Melodie Douglas

Minnie, what a great history and such lovely studies!! So glad to have seen your post.

Minnie, your work and story are inspiring! Thank you for sharing your artistic journey with us!

A sweet story with a happy outcome. I love your work, it is beautiful and unique. The page you showed with the lovely repeat of plants in blue and aqua or teal would make a lovely fabric (I’m a quilter, so that was my first thought when I saw it)! I’m so happy you can make your way doing what you love. You are an inspiration.

Hi Minnie, it great to see you here! I’ve really enjoyed your YT videos and of course your art. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

Loved your story and your inspirations…will try to find our sketchbook ideas.

Such a memory flogger. When I saw “Let’s all go to the lobby” I could hear the tune and see the snack bar before I saw the drawing. But I thought you would be much to young to remember drive-ins!

Love this Charlie! I had completely forgotten the cartoons during intermission…though as a kid I doubt any of us made it as far as the intermission before falling asleep. Our screen wasn’t nearly as nice as the one you painted but basically just a very large white board; posts with speakers that you attached to the window and a very small walk up concession stand. The amazing thing to me is that it is still in business…after more decades than I even care to think about 😊. I wonder what they do about sound these days?

Ah, the days when you got 2 or 3 cartoons, a newsreel (about news – not advertising) and two movies! Of course, these days, my old bones couldn’t take sitting that long. I was curious – according to Google, there are only 305 to 321 drive-in theatres left in the U.S., with highest count (49) in New York (that surprised me). There are only three left in Oregon. It’s sad. There was something special about sitting in the car with the family, and treats you snuck in. Half the time, the screen quality was poor, the sound even worse, but gosh! it was fun!

Love it! And now I can’t get that song out of my head–and I’m not mad about it! Let’s all go to the lobby…

A red ’57 Bel Air, one of my favourite classic cars. Its been about 40 yrs since I last went to the cinema, Charlie. I went with my brother to see The Song Remains the Same by Led Zeppelin. I love this painting you’ve done.

Hey Charlie, I don’t even remember intermissions! But then I was only a young kid. You pay more attention than I do obviously.

Thanks, mi amiga! 😃💕 Glad it cooled down there… though yeah… that’s still warm. It’s been in the 80’s here but looks like it’s getting hotter on the weekend. That’s an awesome movie list indeed! I feel like there aren’t as many great movies these days, but maybe I just don’t share the modern tastes. And yes, so said to hear about Olivia Newton John. She was amazing! Have a wonderful week. Hugs to you!

Thanks so much, Hema! 😃💕

That’s a lot like my mom’s 1st car (the 56 Chevy! ) But it was a 78 Olds Delux Royale we used to stuff (and yes the trunk too) to go to the drive in🤣 I too could also hear the tune and see the dancing snacks! A bucket of popcorn and a bucket sized soda were my guilty pleasure but I never turned down an ice cream bon bon (don’t tell Philippe I used ‘bon bon’ in connection with drive-in food!😆)

Keep writing. I happened by.

Your art is inspiring, Milind! Thank you for sharing your artistic journey with us!

Beautiful painting!

Beautiful art, Milind! Thank you for sharing!

Hello Milind sir,

Thank you for sharing your art journey, artwork and inspirations with us. Your art is splendid and has power to showcase Indian culture, spirituality of people in India.

Would love to meet you in person and visit your studio next time when I will be visiting India.

“little hot dogs carved to pop up like little figures as they boiled”? That’s a new one on me. Do you know what that does to an imagination like mine? I’ve got to look them up and see what they’re like or there’s no telling where my mind will go. I’ve seen enough horror movies that this could go badly!

Bologna, Charlie? Hot dogs are good but have the same fat and salt as bologna. Ewwwwwww. You know once you get used to not using salt and sugar ecept for cookies at Christnas, ahem, you don’t miss it. That stuff is no good for you.

I moved my day of no meat, fish, or chicken a day early as the ground beef is too frozen for tonight so I get Greek pizza!!! Yayyyy. One hour and 30 minutes to go.

