Written by When it to comes to patterns, our prompt for today, a peacock came to mind, with its gloriously opulent feathers that make it seem like it’s some kind of bird royalty. I often think a peacock knows it’s rather fashionable, as it seems to strut more than simply walk around. I have to appreciate that level of confidence in any creature. I can remember getting a new outfit of some kind, though, and feeling like I look rather good in it. That rare and wonderful moment when a good hair day combines with just the right look to make me feel rather good about that reflection in the mirror. Most days, I’m just donning whatever I can grab and ruffling my hair a bit before heading out the door. I don’t spend a lot of time and energy, as some do, on looking “put together” and instead end up looking “casually created” most of the time. This is a side effect of my age and not really worrying too much about what I look like in that fastidious way I did when I was younger. These days, I figure if I appear clean, combed and somewhat orderly, then life is just how it should be. Fussing over things can be such a bore. Life is far too short for that.
Most of the time, these days, I just want to feel generally happy and content. It’s not that my bar has somehow lowered, it’s simply that I’ve come to realize that being truly happy is all that really matters. As I grow older, I love the perspective I’ve earned and can now apply to my life. Things that seemed so incredibly important in my youth, are now, nothing more than faint memories. I would get so worried over things back then that really didn’t matter much at all. Today, I just focus on living a happy life with friends, family, and lots of positive thinking. And I’ve come to embrace my own little quirks as not something problematic, but something that simply defines me as a person. Sure, it’s a person whose inner child is sometimes more in control than the adult, but that’s just how I am. And it makes life so much fun! As I gaze it awe at others who are ridiculously organized and seem to always have everything in order, I’m instead, skipping along to music only I can hear. This is something that plagued when I was younger, but as an adult, I wear the distinction like a badge or honor.
And when it comes to patterns, I know that I’ve fallen into a very particular repeated way of doing things when it comes to my daily sketches. In art, this manifests itself as a style. A way that I approach my little doodlewashes that makes each little disparate thing I create still somehow seem like it’s born into the same family. Much of this phenomenon is simply the lovely side effect that comes from the hand of the artist. The way I sketch will always be just a bit different than the way someone else does, simply because that’s how nature works. Though I often adore and envy the style of others, in the end, I can really only create my own look and style. My hand, mind and heart will do whatever they choose and I’ve learned to not question them too much. Instead, I’m rather pleased to show up and share what only I could have made that day. Even when two artists paint the exact same thing, the result is never really the same. There’s something else happening there. Something almost magical that always makes the image on the page reveal that bit of uniqueness. And I, for one, think we should always embrace and flaunt this gift as we enjoy the stylized beauty that it produces, like patterns on a peacock.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Yellow Ochre, Vermillion, Leaf Green, Cobalt Turquoise, and Cobalt Blue. 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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I would have never thought of a peacock but they definitely have patterns and so beautiful. You did a wonderful job with all those pretty colors. Love turquiose.
Thanks, June! 😃💕 I have no idea why a peacock came to mind, but I just went with it! hehe… I do adore their patterns though!
You’ve painted the perfect peacock and given me an excellent chance to indulge in alliteration! I’m glad you’ve learn to skip to your own music, because we hear it in your daily rambles, and it is beautiful music!
hehe!! Yay to alliteration… always a wonderful thing! 😃💕 And thank so much, my friend. I’m so happy you enjoy these posts. It really means a lot to me!
Gorgeous painting of the peacock! One of the benefits of aging is realizing the absurdity of concerns you had when you were younger. Older is happier, at least for me.
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 I agree! I think I get happier and happier every year! hehe… those concerns of youth just seem a bit silly now!
Speaking of peacocks, a number of years ago, on a co l d, rainy autumn day, I happened to look out the front door and saw a peacock running across our yarx. Quite bedraggled and sorry looking he was, and fast. I guess I never would have suspected that peafowl were so speedy. Anyway, there was nothing I could do to help him,and I had no idea where he came from. And today, there is a point. Look out the door. It’s a lot more interesting than deciding which shoes go with which outfit.
Wise, wise words and wonderful story! 😃💕 I love it! We should always remember to look out that door and not obsess about trivial things.
What a lovely painting! This peacock looks so real…I feel it will be dancing in joy anytime now! 🙂 have a cheerful Sunday!!!
Aww thanks, Jui! 😃💕 What a lovely compliment! Hope you’re having a wonderful Sunday as well my friend!
Beautiful little peacock. I miss our peacocks wandering around at the zoo. Not only their beauty, but their voices always reminded me of being a kid at the zoo. “Apparently” one attacked a kid a few years back, and away they went…..typical Portland response. One morning our neighbor had 3 on his roof top. Not sure where they came from either, but it was fun to see them.
Thanks so much! 😃💕And wow… 3 peacocks on my roof would feel like a gift! But yeah, they’re a little aggressive… must be the cockiness that comes with those fashionable feathers.
Tehehehe! 😛
It seems a long time since I have seen your lovely paintings on Doodlewash
this is certainly a lovely peacock beautifully painted
well done Charlie
Aww thanks so much, Tao! 😃💕 Glad you stopped by! Hope you’re doing well my friend! I’m inundated and can’t even make it to our own Doodlewash community to comment, but know that I see your lovely work every time you post! Those corn husks were gorgeous!! 😍
Thank you so much Charlie for your lovely comment
Peacocks are beautiful, as you’ve painted this strutting dude in all his vainglorious glory. Someplace nearby is the dudette he pines for, probably hiding under a bush chanting, “Catch me if you can.” If you’ve ever heard them squawk, you’ll be grateful for the peace at hand as soon as the two foul find each other and settle down to settling down. (And boy did I have fun trying to figure out how to spell squack – er, skwak – er, squwack – er, skquak – er, loud screech.)
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 haha!! Impressive spelling… I am constantly searching for words to see if I not only spelled it correctly, but also, to see if I even used it in the correct context! lol Yeah, I think their mating calls leave much to be desired… unless you’re actually a peacock, of course.
Lovely peacock, Charlie!
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕
There are hundreds of ways to speak gratitude for the life you live,
but none quite so fine, imo, as what
Charlie says:”I love the perspective I’ve earned.”
Thanks, Sarah! 😃💕 You’re so sweet! I’m so happy you enjoyed this post. These are thoughts that have been on my mind a bit lately.