My brain is still on retro toys, so for today’s Draw a Bird Day (started by the wonderful Laura at Create Art Everyday and now hosted by the awesome Kerfe and Nina over at Method Two Madness) we have a little plush version of Big Bird from Sesame Street. Rather unconventional entry, but he was one of my favorite characters when I was little. If anyone is wondering what kind of bird this is, let’s just say he’s a flightless eight-foot two-inch (249 cm) bright yellow talking bird of much-debated species.
I’ve always been fascinated when something gigantic like Big Bird is shrunk into a miniature form. From animal figurines to action figures, I loved anything made pocket-sized. Perhaps it was just how cute things got when scaled down this way, or perhaps it was because I could get more than one, without having to choose, for the same amount of my mother’s money. Either way, little big Big Bird was just really cool.
When I was a kid, I also like Big Bird’s best friend, Snuffleupagus, a large, hairy creature that looked like a woolly mammoth without the tusks. Back then, he was deemed Big Bird’s “imaginary” friend because adults couldn’t see him or he’d disappear before they showed up, which was super fun! This schtick was killed in the mid 80’s, though, when there was suddenly a concern that kids might not share important things with adults because of this. Which I find ridiculous, as would most kids, but unfortunately kids never get to weigh in on these decisions and they’re usually left to terrified adult brains.
I remember being excited when Big Bird finally got to star in his own big screen movie called, Follow That Bird. This was also the first-ever feature length Sesame Street film. It was a musical, too! My favorite part was when the Slease Brothers capture Big Bird, paint him blue, and put him in their carnival as “The Bluebird of Happiness.” Mostly because of the song he sings, “I’m So Blue,” which is the ‘sad ballad’ and always my favorite in any musical. And although it’s weird to admit it. I can still remember all the words.
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Azo Yellow, Dioxazine Purple, Ultramarine Blue, Pyrrol Red, Azo Orange, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
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Great image and great entry. I’d like to watch you put those colors on. I see yellow and blue and black and white all on the big bird’s body. How do you do that? Do you do a wash of yellow over everything and then go back over it with the other colors. I really like how you build up the fur (or, feathers, I suppose). You’ve really captured the awkward weirdness of that very large bird puppet. How do you get that color just under the wing? Sort of a grey and Yellow and black. Seems like I should know this already.
Thanks Kirk! I keep forgetting to add the little bit about what colors I used, so I just updated the post. Yes…for this I did a wash of yellow first over most of the bird…save some highlights for sparkle and dimension and the eyes. The legs and feet were a wash of orange first. I used purple and ultramarine blue for the initial shadows. Sometimes a mix of purple and yellow to get the grays in parts and sometimes a wash of Neutral Tint. I use the complimentary color in the shadows so they don’t get too flat. Just using Neutral Tint to darken will do that. I use it because I like high contrast images with lots of depth and can’t get as dark as I liked with colors alone. 😊
Charlie, thanks very much for the explanation. Big bird stood out as particularly dimensional and I really liked how you did it. Sound like you are pretty patient with your watercolor. All this has to dry before the next wash, right? That’s were I get screwed up. I need to learn to wait. Big life lesson for me, I suppose.
Actually…I’m not patient at all!! Lol I will only let things dry sort of. What I do is work in a circle, so one part is drying and I move to another part, when I get back to an area to add a wash or more detail it’s “mostly dry” and I just go for it. This means I only get about 2 maybe three layers, before I’d have to really wait, so I don’t go any farther than that. I’m sure my colors would be cleaner if I used a hair dryer (which I’m considering getting a small one!) or had more time or patience, but that hasn’t happened yet. 😊
I try to work in a circle too, but I still jump in too quickly. Your layers make for great images.
Awww thanks! Appreciate that Kirk!
Wonderful painting, fantastic detail…just want to hug it! Thank you for sharing this delightful portrait.
Thanks so much Haunani! 💕😃 Sort of an unconventional subject matter. Hehe… But I like little objects like this! 😊
So so cure!
Thanks so much Cindy! Glad you liked this! 💕😃
Really great big bird. I too loved that Snufalupagus was imaginary! We took the kids last year to a Beaches Resort. It has a Sesame Street element to it, but my kids are too old, so we didn’t really pay attention to it. But one day there was a parade passing through the pool area and there was Big Bird! Finally got to meet him in my forties. ha ha
Thanks, Eileen!! 💕😃Haha!! Better late than never! That’s so cool! I still have never met Big Bird in person. 😊 hehe…one day though. It’s still on the list!
I love Sesame Street characters. When my son was around 18 months old, we started watching Sesame Street DVDs. After hundreds of hours of the show and the DVD’s, I can’t watch Elmo anymore.. The doodlewash is fantastic..
Thanks Kari!! ❤️😃Haha! Elmo was all the rage until that darn Tickle Me Elmo doll…he was just a background character before he got so ticklish I think! lol
Charlie, this is freaking amazing. What a perfect entry for DABD! Thanks also for linking back to me. You are a sweetheart and a real talent! O’Bro of Arty Wonderment! 😀 <3
Awww thanks Laura!! You’re so sweet! ❤️😃Not your typical bird I guess, but I’m kind of loving the toy theme so I had to mix them! Hehe 😊
Perfect!!!!
That is freakin’ brilliant to combine bird and toy together! And your Big Bird is super adorable! ❤️😊
Awww thanks Teresa!! ❤️😃 So happy you like him! Hehe…he was kinda fun to doodlewash!