Take care and think of me when you go for salted foods. See the horrified look on my face.

Lots of good childhood memories associated with popsicles and this kitten looks to be thoroughly enjoying the variety of flavors in this popsicle! Nice one, Charlie!

That’s a refreshing looking lolly.

Hello! 😃💕 Yeah… I’m sure there’s photos of those hot dogs. I think some people add buttons and a tie with mustard or ketchup. Fun as a kid, at least! And that soup bowl sounds bizarre… not sure I’d want to see something living and swimming below my food! lol Much love!

Thanks so much, mi amiga! 😃💕 Yeah, so many foods I had back then are sort of gross to think about now. lol I never got into the icy sweet drinks, but my fave drink was the cherry limeade from Sonic. Though I tried one a few years ago and it was too sweet for me. There’s a little ice cream left in the freezer though I might be having later! Hugs!

Thanks so much, Shawn! 😃💕

Oh Charlie I ate some doozies when I was a kid too. Bologna, so much bologna! Rolled up with cheese cold or fried over the burner on a fork! And when the ice cream man (the mostly sober one) came rolling up, out of tune, we ran for the curb waving and squeeling. I usually needed some chocolate…anything, but one year he had 7up Popsicles. I surprisingly had those all Summer and have never forgotten them😆 I too am now relegated to no sugar, and now no gluten and mostly no processed thi ngs. But I still listen for the music fly by on Summer afternoons and just wave😆👋

Charlie thank you so much for all the fun paintings this July month. I look forward to seeing what’s up for August !

Thanks, Charlie, for a challenging and wonderful World Watercolor Month!!! Will be looking forward to your Tuesday rambles!!

Thank you so much, Charlie, for all the hard work and effort you do for this month, and for the cheer and encouragement you give us all. You’ll never know how appreciated it is!

Excellent sunset! It is different from your usual sketches — likely because there is no pet in it. Thatsunset is beautiful. Many of us will miss your daily presence. It’s been fun! Thanks Charlie.

Nicely done, Charlie.

Aww thanks so much, Marisela! 😃💕 I’m with you about August though… it’s a bit of a drag waiting for summer to end already. hehe And here’s to taking steps forward with hope, confidence, and love! Much love to you mi amiga! ❤️

Marisela, God never forgets us. There are programmes out there to help manage SADD, check online.

Fall shows up here soon too, the trees stand there as if to say they are done and then fall goes away for a month or so and lets us finish summer. It’s been in the high 30’s C here in BC, Canada (35C is 95F) and 40C so I walked just after sunrise. I remember when the sun never felt like it scorched, the ozone layer really is wrecked.

Loves and hugs.

L9ve this 😊

Thank you so, so much Charlie and all you ambassadors of World Watercolor Month! So many lovely moments shared! I also finished out with a golden sunset from my edge of the World🌅

Thanks so much! 😃💕

Nice record player, Charlie, and cute mice too! Today was just a running in circles kind of day. Enjoy your quiet, restful evening!

That record player reminds me so much of the first one I had when I was around seven. It came with a couple of Teresa Brewer records, which just happened to be someone that Dad thought was the bomb, so I suspect he wasn’t thinking of me when he picked them out, lol. Nonetheless, I loved those records and totally wore them out.

Aww thanks mi amiga! 😃💕 I have one more post this weekend, then I’m back to Tuesdays! It’s been so fun to hang out… feels like coming home again. And much love to you my friend! You’re special to me as well!

Charlie I had spaghetti squash today with spaghetti sauce (hot) so we must have heard each other. I even get leftovers! I will miss your daily input on the site. Take care and see ya Tuesday.

OMGOSH! I just saw your mice! 8/6/22 (Sometimes I think you’re brother from another mother!)

Aaahhh, puppy snuggles and pizza. It just doesn’t get any better. Enjoy!

Even Foxy looks contented😊

Charlie I can see you curled up! That is awesome! Happy pizza-ing too.

