Written by Today is the start of a brand new month, which always marks the start of a new Doodlewash Art Challenge. This month’s theme is simply “Make What You Love!” and the prompts are broad and open-ended so we can choose whatever we’d like to paint most. First up is a prompt of “art supplies” which could be a hundred things, but I chose to doodlewash my little Da Vinci “Vintage” Trio since I was totally hooked on it during October and many of my paintings during the month were done using only this little set of paints. I probably could have just as easily called it a “Fall” trio as the colors it makes are also perfect for the season. My love, and obsession, with watercolor started with a single realization. I found out that I could do really cool and amazing things with very little art supplies. Just three tubes of paint, some water, a brush, and a pen, and I could create all sorts of little illusions in my sketchbook in a very short amount of time. This one was done in less than 30 minutes, because that’s all the time I had today. But, for me, having a short amount of time is fun as I can’t overwork things as much as I might if I had a full hour. And truly, art supplies, in any form, just make me super happy!
When it comes these supplies we use to make art, they can be wildly different, depending on what creative outlet inspires us most. My sister creates wonderful and imaginative things for craft shows, and unlike me, paid closer attention to our mother and learned how to use a sewing machine properly. I tried it once and was such rubbish at it, that I never really attempted it again. That said, I did learn to crochet small things and was able to sew by hand in a rudimentary way. Truly, I was mainly just excited when I actually managed to thread a needle successfully. There’s quite a bit of precision involved in those things that I simply lack. That’s why I’m much more suited to happily splashing paint around and only giving the illusion of detail. Zoom into any one of my seemingly detailed paintings and you’ll find all the childlike joy and abandon of someone who simply forgot to take his Adderall that day. But this is my style and something that I’ve grown to enjoy and cherish. It’s bits of astute observation blended with wild impatience. Culminating in my little doodlewash that appears here each and every day.
Yet, to some, what I make is, forever, only a sketch. Art, after all, has long been considered a torturous and arduous process of creating something amazing and incredible fit for kings. But, in truth, the actual definition of art is creating something of beauty that’s loved for its emotional power. And as it turns out, this can be many things that don’t take hours and days to complete. The only real ingredients to make something people might enjoy are mixing in bits of our own passion and emotion. Each thing we make has the potential to touch someone’s heart or at its very best, awaken the soul. There’s no time limit required to make a connection like this. The way it happens is by merely pouring our own love into whatever it is we’re making in the first place. This is why we stand in awe before a painting, feeling a million things at once. It’s not the pigment that we’re perceiving, but the actual story of the artist, and the feelings that made that pigment swirl into place. And so, I have to pause in awe myself, and take just the briefest of moments to stop and cherish this wondrous phenomenon, by painting art supplies.
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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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Love your paint set – both in the painting and the actual set of paints! I agree with your observations on art. I think ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are irrelevant to art. Those terms miss the point entirely.
Thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕Glad you like these colors! They’ve been so fun to paint with! And yes, good and bad are not terms meant for art! Many times there are no terms or words to describe it!
I finished doing something today that I’ve put off for ages. I went through all my paints and wrote down all the names and manufacturers. Now, hopefully I won’t buy any doubles! I was amazed by how many there are. I’m not going to embarrass myself by telling, but I won’t have to buy paint for a long long time! 😂😂 Or paper, or brushes!! I may have a problem. I need art supplies anonymous to quit this!
hehe!! Love it, Lisa! 😃💕 Yeah, art supplies are a definite addiction… hehe… but I’ve found that I always go back to just a few of them time and time again. But I’m always open to those new discoveries so I’m happy buying just a few more! lol
Lots of wisdom in your post today. I like the loose way you’ve painted the paint tubes – it seems to convey their squishiness.
Thanks, Sharon!! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed this post. And these are totally squished paint tubes! hehe… thrilled that came through! I’ve nearly used them up these past several weeks.
Loved this post!
Thanks so much, Beverly! 😃💕 So happy you enjoyed this!
Well said! As I have aged(not by my choice!), I have thrown caution to the wind. I sketch and paint however I want. I figure if I don’t like it, it can go away. However a lot of mistakes have become some of my favorites. You can’t enjoy the process if you are always worried of the outcome. I was given a few tubes of Da Vinci paints and have never used them. Guess I should give them a try! Nice sketch of them!!
Thanks so much! 😃💕 You should totally give those Da Vinci tubes a try! 😉 And I totally agree… those so-called “mistakes” are often the most loved things we ever create! So it’s way more fun to paint with joy and abandon!
I love this doodle wash! I wish you had a podcast. I’d love to listen to your musings everyday. I bst you have fun conversations too.
Thanks so much, Kris!! 😃💕 And that’s so sweet! I actually DO have a podcast that features audio versions of my musings, you can check it out here – https://doodlewash.com/sketching-stuff-podcast/
Charlie says, “in truth, the actual definition of art is creating something of beauty that’s loved for its emotional power. ”
Yes, yes and Yes!
