Written by Tonight for our #DoodlewashDinner I decided to bring a lobster. Not sure how many of you out there like eating lobster, but I think they’re delicious. And you can’t feel too bad about eating one because lobsters also enjoy eating other lobsters. Apparently, beyond fending off the usual list of various predators, young lobsters should think twice before accepting mom and dad’s invitation to come to dinner. Known to dine on each other in captivity, it was discovered this is also happening frequently in the wild as well. So if you love the taste of lobster, now you can take comfort in the fact that even the lobster agrees with you.
Some believe lobsters scream in pain when you cook them, but it’s just air trapped inside as they don’t have vocal chords and can’t actually process pain. Despite being a rather pricey delicacy today, during the colonial era, servants, prisoners and the poor dined on lobster. They were considered “tasteless” and not fit for wealthier appetites. This all changed, of course, and now lobster is the king of the seafood menu. A fitting title when you consider that one of their claws can exert pressure of up to 100 pounds per square inch. They’re odd little creatures who taste with their legs, chew with their stomachs, and can actually regenerate limbs. With all these strange quirks, it’s probably not so odd to now add cannibalism to the list.
Also, research suggests that lobsters never stop growing, though the traps currently in use can’t catch the largest lobsters so scientists aren’t entirely sure. It’s believed they can live as long as 100 years, grow up to four feet long (1.2m) and weigh 40 pounds (18kg). This would require a much larger stock pot in order to prepare them, so even if people could catch them, you’d rarely find lobsters of that size in restaurants. If lobster is something you also enjoy, then this is the doodlewash dish for you. Just be sure to eat it quickly before the lobster’s mother shows up and gets the first bite!
You’re all invited to a Doodlewash Dinner Party during the month of May! Just tag your food or drink image #doodlewashdinner and I’ll feature you and your culinary creations in a delicious Doodlewash Gallery at the end of the month!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Pyrrol Red, Azo Orange, Azo Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Green Pale, Sap Green, 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
Fabulous drawing! My youngest son loves visiting the lobsters at the supermarket. None has ever (yet) been brought home.
Thanks Laura! 😃💕 I’ve only ever had them without meeting them first. Not sure I could if I did. 😊hehe
Glad to learn that I can chow down on a lobster guilt free!! Although yours looks delicious Charlie I doubt I will partake as I am like folks from colonial days and will gladly pick another item off the seafood menu. 🙂
so far this month. (Sorry, I hit the reply button too soon by accident.
Sorry, Susan, my fumble fingers put the above partial reply in the wrong spot. 😜
Hehe…no worries! I do that all the time!
Thanks Susan! 😃💕 Not a lobster fan? Hehe…I actually never tried them until I was an adult on a business trip to Miami. Same trip where I discovered I was allergic to mangoes. Hehe
Good thing you aren’t allergic to lobster too!
Yes!! That would have made me super sad. Mangoes I can live without! hehe
🙂 Funny!
Love the title Charlie, a fact I did not know…yummy.
Thanks Rebecca! 😃💕 the cannibalism discovery was just in the last few years according to articles. I didn’t know that either until today!
Charlie you did great with this one!!! We should put my shrimp of few days ago next to it! LoL I love the vibrant color and the composition is beautiful with the lemon slices and seaweed this is a lovely doodlewash! And yes lobster are delicious! You found some interesting facts about them! <3 😉
Thanks so much Carolina! 😃💕This would go splendidly with your shrimp!! Hehe…we’re making quite a lovely dinner here I think!
Yes a great dinner! 😉
I’m definitely coming over for dinner! I’ll bring my own bib.. Lol! My father in law lives in Cape Cod, MA and we go for lobsters every time we visit! I just love them! And terrific doodlewash too!
Awww thanks Kari! 😃💕 I’ve actually never been to Maine, but want to go someday. For the lobster as well!! Hehe
Awesome sketch of that delicious lobster. Years ago I spent a week in Maine and had lobster for supper everyday. And I still love it!
Thanks Teri! 😃💕 Yum! That sounds like a wonderful week! Lobster is so good! Glad you’re a fan as well!
Oh Charlie – your sketching skills are truly amazing! And then the way you lay on the color! You just get more genius every single day!!!! LOVE your Lobster!
Awwww thanks Jodi!! 😃💕There you go again making me blush all over. 😊I truly appreciate it. I just keep doodlewashing and don’t really think about it. Glad you’re seeing improvement!!
An audible ‘whoaaaa!’ from me when I found this chap in my e-mails! This is one suitably spectacular doodlewash! A fantastic drawing and such rich, lobstery colour, really springing off those yellows and greens… I can comment on this with authority, as ‘lobstery’ is the shade my skin turns when the sun finds it! Again though, this is something I’ve not ever sampled – evidently I’m not posh enough! – so I’m glad it’s on the menu!
Thanks Jacob!! Glad you liked my lobster! Hehe…and if the sun hits you like that, then I think skinny dipping is definitely off the list! 😉 but what?! You’ve never tried lobster?!! This must be added to your list!! Immediately!!
Lovely sketch. I’m a vegetarian, so I don’t eat lobsters now, but growing up I preferred crab. Interesting to learn so much about these creatures! I expect to be drawing some food shortly so I’ll definitely remember to join your dinner.