I have a few photos of my previous dog, Ramses, snuggled like that with a favorite toy. He used to love the cheap latex squeaky toys. He did eat one to get at the squeaker, but like Elliot, was crushed that it didn’t squeak any more. But he seemed to figure it out because that was the last toy he destroyed. I bought him others and he would enjoy them, squeaking them gently but no more biting holes in them. Diana has slept with toys but Freyja not so much. Likely because she had no toys during her puppyhood. But she is certainly enjoying all of her beds, the Coolaroo outside and her Kopecks inside. She is the one that is so secure and content she will sleep on her back, belly exposed.

Elliot will never know how very lucky he is. None of them do. Well, Freyja did live on the streets for a time and I have no idea what her beginnings were or if she remembers and is grateful. It may account for the obsessive amount of kissing.

Yes, while we may get a dog initially for what they can do for us, in the end we spend our lives doing for them, which is also a gift they give to us. I am convinced that my parent’s Dolly has kept them alive. I wasn’t sure about them getting a puppy four years ago was a very good thing to do at age 88. I had counseled an older dog, one perhaps already house trained. But my Mom managed to live through the house training and terrible teens and Dolly has ended up being perfect for them. And for the first time in their lives, they are allowing a dog to sleep in the bed with them. I think that is also keeping them alive, having that warm body with them, allowing them a deeper, more restful sleep.

That looks like the Kong Floppy Knot Fox toy. Kong makes great toys. Diana is obsessed with their large squeaky tennis ball. When she was Elliot’s age she slept with her Kong Wubba, just like that.

The health benefits of having a dog are well known. Of course, that extends to other pets as well, but the pack mentality of our canine pals makes them something special indeed.

Thanks so much, Ria! 😃💕

Thanks so much, Shawn! 😃💕

Thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 Aww I’m so thrilled you enjoyed this post today. When you quote me like that, I’m like… did I say that? I never remember what I ramble on about! 😊 hehe Big hugs to you and much love!

Enjoyed your essay and feel similarly. Getting excited to move onto a new art project for August and beyond. This challenge was very good and helped me explore a few different ways of handling my watercolors. I got a bit “tangled” in my approach with some of the prompts but overall enjoyed the whole experience of this challenge!

I’m just hoping we get Autumn weather here. We’ve been behind on the hot weather the rest of the country’s been getting, and that usually means we’ll still have it when everyone else cools down. I’m worried we’ll go right from summer to winter. I’ll be sad if that happens!

Hey Charlie!

They make bifocals graduated now with the enlarging part at the bottom so you either walk around with a stiff neck trying to see out the bottom of your glasses or you do like I did and also get a pair of reader glasses from that prescription. As for the crown, I got the gold one which lasts forever as opposed to the porcelain one that costs $50 less but only lasts ten years (so they can get more money off you, see). I had them done by an endodentist, not a dentist. Fortunately I went to a highly skilled one new to our city instead of the idiot my dentist used, the one with all the customer complaints. Man oh man those dentists make a LOT of money and the hearing aid folk do too. I was heard to say who do they think they are — dentists?

I was also surprised to learn that the ophthalmologists here no longer do the eye testing, but this is in Canada and the US mght to it differently — the optometrist does so I guess they are more highly trained.

Sweet sketch as usual!

Great doodle, Charlie.

Sweet kitty! A familiar sight at our house around the holidays. Good luck with your appointments! You’ll adjust to the bifocal.It’s just a matter of getting used to the bifocal and it helps if it’s placed correctly in your lens.

Hi Marisela. Yes progressive, I called it graduated but it is progressive.

Loved your comments…yes, I’m guilty of trying new approaches with watercolor…for example wet on wet, buildings, street scenes…there’s always something to learn, Heading to my pre-op for cataract surgery…but I’m heading to my 80’s, so i feel lucky to have had good eyesight for so long.

Hola, mi amiga! 😃💕 Yeah, I have a slight correction in the bottom now, but I don’t like it. I can actually take my glasses off now to read a book, but need the correction if it’s a bit farther away than that. This month has flown by… just a weekend left. Hope you have a wonderful one! Hugs!

Thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 I totally get it… I’ll finally decided to untangle cords and it totally makes me feel calm, and better after! I figure if you just take on all the not-so-fun-things at once then you’ll have nothing but fun things to look forward to! Much love!

Tevfik, your work is amazing and your story is inspiring! Thank you for sharing your artistic journey with us!

Thank you very much for sharing you art and experiences with us at Doodlewash. I just hope to achieve that level in my lifetime, where is not much left, I will be 63 this October… Thanks Tevfik.

Thank you so much for sharing with us Tevfik. Your work is amazing and I loved hearing your story – so inspiring. Your work is exactly where I want to go ultimately – I want to be able to catch the realism. I am mesmerized by people with your capability – incredible.

Hello Mugdha,

It feels so good that people read and feel it. Thank you so much.

Loves,
Tevfik

Hey! You made me so happy that you found it. Thank you so much for your kind words. I hope the paintings would bring you good luck. Cheers x 🙂

Thanks for sharing your fascinating journey

Happy seven year anniversary! Thank you Charlie for all of your hard work to share the joy of watercolor with the world.

Of course Charlie, Doodlewash is a good place to be!

The name for a group of painted buntings is a mural or palette – quite apt for this prompt! I wish I’d known sooner and I would have done one for the prompt myself. A flock of snow buntings is called a drift, so it would have been good for this month as well.

Beautiful birds, Charlie, and happy anniversary!

Charming group of winged friends.

Beautiful birds, Charlie. This is a great community to belong to.

And a big hug to you for starting this great site.

Aww that’s so sweet! I love the thought of that! 😃💕 Hugs and much love to you mi amiga!

Thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 I truly appreciate the support! It’s tough sometimes to keep juggling everything at once, but it’s so worth it in the end to try. Fun and exciting things are coming!

Sweet!

So adorable, Charlie!!!

I get the sketching in a bubble! My husband always laughs at me because I’m so easily startled when I’m painting — I tune everything out, and if something does catch my attention I usually jump and scream. A very elegant and lady-like scream of course. That’s why he laughs at me.

Awesomeness, Charlie. Awesomeness.

Delightful Charlie :). That is exactly what I am doing when I take a breather too! Giving time to friends and family.

Great doodle, Charlie.

In the spring when the first blooms appear…Oh, I love this! I think these days we are busier with dumb stuff like Instagram , using things we don’t need and all we need to do is just admire what’s around us. I sat the other day at the park near the most beautiful tree. I watched the breeze and I wrote a poem . With moments like that I don’t I can say I didn’t live. This is life.

Thanks so much, Dale! 😃💕

Thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 Aww I’m so happy you’re enjoying the daily rambles again. And yes! I’ll be back on Tuesdays each week just like before! 😉

Aww thanks so much, Janette! 😃💕 I’m so thrilled you enjoy my work!

I think American culture focuses so much on productivity that many people feel guilty if they can’t show they are doing something productive at any given time. They don’t stop to just think or process because it doesn’t look productive. Your daydreaming mode is probably your most productive time of the day!

Charlie, yes I used to get the teachers all in a snit for having a wild imagination. That wild imagination ended up writing stories, a book, and a novel. That was before teachers got smart and realized imagination is a necesssary tool. Keep up the excellence!

That little mouse looks like he’s enjoying his adventure! Putting “Time to Dream” on a daily calendar sounds like a perfectly wonderful idea to me!!!

I agree with you and love the illustration!

I love your little mouse going on an adventure. I remember doing the same with sticks in a stream near our house.

Indeed!! hehe… I think he’ll most definitely pick the thing that makes him smile most! Much love to you my friend! 😃💕

Beautiful illustration tonight, Charlie!! The reflection of the shell in the water is wonderful!!!! Elliott sounds like a love!!!

You sound so happy and that is great! Enjoy!

Beautiful!

I’m sitting at the beach right now, listening to the ocean waves. I wish I could send you some of it. Unfortunately, it’s been foggy all day. That’s supposed to be gone and sunny weather coming. But, just sunny – it won’t get much more than 70 degrees. Perfection!

