Written by So I’ve never tried to draw a true selfie before, but figured since it was both DNA Day as well as my pal Teresa Robeson’s #SelfieArt day, I’d finally give it a try. Not sure if this really resembles me or anyone who shares bits of my DNA, but I decided to face my fears and go for it. Human faces are so incredibly difficult to do and I accidentally gave myself an unintentional nose job when inking my initial quick sketch. One little line out of place and suddenly it’s an entirely different person or something that resembles a monkey. In the end, I’d rather just draw the monkey, I think, but it was fun to challenge myself with something different. And this does rather resemble me, so hopefully it doesn’t look too much like a monkey.
As for DNA Day, it’s a day to learn all about genetics and genomics. Outside of the Hollywood elite and probably them as well, I’ll bet everyone has had a moment when they wished they’d been blessed with a better set of genes. But since everything we feel about ourselves is just made up in our heads, the good news is, we can decide to feel whatever way we want! Years ago, my friend had just finished her third glass of wine and was feeling particularly good in her new spring dress. She slowly started spinning side to side in it and then happily proclaimed, “I look damn good today! This dress doesn’t know I’m fat!”
The cool part about DNA is knowing, for all practical purposes, its unique in each of us. There’s nobody else in the world exactly like you or me and that makes us each delightfully uncommon. So, today is the day to love your DNA and embrace it! Warts and all! We’re all awesome in that special way that’s different than anyone else and that’s indeed a day worth celebrating. Though I have to admit as I drink this glass of wine, this shirt does actually know I’m fat. But hey, today? I’m cool with it.
Join me any and all days you like during April by celebrating a National or International Day with a doodlewash! Tag your image #doodlewashaday and I’ll feature everyone who played along on doodlewash.com at the end of the month!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Burnt Sienna, Cobalt Teal, Cobalt Blue, and Neutral Tint. Sennelier L’Aquarelle: Opera Rose. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
It’s brilliant! Good one, Charlie!
Awww thanks Catherine!! So happy you liked it! 💕😃
Helloooooo Handsome! <3 Look how beaYOUtiful! 🙂 Even if you did look like a Monkey – I would love you. And I love your friend and her spring dress story! We all need to feel about ourselves the way we do after three glasses of wine all the time! LOL!
Thanks Jodi!! 💕😃That’s so sweet that you’d still love me if I were a monkey. I’m not by the way, but good to know!!haha! Yessssss!! We DO need to always feel like that right?! Hehe🍷🍷🍷😃
I love it!! And though I haven’t met you in person, I think that grin that turns into a smirk is perfect.. I picture you smiling always. And you really are the king of textures.. Love your hair! ❤️
Thanks Kari!! 💕😃 This was one of my good hair selfies so I chose it to doodlewash! Hehe… And yeah…I do smile all the time when I’m not smirking. I tend to find the humor in just about everything! Lol 😊
I just love that about you! 💕
Awww thanks! 😃💕
Well well, aren’t you the handsome blue eyed one! There is some good DNA there Charlie! Perfect way to celebrate, love the attached story as well. Looks like we both got brave and did a serious selfie. Thanks to Teresa
Awww thanks Susan!! Glad you liked my DNA! 💕😃 Now there’s something I never thought I would find myself saying. Lol Yep…big thanks to Teresa for the push!! We both needed it!! 😉hehe
Excellent ! LOL about the nose job : )
Hehe!! Thanks Cynthia!! 💕😃I’m still not sure which nose I prefer! Lol
I think you did a outstandingly, Excellent portraiture!! it conveyed so much personality and attitude, revealing so much inner sensitivity…..
I REALLY love this Charlie!
and not because i see CTB. 🙂
Very nice!
Thanks so much!! Appreciate it! 💕😃
Yes you did capture you just perfectly in your portrait, Charlie. The dress story is wonderful!
Thanks Sharon! 💕😃 I think I got the smirk and eyes. Too bad about the nose I think, but it’s close! Hehe…glad you liked that story!
Looking good, Charlie!
Awww…thanks so much, Jack!! Appreciate it! 😃
You are about to wink, I can tell! Your fear of portraying humans is unfounded. (K)
Yep…I am probably going to wink. 😊 Thanks, Kerfe! 💕😃 If I can just practice a bit, I’m sure I’ll feel more confident. But I doubt humans will ever beat animals when it comes to my fave thing to sketch! 😊
Eeeeeeee! It’s Charlie! <3 I'm sure by now you won't need me to tell you how overjoyed I am; how marvellous that you've doodlewashed the star of this show at long last. You certainly don't need better genes – a suitably irritatingly handsome portrait! I love your upward glance and big smirk – downright naughty if you ask me! Which, of course, is completely unsuitable. 😉 But there's *so* much personality coming through, it's very charming, as I knew it would be.