And so much less creepy than a Troll doll! 😜💕
Haha! True…this was a palette cleanser after that! 😉
Love your big bird. He was so cute. Elmo was my fav. He would be fun to sketch…hint…
Hehe! Thanks Teri! I never had an Elmo doll… Was too old I think before he become popular as a toy. 😊 You should try an Elmo sketch!!! 😉👍🏻It would be brilliant!
Oh but my Elmo doll is at home. Maybe when I get back to Wisconsin.
Hehe…put it on the list of things to do there! 😉👍🏻
It is.
The treats just keep on coming. I squealed (as butchly as possible) when I saw this, Charlie! I don’t think I ever watched Sesame Street as a child, but my sister had a thing for Elmo. I loved Big Bird!! Your doodlewash is stunning, the yellow… it’s Big Bird yellow! Oh I can’t even speak I’m smiling so much and so overjoyed by this I think I need a lye down <3<3
Haha!! I can totally hear your butch squeal!! Lol thanks so much, Jacob!! I’m glad you liked him. I wanted to play in Draw A Bird day, but just couldn’t get away from my toys. 😊 I still want to get back to baby animals though. Hehe Too much to doodlewash and too little time in a day!
I love him! When I first saw the title I assumed it was going to be something like a baby ostrich, and I was prepared to squeal at that too. (May I put in a late vote for a baby ostrich doodlewash?)
Be it animal, toy, or animal toy, I eagerly await the next edition!
Awww thanks! And I don’t even know what a baby ostrich looks like. 😊Must google it! Hehe
To be honest, neither did I until I googled it wondering what you might have painted! But they’re cute!!
They are! I like the ones with a goofy smile! Lol
I love Big Bird and all the Muppets. You have captured fluffy feathered Big Bird perfectly. Thanks for choosing the Big Bird of the Day.
Yay! I’m so glad …I love Muppets as well! Hehe… I knew we were birds of a feather, Sharon! 😉❤️😃
He’s perfect, Charlie! 🙂
Awww thanks so much Jill!! 💕😃I’m so happy you like him!
Great painting! I love the combinations of pen and watercolor to create the “plush” texture! Very nice!
Thanks so much!! I really appreciate it my friend! 😃
What a super rendering of this super bird. I always liked how sweet he was–one of my favs on the street. Great doodlewash!
Awww thanks Rachel!! 💕😃Glad you liked him! He was always mine as well for the same reason!! Hehe
Love your doodlewash of Big (little) Bird, Charlie! 😍 YAY! So glad you participated in Draw A Bird Day in your own wonderful way! 👍🎉🎨
Thanks Jill!! 💕😃Hehe… he was fun to doodlewash. I’m liking these random subjects. Lol…good practice! 😊
They watered down Sesame Street a lot; as with everything else the PC Police became heavily involved, not to mention the ever-shifting childraising norms. I have a friend who is convinced that rap music was born in the early days of the show…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ehFz4OPn0Q
Oh my! Lol…Rap music too? Haha…awesome video!! Yeah… So weird how times have changed. I miss the days when things were always about to “harm” you in some way. 😉
It does connect, right? Yes, we are so busy protecting ourselves, we sometimes forget to have fun!
In true Charlie O fashion a perfect bird for drawabirdday! Well done buddy. You are brilliant! Lllooooovvve it!
Awww thanks Jodi! ❤️😃 hehe…it’s fun going down memory lane and this is the only bird I could think of that I was into! 😊lol
Oh to have a 5 second glimpse into the mind of Charlie O! Oh what I would give! 🙂 <3
Any more than 5 seconds might be terrifying! It’s pretty weird in there😊lol
Lol!!!!!
your work is always a pleasure to look at .
Awww thank you Misti! 💕😃That’s so sweet of you to say!
I love the connect to Draw a Bird Day, a true Charlie moment to turn to Big Bird. You’ve created a very handsome big bird…Big Bird. I love where this month has traveled so far, super upbeat and fun!
Oh pack your warmies, Monday in MN is going to be cold. I think the high today is 8 degrees today and tomorrow is suppose to be 3 degrees. I guess MN feels it needs to treat you to the true polar vortex…sorry (blah).
Thanks Cathe!! 💕😃 Glad you liked my little Big Bird! Hehe… And yes!! It’s going to be insanely cold there from what I’ve seen!! I’ve been assured I’ll mainly be in the little hamster tubes you have there, so hopefully it will be okay. 😳😊hehe… too bad we couldn’t meet for coffee! Hope you have safe travels to NYC!
LOVE this painting of Big Bird, I’m a big fan 😊
Awww thanks Phil! Hehe…cool! Then that’s a big compliment! Appreciate it!! 😃
Who doesn’t love Big Bird? Well done. 🙂
Yeah…seriously who couldn’t like Big Bird?! Hehe So happy you liked my doodlewash version, Susan! 😃💕
I hate it when the do-gooders start messing with shows because of all the potential harm they might do. I remember guns in ET and Han shooting first and the only people I want to harm are the people who are so concerned I’m damaged by those things. Kids are so much smarter than adults give them credit for. As for Sesame Street, what does it say about me that my favourite character was Oscar? 😉
Hehe…hmmm… Are you a grouch? In your defense though Big Bird and Oscar were played by the same guy. 😉 And yeah… I agree…. adults are sometimes a little dumb when compared to kids. Lol
I love your little Big Bird! I think he may be a cross between an ostrich and a penguin and a canary. Maybe. Excellent yellow. And the texture is so huggable! Any plans to paint Snuffleupagus in the future?
Thanks so much!! 😃😃 Glad you like him. And no plans on Snuffleupagus at this point…hehe…but you never know!
Great job capturing the essence of Bird Bird – a lovable, goofy, avian friend! Sweet memory.
hehe! Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