Written by After a month of actual celebration days, today’s celebration was a moment to choose whatever you like and celebrate that! For my part, I chose the types of things I like to paint most which are edibles, glass, and metal. We’d just had our last cup of coffee this afternoon and this was what I saw sitting before me, and since it seemed to cover all of those bases, that’s what I sketched. I also really do love a nice coffee break, so this could have also been called Coffee Break Day, but that’s a real day celebrated on January 20th. Truly, it’s nearly impossible to come up with a day that doesn’t already exist. Either proof that there’s plenty to celebrate in the world or proof that people will choose to celebrate just about anything. Either way, I think it’s totally awesome! I love that so many things in life get their day in the sun. From the important topics to help spread awareness to the simplest of little pleasures that the world has to offer, despite our differences, there’s always a day that hopes to bring us together. So, I hope whatever you chose to celebrate today, it was a very special day for you and everyone you chose to share it with!
As I continue to pop in and sketch and write a little something each day, I feel rather happy and lucky. Though I have precious little time each day to sketch and write, pausing even a bit to do so is always a fantastic experience. I honestly wasn’t sure I would be able to keep this blog going even a couple of months when I first started. It was yet another whim, born out of my latest craze and enthusiasm at the time. I experienced a very special day trying watercolor for the first time while simultaneously returning to my love of drawing after decades of never lifting a pen to sketch. To mark this occasion, I founded World Watercolor Month in July, in hopes of inspiring the world to come together and celebrate the medium together that brought me so much joy. And here I am, over three years later, still writing and sketching each and every day. This, is indeed proof that when you follow your heart and your passion with determination, you can do things that you never expected were possible. I always evoke this site’s motto, which is simply “DO,” but it’s best mixed with a healthy dose of “never give up!”
Of all the things in the world to celebrate, sometimes we should remember to pause and celebrate ourselves. We live, dream, and do wonderful things each and every day. Sure, these things may not make it to the top of a social media feed, but that doesn’t make them less important. In fact, there was a time not very long ago, when the only people who could tell us if something was wonderful were the people sitting next to us. So, each night, I first simply show my little doodlewash to Philippe and he gives his reaction. Sometimes he loves it and sometimes it’s a bit mixed. He doesn’t actually read these posts at all, though I do make him listen to bits of my podcast when I’m doing a sound check. And I love this part of my daily ritual, because it all takes place offline. A lovely reminder that the world may be full of technology, but real life is still always devoid of it. And yes, some nights he’ll say, “you can do better than that.” And this mysteriously makes me love him all the more. It pushes me to keep right on trying, making, writing, sketching and painting. Happily showing up at both my best and worst and never worrying about the difference. In the end, I’m always just passionately celebrating Paint What You Love Day.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Aureolin, Vermilion, and Indigo (My “Vintage” Trio!). Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
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Thanks, Jodi! 💕😃
Once again you make me smile Charlie. And coffee…always! (K)
Aww yay! Glad I made you smile, Kerfe! 😃💕 And yes to coffee always!! hehe
You’ve painted my kind of coffee break – although since it’s calorie and cholesterol free, I’d throw in a donut or two!
haha! Oh trust me, on the weekends, the coffee breaks always include a cookie or two. To do otherwise, seems almost uncivilized. 😉
Really beautiful painting today! This site and its community are directly the result of you “following your heart with passion and determination.” It is an amazing accomplishment of which you should be proud.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 I’m so proud of what this site has become! It’s a very special place indeed! Thrilled so many people seem to enjoy it hear as well!
Very nice doodlewash with three colours…you have combined the technology and your personal charm together to make Doodlewash family grow and be supportive of each others painting endeavours…After all Rome was not built in a day…for me ..today is “Thank you Doodlewash Day”….
Aww that’s such a sweet thing to say! Thank you so much, Anita!! 😃💕 I’m so thrilled you’re enjoying it here. I really wanted to create a supportive and fun community from the start. It’s wonderful to see that dream coming true!
Mmmm coffee! I have a couple of cups in the morning and that’s about it. Too jittery with more. I went out and snapped some flower pictures today before the mosquitoes found me and tried to kidnap me. So flowers are my happy place.
Yeah, I have my mother’s genes. She drinks coffee all day long like water as it has no ill effect. That said, flowers are a wonderful happy place indeed! 🙂
A completely endearing thought: “Either proof that there’s plenty to celebrate in the world or proof that people will choose to celebrate just about anything.” Your Doodlewashes are always a joy to see because it’s obvious you take such joy in painting them, but it’s your commentary that makes your posts absolutely glow. When I taught art, I required that the students write an artist’s statement about each project. It was the part of their experience that made them realize how important THEY were to their art, each artwork a reflection of what informed their lives.
I’m so happy you enjoyed this Sharon! 😃💕 And that’s a fantastic exercise! I’m noticed my posts have inspired artists to write a bit more when they’re sharing work from the challenges. It always feel like it makes a more complete picture that way. And conversely, knowing I have to write about whatever I sketch means I have to sketch with a story in my head. And I think that makes them turn out better than if I hadn’t started from that place.
It stands to reason that you and Philippe would have a French coffee press. : )
The only way to make coffee imo.
Charlie says, “Of all the things in the world to celebrate, sometimes we should remember to pause and celebrate ourselves. We live, dream, and do wonderful things each and every day.” Yes indeed, that is true. Until one learns to love oneself, it is impossible to really love others.
Good stuff, Charlie!
Thanks so much, Sarah! 😃💕 Yeah, I do think that we’re always better at loving others when we give ourselves a fair shake first.