Written by With rather few options available for a creature of this letter, I decided to doodlewash this newt. Newts are a type of salamander and have the unusual ability to regenerate body parts including limbs, spinal cord tissues, and even eyes. Many of these little guys are also highly toxic, but only if ingested, so humans are safe to handle newts as long as they don’t try to eat them. Something I’m hoping most humans would never consider.
Newt populations are rapidly declining worldwide, a problem facing many amphibians due to deforestation and pollution. Without the humans to screw up their little lives, they can actual live quite a long time, with some newts living over 25 years. Some species of newt will curl up and play dead when provoked by a predator, or lie on their back exposing their bright underbelly as a warning. Apparently bright bellies are not something these attackers like, or perhaps it’s just nature’s hazard warning label, considering their high toxicity.
I’ve no personal experiences with newts, so this is all I was able to discover in my intense five minutes of research. It’s equally possible I ended up included lies and urban legends in these factoids, but for the most part I think these are basically truths. I’m not sure if a newt qualifies as cute, but I rather enjoyed created this little guy and hope you’ll like him as well. The next letter is “O” so if you have a suggestion of what I should doodlewash, shout it out in the comments!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Quinacridone Gold, Azo Orange, Pyrrol Red, Perylene Maroon, Ultramarine Blue, 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
Hi Charlie, Lil’ Newt looks like he is ready to jump off the page. Cool doodlewash! As for “O” I suggest Orangutan. One of my favorite animals, or Octopus. 🙂
Awww thanks Sharon! 💕😃Glad you liked my beer! Hehe And thanks for the suggestions!!!
I am laughing out loud at your “intense 5 minutes of research” comment! 😀 If I weren’t an introvert and never threw parties, I would invite you to every party I have because you would be THE LIFE of my parties! <3 As far as I know, all you've said about newts are true. And I agree with Sharon, your little newt does look so real, he looks like he could jump out of the screen!
Awww thanks Teresa!! ❤️Lol…it’s just as well though really as I’m an introvert as well so it’s entirely likely I’d go all newt and play dead when confronted with too many people. 😊
Hahaha! That would be fun to see at a party, too. 😉
He actually looks kind of cute 😉 although I do prefer fur animals .
An Octopus like Sharon suggested would be cool , or maybe an Ornithorhynchus ?
Turtle Hugs
Awww thanks! 💕😃Wait…an octopus doesn’t have fur! Lol Yeah… I’m more for big eyes and fur, but some of these letters are tough for that! Hehe
You are so funny. I look forward to your commentary and your awesome paintings!
Thanks so much Teri!! 😃💕I’m so happy you enjoy my little posts…hehe… It’s been fun doing these this month!
Enjoyed your nuggets of knowledge on Newts, Charlie! 😜 Hehe! They sure are red in color! Wow! ❤️ Oh, I do hope you paint an Octopus! 🐙💕🐙
I knew you would pick an octopus! 😉
You know me well Nancy! Lol! 😜💜🐙
Thanks so much Jill! 💕😃 Not all newts are this colorful, but I just had to break out some colors and play!! Lol 😊 And I’m definitely considering an octopus…not sure if something else will distract me yet. Hehe
We have lots of geckos here, so I particularly like this little guy (or gal?) very much.
I really don’t know how to tell the gender if newts! Lol That wasn’t in my slap dash research. 😊but glad you liked this!! Thanks, Cynthia!! 💕😃
p.s. I’m partial to ostriches!
Oh yeah!! There are so many more options for O! That’s both good and bad. It’s hard to choose! Hehe
Your NEWT is so CUTE, Charlie! 😀 Just like you, my friend! Ooh, so shiny and sweet with his deforested self! lol OK, I vote for Oriole! I also like the other O ideas above. Ostrich….haven’t you done one of these? Or was it an emu? <3
Thanks Laura!! ❤️😃Glad you liked my little newt. I wasn’t sure if I could make him cute, hehe… A bit of a slimy thing. And yep…I did an emu previously so I’ll probably take it somewhere else, but who ever knows. I never know what my mood will be later!😊 Lol
Great shadow, as well as movement and color.
Isn’t it amazing how few N-animals, and I can think of so many O’s right away…but I’m going with owl. (K)
Thanks Kerfe!! 💕😃I know…O has so many possibilities it’s going to be hard to choose!! But I do like owls!! 😃
You paint such charasmatic little creatures! He looks as if he’s saying ‘catch me if you can’ and about to dart off! Maybe not pushing the ‘cute’ button for me, but he’s most definitely striking with that dangerous red! Wow! Those colours are definitely warning signs. I shan’t be trying newt anytime soon, for sure…
Another order over here for Octopus. Also how about Owl or Ocelot?
