Written by Once upon a time there was a little boy who loved sitting and reading a book. In fact, he would often be late for dinner while trying to get to the end of the next chapter. His mom would call for him and he would grudgingly put down his book and make the seemingly long, arduous walk to the dinner table. Of course he was hungry, but food always seemed to get in the way. There were entire worlds to explore and new things to learn. He wanted to find out what happened next with a curiosity that seemed to crackle under his skin.
Years went by and the boy began to change. Little by little he was growing taller and all those books had made him wiser. He began to tell his own stories and share them with his friends. He listened closer when his grandmother told him things about her past. He hadn’t really thought of those conversations as stories before, but realized now they were. Stories just as wonderful as the ones that had made him late for dinner all those years ago. Maybe one day he would write them all down. Maybe one day.
Much more time past and the little boy was now what you might refer to as a middle-aged man. Time had moved by so quickly. Life was busy and hectic now and there wasn’t ever time to tell stories anymore, much less to read them or even listen to them. But what if just for a moment, things were quiet? What then? So, the now old boy did something he had never taken the time to do before. He slowly closed his eyes and just listened. And with each breath came a glimpse of the past. All those tales he had thought were long gone. They all came flooding back in the silence. Those many wonderful stories that he used to love. Once upon a time.
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, Ultramarine Blue, Azo Orange, Cobalt Teal, Cobalt Blue, Pyrrol Red, 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
Wonderful story Charlie. Thanks for telling it. 🙂
Thanks so much Susan! Glad you liked this! 💕😃
This is beautiful thank you for sharing! And I love the doodlewash! Here is mine too…;-)
https://yesterdayafter.com/2016/04/27/national-tell-a-story-day/
Thanks so much Carolina! 💕😃Glad you liked this! And I loved yours! So cool!!
Thank you! I am so happy that I am join this was a great month I will keep join 😉
I love that people joined in!! That’s really the whole concept of doodlewash! Community!! 😃 I’m going to just start doing this every month I think! No need to commit to a full month challenge, just hop in an join me when the mood hits! Hehe
It is very motivating and it was just what I needed since I wanted to commit to doodlewash more on a regular basis like I used in my past years this was great for me and I love the community it is beautiful to support each other! You had a wonderful idea Charlie the whole concept is great and inspiring 😉
That’s so sweet of you, Carolina!💕😃 It’s been so fun to include people on these adventures. That’s really the concept of Doodlewash… it’s all about bringing artists together so we can take over the world! Lol … okay… maybe not all that, but it is could to connect with each other. Makes all of our work better!
You’re welcome I think is amazing that we have found a beautiful community here. And share the adventures is a beautiful way to stay motivated and creative nonetheless a way to learn sharing our work, ideas and inspirations and….yes we can take over the world 😉 maybe not all that but we can take over our artistic world! 😉 <3
awww… I LOVE that! Yes! Let’s!!! Hehe😉
Aww, love the story and the doodlewash. Yes, story to tell in many ways. You’re doing a great job, Charlie.
Aww thanks so much Sharon! 💕😃Glad you enjoyed this one… wasn’t quite sure what I would do for this day. 😉
That little boy is you! Love how his one foot is curled up
hehe… thanks Cynthia! 💕😃Glad you liked this!
This is wonderful. I love the colors, and theme.
Thanks so much, Deborah! Glad you enjoyed this one! 💕😃
that is just perfect Charlie!
just close the eyes…. yes, that is wonderful. What a Brilliant post today. loved it!!
its kind of sad that these days now, we don’t do what our grandparents did much at all. Tell the stories….. they told us.
you are so right. maybe I will!!
Awww thanks soooo much Debi!💕😃 I’m thrilled you enjoyed this one. I really wasn’t sure what story would come out when I started typing one! 😊And yes, you should tell those stories!
you’re welcome Charlie 🙂 loved it
What a sweet little story – and an adorable little boy – little charlie o? 🙂 I love the turned up foot 🙂 <3
Thanks Jodi! 💕😃Actually the reference was a black and white photo of some other little kid on Pixabay. Hehe… but in general, it’s definitely like me and how I used to sit! Glad you liked it!
