Red Punch Drink With Umbrella Watercolor Painting
By Charlie

Quick Little Break

Written by Charlie O'Shields

Since I already sketched a rain umbrella just a couple of days ago, I opted for a little umbrella in a drink instead, for our prompt today. Indeed, being on a beach somewhere with some sort of lovely punch would be a wonderful thing indeed. That said, of course, these days, that just isn’t possible and many of us are sheltering in place, so an imagined little break is what I have for today. As ever, taking a quick little moment to sketch was the best part of my busy day today. No matter what’s happening in the world, my sketch break never fails to bring me a bit of joy. And, if you’ve ever wanted to sketch along with me as I make one of my quick doodlewashes, I DO hope you’ll join me for the free online workshop called Sketchbook Revival that starts tomorrow! I’m so thrilled to be a workshop guide again this year, so if you haven’t yet, please sign up and join me! As many of us find ourselves at home more these days, I can’t think of a better thing to DO than meet online and sketch together!

Philippe and I were busy today making sure we had everything we need to work from home for the next few weeks. Some things seem simple at first until you realize all of the little things you might take for granted. Mostly, I’ve found that my already easily distracted brain has grown even more distracted these days. It’s tough to give something your full attention when part of you is always grappling with uncertainty. Rather than force myself to focus, I’ve instead looked for other distractions instead. For example, I’ve been enjoying watching shows from my childhood. Or, at least having them on in the background as I try to get things done on my various projects. It’s been rather lovely indeed. It’s nice to be reminded that what we’re facing now is a just a moment in time, and that this too shall pass one day.

And, now that I’ve made some progress on all of those projects, I’m happy to get back to having a little more time to sketch and paint. Truly, that’s my safe place. It’s the time in my day that brings me infinite joy. And this positive feeling is exactly why I’ve always had and continue to have so much hope! It’s why there’s such a thing called art therapy. Indeed, making art of any kind, even a very quick little sketch like today, makes my heart smile. And while this is true every single day, during these most stressful of times, I can’t think of anything better to DO! So, I hope you’ll jump in and sketch along with me! Particularly, if you’re someone who’s been reading my posts, but has yet to jump in and try it. Now would be the perfect time to give it a go! And though it can’t solve all of the world’s problems, it can still make a positive difference. If we simply keep making art together, we can enjoy that most amazing act of taking and sharing something incredible that comes from simply taking a quick little break.

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Hansa Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Red, Benzimida Orange, Cobalt Turquoise, and Indigo. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen (Broad Nib) with black 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!
 Red Punch Drink With Umbrella Watercolor Painting Sketchbook Detail

 

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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36 thoughts on “Quick Little Break”

  1. Your drink looks so cool and refreshing! I’ll sit back and dream of drinking it on a sunny tropical beach. Since this is my dream, I think I’ll add dinosaurs sunbathing, too, but pleasant ones that won’t try to eat me or step on my by accident. Or steal my drink. That’s the nice thing about dream vacations – you can have whatever your imagination desires.

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  2. Fantastic sketch Charlie! My parents use to bring home the umbrellas if they went out to eat which wasn’t often. The problem came with bringing back two umbrellas for three children. 🤔 Good luck with working from home. My husband may be doing that soon too. They are trying to split up the hospital pharmacist so if someone gets sick they all won’t. Also have fun with Sketchbook Revival. I enjoyed your section last year. My sister is taking it again but I am already committed to two online art classes which will do a good job of filling my days. Stay safe!

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    1. Thanks so much, Karen! 😃💕Aww… I love that they tried to bring back umbrellas for three! And so happy your sister is joining Sketchbook Revival! You should just join and watch what you can! 😉 Stay safe as well!

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  4. Kind of makes me want a pina colada. Or this looks like a tequila sunrise. I used to love those in my drinking days. I guess in those days the only thing I didn’t like was whisky and rye. Here in Wisconsin the Old Fashioned was king. I had mine with Southern Comfort, sweet, no sugar. Drink names have really stuck with me over the years. Makes me think I maybe had a few too many of them in my youth. Lol.

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  6. Looks wonderful!!!! Anticipating sketch book revival the 100 day project begins before too long as well. I recall when 100 days seems like too many days to do any sorts of project lol. Now i seems like eating or the other daily things we do. 🙂

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  12. Even this little sketch took me to my happy place. I’m not a fancy drink kind of gal, but my Disney friends are. It took me to one of our many gatherings. Thank you! I can’t wait for SR to start today. I wasn’t able to get my hands on an old book(we cleared out our old books last year :/ ) but I will improvise. So how far into the classes will you be popping up?

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      1. Apparenty I was up too early! Haha! I received the email a few minutes later and chuckled to see you were up to bat on day one! I didn’t have time to watch it this morning, but I am off to do it now. 🙂

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  14. When I was a kid – about 13 – 14 y – I was very interested in all the alphabets in the world, in languages. I still am. I collected them in a ‘cahier’. No digital camera, no internet etc. those days. Every sunday I went to the library and I literally read the whole encyclopedia and section on anthropology and anything that could provide me with new written language in its original alphabet. One day I had a little umbrella like the one you sketched now and I disected it and found that the top, where all the pieces are glued together was made out of a little scroll of – what do you call it – journal paper? (where the NY Times and all those daily… are printed on), with Chinese characters. It was as if I had found a treasure. Such a discovery… 🙂
    I don’t know if they make them like that anymore, but you made me think of that again. Happy memories.

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