Thanks Cathy!! 😃💕I love crab as well… we mainly only eat seafood which I guess they would call pescetarian I think. Yay to joining the doodlewash dinner!! That’s awesome! Can’t wait to see what you’ll bring!!! 😃
I think they call it that lots of places. 🙂
This is a top notch doodlewash! and your writing is equally awesome! You even made those lemons look fantastic. 🙂 who knew that lobsters are cannibalistic…..hmmm I have learned more information from you posts, keep them coming. 🙂
Thanks so much Margaret! 😃💕 Glad you liked this post! Yeah…I learned the cannibalism bit myself today while quickly googling for info. It’s a fairly recent discovery it seems.
Wow, such a beautiful lobster Charlie and so many interesting facts. I haven’t had lobster in a long time. Time for a seafood dinner.
Thanks Sharon!! 😃💕 Philippe and I normally just have lobster tails. Which is the meaty part, so that’s probably fine. Hehe
fantastic! love the composition!!!
perfectly placed and balanced; the 3 lemons are a great touch and the lettuce looks wonderful. the claw …. was so well done!! its coming right out.
a really, great painting Charlie! 🙂
Thanks so much for the wonderful compliments, Jodi! 😃💕 This was fun to paint. There are so many things going on with a lobster it was a fun challenge!!
Your doodlewash makes this lobster look exquisite, so I can see why one of his buddies would like a bite. The best lobster I ever had was in Booth Bay, Maine. It was called Lazy Man’s Lobster and came already deshelled with the lobster meat in a shallow dish of butter. It was with the price because there was no mess involved and no beady eyes looking at me. Yum, yum! We sure have had a doodlewash feast
so far this month. (Sorry, I hit the reply button too soon by accident, and then I accidentally put this tag line under Susan’s comments – not my day with technology!) 😛
I can’t even tell in my reader where the comments are. Hehe …I’m sure Susan won’t mind!
Thanks Carol!! 😃💕 Oh my…that Lazy Man’s version sound incredible. Got so hungry reading your description!! I agree…I normally have the tails only. Never a fan of eating food that’s staring back at you!! Hehe
WOWZA Charlie!! What an AMAZING doodlewash, my friend! 😃 I’m not big on eating them but I enjoyed learning more about them from you! 💕🎨😍
Thanks Jill!! 😃💕 Glad you liked the doodlewash. I learn a lot as well when I’ve googling madly. Hehe…I didn’t know most of it. Fun to learn knew things!
Great doodlewash! I like eating lobster as long as someone else cooks it for me – none of this boiling them alive etc… I’m such a hypocrite
Thanks! Glad you liked this! 😃💕And yeah though… I’m the same… I’d rather it just come prepared for me and not have to be around for the cooking part. 😊
Charlie, I wanted to tell you how wonderful your Doodlewash is, with all the shades of red and the fabulous white highlights throughout and those little lemon slices, but I’ve fallen off my seat laughing about your article. Lobster as cannibal and not accepting dinner invitations, lobster as the food of the criminals and the servants, lobster as big as my bathtub. Soon as I stoop laughing and climb back into my computer seat, I’ll tell you what I think of your art.
LOL… thanks Sharon! 😃💕So glad you enjoyed the post. I tend to gravitate toward the weirdest facts I can find. 😊hehe.. .but they’re the most fun!!
I love seafood, but lobster always seems like more trouble than it’s worth. I do love your lobster, though. It’s too pretty and colorful to eat!
Yeah… they take a bit of effort unless they’ve come cut, which is how I prefer them. Hehe So glad you liked the doodlewash! Thanks! 😃💕
You’re most welcome.
What a handsome lobster. They don’t agree with me, perhaps I’m allergic so I will just admire your beautiful rendering.
Thanks so much Cathe! 😃💕Oh no! probably an allergy of some kind. Well… I can guarantee this version is hypoallergenic! Hehe
OK. You really MUST do a cookbook. I may even buy it – just for the pictures! Wow stuff, Charlie, you’ve found one of your many “sweet spots”!
Aww thanks Laura! 😃💕Hehe… I have so many ideas for projects, but never any time to compile them! Also… getting P to actually write down recipes could prove to be the hardest part of all. 😉
Lol, this I understand. 😎
You’ve outdone yourself with this rendering Charlie! Sadly, I’ve developed a shellfish allergy in my old age, but I have tasty memories! (K)
Thanks so much Kerfe! 😃💕This was really fun to doodlewash. But oh no!! Shellfish are off the menu? That’s too bad. Thank goodness for great food memories!
1. If I keep reading your posts, I’m gonna gain, like, four hundred pounds and all my sketches are going to be the view from my open bedroom door, because I won’t be able to fit out of it anymore.
2. I’m okay with that.
3. Love the lobster, and the sketch, and the facts, which I plan to spout off at any fellow diners the next time I stop at Red Lobster.
😀
haha!! 😃💕 Thanks! It’s been ages since I’ve eaten at a Red Lobster. They don’t come to the city. I kind of want to go!
There’s one less than a mile from me, as the crow flies. (More like two, as the car drives. Not the point.) 😀
It does not carry four foot long lobsters, however. I feel vaguely cheated. 😀
Ah the things I learn at Doodlewash. I’ve never cared for lobster and the next time someone is incredulous at this fact, I can take on an air of superiority and inform them with disdain, that I don’t eat cannibals. Great painting!
haha! Glad I could help! Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