Beautiful!!

Thanks so much, Ruqia! 😃💕

Thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 Glad I could share some of my peaceful feeling with you. I hope to get to that beach soon, but it’s still nice to visit in my mind. Much love to you!

Thanks so much, Dale! 😃💕

Hola mi, amiga! Thanks so much! 😃💕 And a birthday on the way too! Yeah, I’m ready for autumn… but glad to have a bit of a break in August! hehe Hope you have a wonderful week ahead. Much love!

Great picture, Charlie.

This Macaw is a beauty!!!! And, thank heaven we are all different!!!

Charlie you create a great place here. Be proud. And only one little container of ice cream. I broke code and had pizza today too although that is my Wednesday lunch. I didn’t feel like cooking.

I think you’re wise not to look at what you’ve just painted. So often, our finished work doesn’t match the vision we have in our head. We judge our work harshly because of that. If we wait a while, we’ve forgotten the vision and can enjoy the work for what it is – which is usually fabulous!

You have such wonderful ideas and your animal characters are priceless!

Thanks so much!! 😃💕

Hola, mi amiga! 😃💕 That’s so true! And if people see you for who you really are, then they are exactly the people to have in your life. Life is too short to bother with the emotionally blind. And your heart alone makes you strikingly beautiful. Much love and big hugs to you!

I have your lovely prints of mousies in my office/art/library space and I’m proud of you every day! I think of how hard you’ve worked to bring joy and art to others and it inspires me to work for the same things, thank you, be very proud of you!🤗

Pizza and a movie sounds like a celebration of having gotten through a very busy week. Have a wonderful weekend!!!

I don’t care much for ceremony either. My wedding was planned over two days, took place in a small chapel, and cost $5 less than the wedding license. I invited 10 family members because I would never have heard the end of it if I didn’t. At that it was fancier than I really wanted. Everyone assumed I was pregnant, but they’ve been waiting 40 years now, and the baby still hasn’t arrived, lol. I don’t know how you get everything done during this month. I just have the smallest portion of it to do, and I still get exhausted!

A great ritual to end the workweek! Super painting 😊

Great way to end the week. Nice doodle, Charlie.

Thanks so much, Linda! 😃💕 I definitely needed some chill time. Going to have some more tonight actually! hehe

Hola, mi amiga! 😃💕 I love the idea of the crowd melting away at a wedding. It really is just a day meant for two! And I do hope one of those beagles finds their way to you! That would be fantastic! Much Love!

Aww thanks so much!! 😃💕

Very confident looking and beautiful peacock, Charlie!!!!

Just keep having fun Charlie! Just like Elliott does. I love your sketches.

You mention that you’ve only been doing these watercolors for a year and a half, which is little compared to full-time artists, but you’re doing something that many of them don’t. Many artists learn a set of skills, and then they just phone things in. They become very good at repeating what they’ve done before. Your work has evolved and continues to evolve because you keep learning new things and adding to your skill set. Your year and half tips the scale mightily in your favor, when compared to many others because you have the courage to experiment!

Beautiful!

Thanks so much, Marisela! 😃💕 And yes! You definitely will step confidently into the future. Even small steps count. Life is never really a race forward, but just a little bit of change over time. It will all come for you as well! Hugs to you my friend!

Thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 These days I’m moving so fast I didn’t have time for a whole bird! hehe… but I have sketched those before if ya search the site. And yay for going forward with something! I can’t wait to see what it it! That’s awesome!! Big hug to you!! Much love!

Aww thanks so much, Shari! 😃💕 I’m so happy you’re seeing improvements. It feels a bit up and down on my end, but I do feel like it comes a bit easier now. Not quite confidence, but it’s still nice! 😉

Charlie I’m new to your food leash but besides your wonderful creative art…I appreciate your positive outgoing comments. I didn’t start my art journey until 75…but it was always my dream. And yes I try all kinds of styles, combinations, colors…and then give the paintings, postcards, stationary as gifts freebies. I don’t have to be the best but I must keep learning! Bent your ear enough…

Oh Charlie thanks! Pressed for time and creativity this Summer, I’ve been jamming along but feeling less confident of what I turn out, so you’ve talked me off the ledge!
Thanks!

