing without a blub.
Yeah…Frozen wasn’t too sad. More about those darn catchy tunes! Hehe
And how! Once in your head you just can’t let it go, let it go… 😉
Love the way his head seems to be saying, ‘awww’. You are gathering a wonderful collection of animals. HVD💓
Awww thanks! Hehe! Appreciate it Teri! 💕😃Yes…I’m rather liking the little gallery that forming on this one! 😊
Your Lion looks so cuddly, Charlie. Beautifully rendered! And interesting Lion tidbits. My vote for M is monkey!
Thanks Sharon!! 💕😃Glad you liked this post. Didn’t realize I’d end on mating, but I never know what I’m going to do next. 😊lol And yay! I love monkeys!
We can always count on you for all the facts, lol!
Great article Charlie. A very soulful lion and love how you get those textures so seemingly easily.
Thanks Arvind!! The textures are getting easier each time I practice them. They were super hard at first and frustrated me, but now I find them fun! Hehe
Ok, cuter than lovebirds any day.
Monkey is good. Year of the Monkey and all. (K)
Thanks Kerfe! 💕😃Hehe…glad you liked this. I just couldn’t resist those eyes!! And yay to the year of the Monkey! I only sketched the plastic kind previously so I like that one!
Well, what a stamina the lion has! Lol.. And the poor female.. Love his face, full of youthful mischief! I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day! ❤️❤️❤️
Yeah the female really gets a raw deal in lion world. Yikes! 😳 hehe … Glad you liked my first lion attempt, Kari! Thanks! And I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day as well!! ❤️❤️😃
Terrific lion! I vote for mammoth.
Thanks my friend!! 💕😃 Glad you like the lion. Hmm a mammoth! Cool! I hadn’t even thought of that one! 😊
Well Charlie O this might be my new fave! Absolutely breathtaking! And speaking of taking your breath away … WowA on those mating rituals. Thanks for the beautiful art, the opportunity to learn something new everyday, your humor, your kindness, and your charm. YOU Charlie O are checking of the Doodlewash!! ❤️
Awww really? Your new fave eh? Cool! Thanks Jodi! 💕😃 Yeah, there’s a reason why “heart of a lion” became a thing and “mate like a lion” never quite took off. And I think autocorrect made me “checking of the Doodlewash”? Hehe you’re too sweet!! 😊❤️❤️😃
Oh brother! KING of the Doodlewash ! Dang!
Awww thanks friend!! ❤️😃Autocorrect doesn’t like me…I called Jill a fiend again yesterday. 😊lol
PS monkeys are cool but manatee! This was in my head in the middle of the night. I forgot to throw out an M animal and … manatee and marmot too. Ok monkeys are also cute. Had to come back and say this lol.
Hehe!! That’s awesome! ❤️😃I got a Philippe a little ManaTEA tea infuser for his stocking this year! They’re cool creatures! Not sure what I’ll choose yet. I haven’t even done all the expected creatures yet! So many to doodlewash!! Lol
That’s the nice thing…..an endless supply of subjects!
the lion is turned out fabulous. in fact, i like all your animals from the alphabet, charlie.
Thanks so much! I’m really enjoying this series… I’m glad you like them! 😀
wow amazing illustration Charlie! Love this one! I like this concept of alphabates with illustrations 💜
Thanks Snehal!! 💕😃I’m having a blast with this one. Glad you like it too!!
I love Lions such a beautiful animal you captured it beautiful I like it very much the expression on his face is precious!
Awww thanks friend! 💕I’m so happy you like him. Doodlewashing animals is really fun! Hehe 😊
I know it is really fun and you doing great with them! 😉
Charlie, your loin is incredibly handsome. I believe I have fallen in love with him!
Thanks so much Cathe!! 💕😃 And I’m thinking autocorrect was at play there and you didn’t mean to say “your loin is incredibly handsome” hahaha! That made me laugh at loud!! Too funny!! Love it!!
Beautiful lion!
Thanks so much, Miste! 😃💕
You’re welcome!