(OK, I didn't think I'd get quite this overexcited by you doing a portrait/self-portrait. I've got to try and sleep now man!!! But all the same: more more more!!!)
Awwww thanks Jacob!! 😃 You’re so sweet! Hehe…wasn’t sure if you’d still be awake for this one as I was running late today. So glad you liked it. I have been putting this off for months. Drawing myself is not something I love as much as cute animals. I liked your portrait of me better! Hehe…naughty, eh? Who? Moi? *tries to make innocent face and remove smirk….fails…goes back to smirking* Not sure if I’ll try this again soon, but it was fun to get it done finally! 😉 Hope you’re sleeping well!
It’s nice to see parallels between our Charlies! I find yours more engaging than my own; the whole style suggests a character rather than just the facial expression. Enviable! I keep trying to show a bit more ‘character’ but always seem to revert on old habits.
And yes, I’ll lay off for a bit now you’ve done your portrait 😉 To be honest, it’s probably good to give me some time to recover. And innocent is boring… keep on smirkin’!
Lol…thanks!! I don’t think I could stop smirking if I tried! 😊hehe
Ha, if you actively try to stop, you’ll just smirk even more! That’s how it is for me, anyway! 😉
Yep…that’s exactly what happens! 😊lol
Yay! This is cool, especially the twinkle in your eye. I love how your drawings have such a unique style, that is a big accomplishment. Without reading anything I know it’s you!
That’s quite a compliment coming from the master of characters and expressions, Arvind!! 😃 Thank you so much!! Glad you see a unique style…I always still feel like I’m still searching for my style.
Woohoo! Well done, Charlie! Love the personality in this self portrait.
Thanks so much Annie!! 💕😃 People portraits aren’t really my thing so I’m thrilled you liked this!
YAY Charlie!! So happy you were brave today too – FANtastic drawing of YOU from one of your biggest fans! 🌟🎉💖🍷 Love those blue eyes and smile! Cheers friend! 💕💖🎨
Awww thanks so much Jill!! 💕💕😃 Hehe…you’re so sweet!! This was such a crazy challenge for me. 😊 Glad you think it turned out okay! Now…back to monkeys! Lol
Wonderful job Charlie! The great blue eyes are enlightening I love your portrait it turned out great! Let’s celebrate Self-Portrait Fear Defeated!LOL I never wanted to do mine until today!!!! Yay and here it is https://yesterdayafter.com/2016/04/25/national-dna-day/
I am having so much fun playing along! And thanks for your great comment to mine! 😉
Thanks, Carolina! 💕😃Yes!! That should definitely be a day! Well…it was as we both celebrated it! Hehe… Yours is lovely! So glad you’re enjoying this and playing along with me! Yay! 😃
You did great Charlie, I have never done a selfie…well drawn, I did attempt a carved stamp, that was as brave as I could get, I now put you in my brave talented list, as doing oneself is a tough challenge ….I don’t think I could stand looking at myself for too long, staring at every imperfection! Lol very well done mr blue eyes 😀
Hehe…thanks so much Rebecca! 💕😃 I felt that way with this! I was staring at myself thinking…do I really have that many laugh lines, what’s that thing by my eye…that much gray in my hair, really? 😊lol But it’s finally done! Glad ya liked it!
Lol it’s good to know we all think the same things about ourselves. Laughter lines are good though, it would be a big shame if you couldn’t find them…..laugh away, every day 😉
Hey, handsome! You did a great job, and I am now convinced that you can paint anything and everything (not that I ever had any doubt). Love how you captured the texture in your hair and the twinkle in your eye!
Awww thanks Carol! 😊💕That’s so sweet of you! Portraits still confound me, but I’m pleased you liked how this one turned out!
Charlie, you do beautiful portraits!!! I’m so glad you were brave and shared! You are a handsome one! And I love that story about your friend with the dress. So much of life is above the neck and the sooner we get it, the better! Wonderful work, we wanna see more faces! 😀 <3
Hehe… Thanks Laura! 💕😃 I was determined to finally play along at least once! I think I’ll try more faces in the future, but not sure they will be mine. Lol Glad you liked that little story… it was a great way to look at life I thought!
