National Sardines Day by Charlie O'Shields
By Charlie

National Sardines Day

Written by Charlie O'Shields

Today is all about celebrating those tiny little fish known as sardines. They often come in a can and are loved by millions while simultaneously freaking out the remainder of the population. I’m not a big fan, and they’re usually headless, which was just too gross to doodlewash so I put their heads back on.

I’ve been loving limited palettes lately, and not sure why but here we go again. This one uses just Azo Green, Pyrrol Red, Cobalt Blue with Neutral Tint. Today I was a bit rushed and am posting later than I normally do, but this is such an odd day, that if you actually love these things, I’m sure you’re already celebrating it.

Philippe is a huge fan of sardines and has turned Phineas on to the notion, though admittedly the dog will eat anything that you put in front of him. He even eats dried leaves off the terrace, and later regurgitates them, leading us to refer to them as his “pukey chips.” But sardines are far better for him and make his coat all shiny, so there’s something to be said for these little creatures after all.

There’s just something weird to me about eating fish out of a can that I can’t get past. I’ve tried them once when Philippe coaxed me, and they weren’t as horrific as I had imagined, but still not the culinary treat that would keep me coming back for more. To be fair, I’m typically against all meat in a can, but have to admit having fried SPAM as a child.

SPAM, however, isn’t actually meat, but a “meat product.” Something that’s been processed beyond belief and no longer retains any of the qualities of real meat. So I guess, if you want me to eat meat out of a can, you just need to disguise it’s animal characteristics and render it unrecognizable. It also helps if you catch me when I’m terribly young and would probably be just as likely to try some “pukey chips.”

But if sardines are your thing, then this day was made for you! Roll open a can and dig into some headless goodness packed in oil, water, mustard or tomato sauce. Whatever you like best! I’ll be opting out of this day, however, and feasting on just about anything else.

Charlie O'Shields

Creator of Doodlewash, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world!

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53 thoughts on “National Sardines Day”

  2. Like your drawing. Don’t think I would like sardines but I’ve never tried them so I don’t know for sure. I can imagine that eating them must give Phineas interesting breath…hmmm.

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  3. We love sardines! Hubby makes an excellent sardine pasta. 🙂 Actually, we love all fish…the oilier the better (my favorite has to be mackerel and salmon). Fish in a can (they’re whole, too!) is nothing like meat in a can, although I’m a fan of SPAM, too. I know, I’m weird! LOL!

    Speaking of SPAM, we had scrapple for dinner tonight. It’s big on the East Coast and it’s like a non-canned SPAM. So yummy with ketchup. Am I grossing you out?

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      1. I have a friend who can’t stand Scrapple because she doesn’t like the taste of liver, but I love offal and innards! 😀 I would never gross you out on purpose, my dear…okay, maybe just a little. Heh! xo

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  4. I’m with you Charlie, I’ve never been a fan of sardines. But, there are several cans in the cupboard. My husband Gary likes them occasionally. I wonder if it’s that way in every partnership, hee hee. I love your doodle wash. You really nailed the tin can color. 🐟

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  6. I love sardines, anchovies and yes, even SPAM.. I’m Japanese after all. Mom used to put SPAM into stir fry, fried rice, soup.. Wonderful doodlewash..I was getting worried that you may miss today.. Glad you made it!! ❤️

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    1. Thanks Kari! ❤️😃Hehe…I was a bit worried too today! 😳 I barely had time to do one and had to knock this post out in less 40 minutes that I barely had! But I was determined to do it!! Should be back on schedule now, since it’s the holidays! 😊 And wowser! That’s a ton of uses for SPAM I wouldn’t have imagined! Of course…I am imagining it now and would love to try them all just to see! Hehe

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  7. The specular on that lid… you’s getting too good at this stuff, Charlie!

    Hmm! I think this is another knees-up that I’m going to have to ‘forget’ about. You mention SPAM – sardines or SPAM… now there’s a dilemma… one I hope to never have to contemplate again, ever!

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  10. So how you get from National Sardine Day to SPAM cracks me up! But….. the doodlewash – AMAZING! Seriously! your talent…. I am beyond words… how you can make these little buggers look so awesome is beyond me. Only you Charlie O! Only YOU! 🙂

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  11. Super fabulous doodle! love the texture and “believability” of the rolled can lid. You ROCK my friend! I thoroughly dislike the smell of the things, but they are amazingly good on a full tossed salad. you don’t even need salad dressing. Those creatures do double duty.

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  12. I must put this day in my calendar…I love Sardines, any which way, and fresh-cooked too. My fave is to just mash them from a can onto a couple of slices of crisp toast, with a layer of fresh sliced Spanish onion and Iceberg lettuce underneath the sardines…YUM-O.
    Of course, your doodle is another success, Charlie. 🙂

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  13. Charlie–I’m with Philippe here: sardines are a satisfying, tasty snack. Our kid used to wrinkle their noses when they smelled but I love them. But can we talk about your sardine can? It is so realistic! Really. You nailed the coiled lid–it almost looks like a photo to me. And the shadow around the edge is perfect. Really, really well done.

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  14. Ultra Fab Doodlewash! Ultra Yucky food choice! My husband loves them… I on the other hand would have to be near death before they entered my food list. I make my husband throw the cans outside & gargle with industrial strength LISTERINE! So thankful you reattatched their heads 😉

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    1. Thanks so much!! Glad you liked it! 😃As for the “days”…there’s a days of the year calendar and a national days calendar I found via Google. Usually gives me quite a few options to choose from and then if I don’t like those, I just keep googling! It’s amazing how many things are being celebrated in a single day. Lol

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  18. Did you ever play the game ‘Sardines’ when you were a child? Its a variation of Hide & Seek. All the players wait together except for one, who runs away and hides. The group count to 100 then go to seek out the hidden person. If you find them, you make NO sound, but squeeze in beside them in their hiding place. Slowly everyone ends up in the hiding place except for the last person to find them who is then OUT!

    My husband LOVES sardines on toast – yuck – think it goes back to his days boarding at a British Public School!
    Anchovies are another thing entirely, I love them – on pizza, as anchovy butter, pounded into the dressing for a proper Caesar salad..

    As ever, a thought-provoking post and fab doodlewash!

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    1. Oh wow!! I never played that game but sounds super fun! I guess it would be much harder to play as an adult and possibly much more awkward. 😳hehe… And seems like a trend that only one spouse likes these little guys. I do like a proper Caesar salad, but only if the anchovies have been fully pounded…I don’t like them in their natural state. 😊lol

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  22. Love your painting of sardines but I’m so glad that I don’t have to eat them! Spam is the stuff of nightmares, when I was at school we were made to eat deep fried Spam fritters, urgh!

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  23. My father used to love these (and smelt). I’m not sure if it is because he liked the taste or because he knew he’d have them all to himself as no one else would eat them. Yuck! Only thing worse in mackerel in a can.

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