You tell an AWESOME story my friend! 💖💕 And your drawing is a very HAPPY ever after! 😄 Your details in your child are so excellent !!! YAY! 🎨💕🌈🌟👍
Thanks Jill!!💕😃 I’m getting a little more bold about attempting humans. Lol Glad you liked how this one turned out!
And now that boy has an army of fans at his knee, eagerly awaiting the next compelling story…? Very sweet. I remember being like that myself, once.
Another person? You spoil us this week, Charles. Another great job!
Hehe… Thanks Jacob! An army? I really doubt it’s that large. 😊 I’ve decided humans are just a bunch of lines in the end like animals and food, so I’ve decided I’m just going to boldly doodlewash them when they are required for a proper illustration. Lol Glad you liked this!
I love the little boy that still lives inside the older little boy.. 😘 What a charming story, Charlie and a terrific doodlewash! I hope the art of story telling will live on.. I wonder if our children will appreciate it as much as we did. I hope so!
Thanks Kari! 💕😃Yeah… I worry sometimes about the art of storytelling in our world of sound bites and status posts. But story has been a part of us from the beginning so it’s not going away any time soon!
Beautiful story Charlie, and your little boy looks as though he may be you. Great post. ❤️😎
Hehe… Thanks Sharon! 💕😃The pose is me, but I didn’t have blonde hair by that age. It was already getting dark. Likely why the gray came early as well! lol
Hah, you and me both, we can be proud of our “silver” we earned it!
Cheers to that!!
Love your autobiographical post! And is that another selfie? 💙 You sure grew up to be an excellent teller of stories, both written and painted! ❤️
That’s so sweet of you, Teresa! 💕😃I’ve always loved stories of all kinds. This isn’t an official selfie as the little boy from a black and white photo I found. I made up the colors and decided he needed blonde hair, which I didn’t have by his age. But it’s a form of selfie because I sat just like that for hours and hours! 😊Lol
It’s you in spirit! 😉💙
A lovely, moving and inspiring post and a wonderful image. Thank you.
Thanks so much Michael! Glad you enjoyed this one! 😃
Charlie, what a truly emotional story, so beautiful, and well written….and I love those striped socks. You can certainly see from your doodlewash, that nothing is gonna pull him away from that book. Fantastic.
Thanks so much Rebecca! 💕😃So happy you liked this little story. I only have time for a quick doodlewash and three paragraphs lately. But yeah… he’s not leaving that book anytime soon!! 😉
I love reading you paragraphs Charlie, they are always as impressive as the art…quite a talent to be great at both the writing and drawing 😀
That made me so happy…thank you so much Rebecca! 💕What a wonderful compliment. It’s hard to doodlewash and write every day. 😊I’m so happy you like what I post!
Thank you for sharing a piece of your story. 🙂
Thanks so much Rebecca! 💕😃
…and we are glad he is sharing his stories. This is a sweet one Charlie, beautifully matched doodlewash and words. (K)
Thanks Kerfe! 💕😃Wanted to do something for this day, of course, but had to write small since my time was so short. So happy you enjoyed it!
A lovely story to match a wonderful doodlewash. You’ve totally captured that sense of being spellbound by a book, it’s completely charming 💜
Thanks Tori! 💕😃Really appreciate that! Glad you think I captured it. Yay!
That story is really lovely and it match perfect with the doodlewash , I really love that one and comparing with the story it was just beautyfuö 💙👌😄
Thank you! So happy you liked them both! 💕😃
Of course, you are such a creator 😉 I love all your doodlwashes
Awww thanks! 😊😃
I love the way his face glows into the book and the book is shining a light back at him. I agree with Tori; you’ve captured the feeling beautifully, Charlie. I could so see this in a child’s room. Really lovely. <3
Awww thanks Laura!💕😃 I used to sit like this all the time…hehe… love reading. I always wanted to be a writer, but life went a different way. So thrilled you liked this!
I always wanted to be a writer too!!!! ((((((((Bro)))))))))) 😘😄😃
See? I knew we were long lost siblings!! hehe😃💕
Right??? 😀
Ok and ditto on the reading. Always!!!
What an absolutely charming post. I love that you are a storyteller and illustrator Charlie! Such wonderful attributes. You were so charming and adorable as you are as an adult.
hehehe…. now I’m actually blushing all over I think and sort of giggling like a little boy. 😊😊What a wonderful compliment. Thanks so much Cathe! 💕😃