Your mouse looks very proud of taking whatever picture is coming out of that camera…maybe a bit impatient too.
Somewhere recently I saw a sticker or something that said “Don’t Grow Up, It’s a Trap” and it definitely made me smile.

Charlie I can see who you are. You are a caring guy who just wants to love. Just like God told us to.

Yes taking pictures. I tried this morning on my stomp to retake a couple of shots of day lilies to make sure I got the colour right, so I can paint those, but when I got home all I had were pictures of my head leaning over. Dark glasses. Mask. And sun blindness. I obviously pushed the wrong button or something.

There have been a recent series on the news about ‘decision fatigue’, caused by the stress of deciding what to spend money on during inflation. I think I’ve been suffering from it with all the projects I have going. I get to a point where it’s hard to focus on any of them, so I’ve been jumping from one to the other, doing a little here and a little there. Not as satisfying but it gets the jobs done. Usually.

Great doodle, Charlie. I can hear his little paw tapping.

Aww I adore that story, Mugdha! 😃💕 I can totally picture it too! What a wonderful moment, indeed. Much love to you my friend!

Thanks so much, Shawn! 😃💕 Yeah, those were really fun days. Cool to see a photo appear slowly instead of all at once!

My mastiffs were rather fond of gatherings as well! Once we took them to a downtown summer event. Within minutes, we were gathering as large a crowd as any of the booths because people wanted to pet them or have their pictures taken with them. The boys were so good, posing nicely, but we had to keep warning people that our dogs would assume children were offering their ice cream cones, and they would accept. After about half an hour we hadn’t managed to go anywhere, because people kept coming. We gave up and went home. Good thing it was free entry

I don’t like large gatherings either and prefer one on one or even two or three others is okay. Nice sketch Charlie, yours are all nice sketches! Did you get your ice cream?

Beautiful doodle Charlie. When my wife and went went out for the day, we’d find a good spot to have our picnic lunch so that we could people watch.

I totally identify with your introvert side although I try to pretend I’m an extrovert–for about 15 minutes.

Such a sweet painting, Charlie!!!

This is great Charlie. I almost code penguins as my subject too – but finally went with ducks! LOL

Thanks so much, Mugdha! 😃💕 Looking out the window is definitely the best way to handle crowds! hehe Much love to you!

Love penguins ❤️❤️❤️ Sweet!!!

Lovely loose watercolors! Thank you for sharing!

Your work is an inspiration! Thank you for the links, and for sharing your beautiful watercolors with us!

Beautiful works — I love that clutch of croci (crocuses)! Interesting too how you would take music and paint, and also accounting, engaging both brain hemispheres. I enjoyed your article and thank you.

Nice to meet you Angela. Your works are amazing!

Love your work!

I know the feeling of resistance very well – one of the reasons I paint a postcard for my husband’s lunchbag each day. It’s for someone else, so I feel like I need to do it even when I don’t wanna.

Sweet Doodle tonight, Charlie! I have no problem resisting that resistance band but resisting my paintbrush and paints is a whole other story. Even if it’s only 15 or 20 minutes a day after supper it’s my gift of time to me. And if I can sneak in a little extra time during the day….I won’t be able to resist that either. 😊

Lovely work

Nice doodle, Charlie

Just so adorable like your other cheeky critters 🥰

Another adorable character!! Love your work.

Hola, mi amiga! 😃💕 Yeah, I keep mentioning the newsletter when I can so folks know about it! Oh wow… that’s awesome. I did not know that. Too fun! And yes, you should definitely keep watercoloring!! Hugs to you!!

Aww… thanks! hehe 😊

Oh wow! I love that Maurice Sendak story! I hadn’t heard that. That’s so inspiring! Thanks for that, Mugdha. Much love to you! 😃💕