Written by We’ve reached Day 14 of #WorldWatercolorMonth and for our prompt of “Furry Things,” I opted for this tiny little furry kitten. As many of you might know by now, I’m allergic to cats, but that doesn’t stop me from adoring them. And baby furry animals are so cute. It’s probably good to have allergies or I would want one of every kind. Since, I constantly tell people to reconnect with their inner child when painting, it’s equally a wonderful icon of everything I believe. Notice the completely curious stare that’s equally devoid of judgement on this little cat. That’s precisely how I think we’re at our best when we show up to make something new. Without life’s preconceived notions, anything is possible and everything is perfectly wondrous. And knowing I would have very little time to paint anything today wasn’t a concern at all. I just followed my ridiculously easy Scribble, Doodle, Color approach and had a little kitty to post in no time at all. I owe any level of success to my inner child. He’s the one who allows me to create things quickly and without worry. To make something new daily without obsessing over whether or not it’s good enough to post or will be any sort of crowd-pleaser. And, mostly, for making an art journey that’s a lovely trip to a fun playground each and every day!
For me, I still just love the fact that I can manage to post anything at all. It’s like a fun personal challenge each day that I set for myself in the midst of a thousand other obligations. Why on earth would I do this? Because each and every time I make something new, I feel better. It’s nothing more mysterious than that. So, in turn, if I’ve found something that makes me feel this happy, it only makes sense to DO it each and every day. Yeah, that’s logic so simple it could have only come from Little Charlie. But, I’ve proven that it’s indeed true. At least for me personally, after having shown up each and every day with a sketch and story for over 4 years now. Yet, in my heart, I think it’s most likely true for you as well and applies to whatever creative passion currently holds your heart. Don’t let those “have to do” things get in the way of your “need to do” things. Completing something I simply have to do has very little effect on my overall happiness, but when I successfully DO what my heart needs, life gets instantly better. And those things I have to do still get done, and are even better off with the glee I have to bring to them.
Perhaps these are simply the ramblings of a crazy optimist. Life has so many challenges and there are constantly things we have to deal with each and every day. But, I’ve been asked lately how I manage to DO all of the projects I currently have going. And, I don’t have the fancy step-by-step process that people typically want. I just have a mindset and an attitude that guides me. My process is a bit different each and every time, but that’s the lovely side effect when you simply let yourself be guided by glee. I make things simply because it’s what brings me joy. And, the more time I spend making things, the better I get! That’s really everything one needs to know when they set out to create something new. The rest is a mixture of hope, awe, and the unexpected. Not particularly different than a little kitten trying to sort out what is and isn’t in life. After all of these years, we’re all still that little kitten at heart. And it’s the most valuable and amazing feeling in the world when you can approach what you create like a little ball of fur.
Want To Sketch Stuff With Me? Check Out My New Activity Book!
About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Yellow Ochre, Opus (Vivid Pink), Terra Cotta, and Cobalt Turquoise. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia 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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Charlie says, ” Without life’s preconceived notions, anything is possible and everything is perfectly wondrous”
Indeed, so very true and right!
but the best of the best for a banner slogan (imo) or for life’s How to is this Charlie says, “let yourself be guided by glee.”
If zippity DO dah hadn’t already been invented, I would invent it now…that’s how those wise words make me feel.
Thanks so much, Sarah! 😃💕Yeah, I could probably have “let yourself be guided by glee” on a t-shirt! I’m so happy you find my rambles inspiring my friend!
Big smile! (no matter my mood when I get to DOodlewash, soon as I get ‘through the portal’ of this haven, I’m smiling and humming a happy tune.)
You scribble, doodle, color the best kittens!!!
So cute!!
Thanks so much, Susie! 😃💕
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 Kittens are tough! lol… so that’s why you see them every month. Practice! hehe
Oh what a cute kitty! Looks similar to the one that we use to have which lived to almost 20 and still thought she was a kitten. We have not gotten a dog or a cat since. Maybe one of these days.
Optimism is something that I also try to hold on to. I’m working on the inner child thing. Doing better. 😉
Thanks, Karen! 😃💕 Yeah, I think optimism is a grand elixir in life, but served up by our inner child. For some reason, that way, it carries all of the real wisdom as well. 😉
Oh, as superior beings, a cat will definitely judge, even from day 1. But they forgive us our deficiencies because we’re only human, lol. You may not have a definite step-by-step but your activity book is quite helpful in the way it describes your process!
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 hehe… yeah… I swear I have a cat after all. Phineas has the same exact attitude! lol And thrilled you found my book helpful! Yay! It’s technically a step-by-step, but as the whole book itself, not a single activity. hehe… now you know how my crazy mind works. Just like a kid’s after all! 😉
I do love kittens! When we first moved here, there was a farm next door and people would drop off unwanted cats all the time. So cruel! But since they mostly weren’t fixed, we often had kittens around here in the spring. We rescued some for ourselves, and then some that we gave away, and then we trapped all the adults we could and had them neutered or spayed through a program that does it for a small donation. From a high of around 20 feral cats, we are down to two or three. I miss the kittens!
Aww… it would be awesome to have all of those kittens around! That sounds lovely. I adore kittens… they’re just the cutest things ever! 😃💕
Being an optimist is sane, not crazy! Cute little kitten.
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕hehe… exactly! I often think optimism is the sanest trait about me.
Cute little furball! And yes, we find time to do the things we love to do. I love that quote and when people ask me how I have time to sketch every day, that’s what I tell them. (And that I don’t spend much time on the internet!)
Thanks so much, Lori! 😃💕 Yeah, we DO always find the time to do the things we love most. Or, at least, we always should!
The little splashes of blue-green are lovely.
oh my goodness, the goofy face of childhood is so vivid here in this sketch! Innocence.
Charlie, the phrase “reconnect with your inner child” is so trendy right now, and after reading many articles, i still don’t understand what it is. What is your take on it?
Thanks so much, Anna! 😃💕 Glad you liked my kitty! For me, my inner child is literally that reminder of how fearless and curious I was when I was a kid. At the time before I thought I knew everything and could practically predict the future. 😉 It’s about simplicity and taking things as they come instead of over-analyzing everything with that adult knowledge we think we have. It’s why when people asked me to make an art instruction book, I made an Activity Book for All Ages! hehe Sometimes, we think things are supposed to be “harder” when we’re adults, but we’re really just making life and sometimes art, much more difficult than it really is! 😉
Great post 🙂
😍
Love cats ownnn❤️
Thanks so much! 😃💕 So happy you liked this!