Hehe…sorry I didn’t push your cute button with this one! Not a lot of choice for N! lol So I just went with the most colorful thing I could find. Yeah…”don’t eat newt” was my public service announcement for the day! Lol Definitely considering and owl or octopus. Shall need to google Ocelot. 😊
Hahaha, how grateful we are for your announcements. And You’re in for a treat when you google ocelots… they so cute!!! I want one! I should really just give in and start building the ark, for all these animals I’m apparently going to own.
Yeah…better start now! I’m pretty sure ark building is a time consuming process! 😉lol
Don’t I *Noah* it, aha ha ha ha.
oh man…. hahaha… that was a groaner and I LOVE it! lol
ark…own…and protect! <3
I’m going to go with owl too. I think they are super cute, just like your little newt.
Awww thanks Nancy!! 💕😃 Yeah…owls can be cute. I’m definitely thinking about it! 😉
Your Newt is Cewt! 🙂 And I’m betting a buck that tomorrow is Octopus.
Thanks Jodi!! ❤️hehe… And a dollar eh? Good thing you didn’t bet a cookie…then I’d avoid the octopus just to get one! 😊hehe
Beautiful sketch! The research you cite prompts me to include this link–a TED video well worth watching, related to the pressures on biodiversity (including amphibians), since you have raised this important issue. Art has a role to play in moving our understanding of these issues further along.
http://www.ted.com/talks/johan_rockstrom_let_the_environment_guide_our_development?language=en
I’m pleased you like the sketch! And thanks so much for sharing the link! This is such an important issue in our world today.
Cute little guy! I like owl and octopus as well, but how about oryx?
Thanks! Hehe…glad you liked him. The first two are definitely on the list. Just remembered Oryx… Cool!
The little guy certainly has lots of personality! Love the colors! Would it not be nice to be able to regenerate body parts! I have to research what type of toxins are found in their bodies and how lethal they are. The name is so strange. I’m afraid I keep thinking of Newt Gingrich… Lol. 😊😁😜
Awww thanks Kari!! 💕😃 Yeah… regenerated body parts would be a cool skill to have. Though a bit creepy I’d imagine as they were growing back in. And haha… Gingrich kept popping in my search! Totally different kind of toxicity there. 😉
He is so adorable, I can see his swagger of a walk, thrusting his hips from side to side! Well captured. I love newts. I am opting for the eight leg wonder, for its intelligence, and ability to squeeze through tiny spaces.
Thanks, Rebecca! 💕😃 He does seem to have a bit of swagger doesn’t he? Lol And I’ve definitely out the eight leg wonder in consideration. All depending if I have time today to actually sketch 8 legs! 😊hehe
Another wonderful one, Charlie. Let me second Jacob’s suggestion of an owl. I’d love to see what you do with one of those.
Thanks Michael! Yeah…owl is a strong consideration. Right know it’s competing with an Octopus… which pulls up a strange visual on my head! Lol
Hello dear newt! Handsome little fellow! I’m sorry we are screwing up your environment, makes me very sad. As for “o”, lots of great suggestions, which to go with…?
Glad you liked this Cathe! 💕😃 Yeah…we’re not playing very nicely with out newt friends these days. Still no clue which way I’ll go for O! 😊Too many options!! Lol
I kept reading to see what your personal story about the newt was. In addition to your artwork your stories always make me smile! I even laughed this time that there was no personal story! 😉
Lol…yeah…I don’t have a personal story about everything I doodlewash so I often have to improvise something for these posts! 😊 Glad ya liked it! Hehe
Five minutes of research eh? Too funny. Lovin’ the little newt. 🙂
Hehe…yeah…5 minutes is all I can devote. Don’t want to steal my preciously short doodlewash time! 😊 Thanks Susan!! 💕😃
I hear you. I don’t like stealing time from my art either. 🙂
I go R is for that cheeky little bugger called a Raccoon, or a Russian Blue.
If your lovely red Newt were a light jade green, it would be one of our tropical geckoes, small and so cute, with round pads as feet that help it stick to the walls and ceilings (they come in at night and wait for mosquitoes as their food).
Yeah I almost did a gecko for G! But realized I’d never tried a giraffe!! Lol And thanks for the R suggestions…I still haven’t figured out what I’ll do for Q yet! Lol 😊😊
Lovely colors for a newt, Charlie. I have no experience with them either, but if my memory serves me correctly, all the witches on Saturday morning cartoons needed an eye of newt in their potions. Newt eyes must be pretty special!! 😄
Thanks Carol!! 😃💕And haha! That’s all I knew about newts as well! Can’t remember what the eye of newt was for though. Hehe
Love the colors. A handsome little guy!
Aww thanks! 😃