Aww thanks, Sarah! 😃💕I actually can’t take much credit for those particular words as it IS really the definition. hehe… but I figure it bears repeating. 😉
Oops, those words sounded so Charlie!
they are good words!
hehe! okay…. I “may” have edited one word or two, I just can’t help myself, but it’s mostly all the exact definition. lol 😊
I love your little sketches and your skill in illustrating metal or glass! And I’m always amazed at how quickly you do them.
I think I need to learn to better balance time spent looking at art others have done — which can be a great way to learn (!)— and doing my own, imperfect though it is. I’m not very skilled and I don’t have a lot of free time. So, I find it challenging to get started, even though I know that the less I do, the less I improve.
Thanks so much, Susie! 😃💕 I’m thrilled you enjoyed this! And yes, I always say… learn from the masters, but then by all means… run off and play a lot! hehe… It’s never about trying to imitate another style as much as embodying their spirit and joy. Take that and run off and play as much as you possibly can and you’ll see amazing results!
Sewing on a machine is as easy as driving a car. You don’t even have to drive a stick! It just takes a little practice.
Hand sewing is much more difficult. It takes fine motor skills, even finer than crocheting or knitting.
Why are women better? Because as girls we were buttoning little doll clothes whereas our brothers were tinkering with erector sets or building things with scraps of wood. My brother built models but that still wasn’t as delicate a work as buttoning those little buttons on clothes and little shoes.
Many actors take up crocheting to pass the time while waiting for their cue to go on stage. Knitting too. You remember Rosie Greer, right?
I have done very little painting restricting myself to only three colors. I have done a few monochromatic paintings but I find I like a rainbow of colors to choose from, even if I am mixing a third color. I also don’t draw or paint my supplies. I’ve seen many sketchers do it. Perhaps I should put some restrictions on my efforts and stick to limited colors and a limited subject for a while. Just as an exercise to stretch outside my comfort zone. I don’t have any DaVinci but I’m sure I could duplicate that trio using Daniel Smith. Thanks for the pigment info. You can certainly mix a wide range of color from just those three as long as you’re avoiding Christmas decorations. (No true red.) I do remember living through when those colors were fashionable. From a time when Corning’s Spice of Life was all the rage. My very first dryer (used) when I moved into my house was avocado green.
mlaiuppa, interesting commentary on sewing. I have sewn since I was a child–think I was 5 or 6 when mom put needle and thread in my hand with a piece of fabric to practice embroidery stitches. All us girls learned to sew on a machine a few years later. To this day, I still sew, embroidery, knit, etc–essentially all the feminine arts.
All these things share a space with my drawing and painting supplies. Some days I’m doodling with thread (hand or machine) and some days I go with pencil and paint. What a menagerie it is!
Years back when visiting mom for Christmas (I live a distance from family so visits were a week or two), we sat at the kitchen table embroidery in hand. I asked why she liked cross stitch. Her answer is the colors and shapes of the designs which made it an escape of sorts but producing a satisfying result at completion. Upon reflection, I realized that’s why I am compelled to draw and paint as well as sew, etc. We also discussed assorted deep topics; though mom is gone, I still escape to colors and forms and think deep thoughts. The colors and forms don’t have to be complicated unless I choose it to be. Either way, I’m a happier person for it. Doodlewash is becoming my fav spot to stop by and find out the latest thoughts on things.
I’m so thrilled you’re enjoying Doodlewash, Sandy! 😃💕 Love your story! And love that you bounce through a menagerie of creative pursuits. That’s always the most fun of all!
Gotta love that avocado green! hehe… that’s my favorite color that my trio makes! Good memories! 😃💕Yeah, sewing just never quite worked for me! And using a limited palette is a totally fun exercise to both stretch outside your comfort zone and discover cool new colors in mixes. And true… my trios don’t have a true red… hehe… so they’re not a perfect triad. I think my favorite red is M. Graham Pyrrol Red. 😉
Your trio was a perfect thing for you to paint and they look so real. I think a handmade gift is the best as It comes from heart and hand.
Thanks, June! 😃💕 Yes! I agree… a handmade gift is the best kind of all!
Would you please give me a link to your ‘marbles’ swatch method? I can’t find that page again and am going slightly crazy looking for it. SUCH a neato idea that I want to swatch marbles (instead of squares), too!
Oh, never mind… I found your paint swatches here, middle of page. Thanks! Great idea.
https://doodlewash.com/da-vinci-watercolor-vintage-trio/
Yay! You found them! Yeah, I hope I explained it properly, but there’s nothing precise about the method… it’s just fast and fun! 😉 I find it way more fun than squares and I learn a lot more in the process! 😃💕
Dear Charlie,
Your words are so perfect! You have just summed up what is in my heart regarding art that I have never voiced! I imagine the same feelings are with so many other creative’s, closet artists, and lovers of art!
Thank you so much for your wise words and heartfelt Doodlewash painting!
💜Melissa
Thanks so much, Melissa! 😃💕I’m so thrilled this post spoke to you! I do think we all struggle, no matter where we are in our art journey, but it’s wonderful to have each other to help pull us through it!