It really is! We have to be reminded constantly of this! 😀
What a nice guy!!! And what a wonderful dress story! Perhaps I’ drinking the wrong sort of wine, this never happened to me until now…perhaps because there is only an old summer dress *lol*
Hehe… Thanks Birgit! 💕😃Glad ya liked that story! Not sure whether it was actually the newness of the dress or the potency of the wine. Likely the latter. Lol But we’ve all earned the right to feel gorgeous in any frock we wear! 😉
I remember the one you did last year, this is a great work Charlie! Birds, animals, food and now portraits! Cheers friend!👍🏼
Awww thanks Snehal!! 💕😃So glad you liked it! I keep trying a little bit of everything. Not sure portraits are my thing, but fun to change it up! Hehe
Look at you, my darling boy! I love it…same charming smile and twinkle in the eyes as your photo! 💙💙 I often end up giving myself virtual plastic surgery, too, so no worries. 😆 So glad you played along! 👍🏽💕
Hehe!! Thanks for the push my friend!! 💕😃Glad I played along as well! Hehe… I’m not sure my surgery was an improvement…hehe… Guess I should have been more intentional about fixing things! 😉lol
*snort*! You don’t need anything fixed! P loves you (as do we) just the way you are!
😊😊😊you’re so sweet!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Hehe…thanks Cynthia! 💕😃Actually my real birthday was on the 13th, but this is my birthday month so feel free to wish me a happy birthday on a daily basis!! Yay!! Hehe
Great portrait Charlie O’ You don’t begin to resemble a monkey. Besides no self respecting monkey would wear a collared shirt.
Haha!! Thanks for that Judy! 💕😃Although it was rather disconcerting when “A Big Gorilla” popped up as a related post under this one! 😊lol
Well gosh, it looks just like you 😄😄😄
Hehe…yay! Thanks Teri!! 💕😃
Great portrait, cheeky Charlie 🙂
Hehe…Thanks Tori! 💕😃I am a bit cheeky…I blame my DNA! 😊Lol
What a charming you! Charlie!
Hehe…thanks so much Cathe!! 💕😃
Awesome selfie, Charlie :-)! Yup, you can draw and paint anything!
hehe… Thanks! Not sure I loved the likeness, but it definitely looks like a person! That’s so nice of you to say!! Thanks, Myriam! 💕😃
Lol! :-D. You clearly drew a charming man with a cute smile and sweet and intelligent eyes, who has a lot in common with the Charlie in your website photo.
Awww…now you just have me blushing 😊😊hehe
I recognised you straight away, Charlie, so that makes it a good Selfie already! (Sorry, I’m having issues with the Like button today – if it isn’t one thing, it’s another!) And what’s the point of doing a Selfie if we can’t improve ourselves in subtle ways? 😉 Not that it’s always needed, obviously.
Hehe…thanks Tom!! Glad ya liked my selfie. I’m not sure I made improvements or just mistakes! Lol But yes to changes! Safest kind of plastic surgery there is! 😉👍🏻hehe
Most definitely! 😀
You’re so right, Charlie, all it takes is one line slightly wrong, and it alters everything. I find this challenge a mind-bender and cause for further meditative thought, because the lines of our faces are so unique (DNA!) and yet if the powers-that-be had altered the bend of our nose or the line of our chin, or the angle of one eye, we’d look like someone else. It’s deep! 🙂
p.s. your selfie-art rocks
Thanks so much, Yvette! 💕😃 Yeah it’s so bizarre when you go to paint a face. You might as well be painting a fingerprint. Definitely fascinating! I’m just happy at this point when it comes out looking like a human at all! Hehe
not what I expected when I read DNA, but is an awesome selfie!
Hehe…it’s all my DNA at once!! 😊Lol Thanks Kathrin!!
Good job, Charlie!!!!
Awww… thanks so much Leslie!! 💕😃
Love this!
WOW, very cool, Charlie. Love it!
Thanks so much, Mickey! 😃💕
I only have your Doodlewash snapshot to go but I like your selfie – it catches much of what I see in your daily posts. I had a science teacher in high school who would always advise the girls to look at a boy’s genes, not his jeans (girls didn’t wear jeans back then – unthinkable!). I still think it’s good advice.
hehe… that’s wonderful advice! 😃💕 And so glad you liked my one and only selfie!