Written by As an adult, I sometimes feel like I’m stuck indoors when it rains, but as a kid, it was a perfect time to be outdoors. The main event was watching the water rush down the gutters in the street, carrying all sort of interesting debris with it. We’d drop a leaf and watch is rush away, but sometimes that simply wasn’t enough. If you wanted to have a proper water race, it was clear that having a proper little boat would make it so much better. So, we have a super quick little doodlewash of one for today. With some bits of wood, dowel rods, and fabric it was pretty easy to fashion a little boat of some kind. Granted, they often looked less like sailboats and more like the debris that we’d just been chasing, but that never mattered. It was a grand experience to sail your own ship down the street, attaching a line like a kite so you didn’t lose it or so you could pull it along if the current ever slowed. Yeah, it was just a gutter in the street, but we could always transform it into something magical.
It was an extremely busy day today, and I barely had any time to paint. But I figured a boat quickly fashioned out of whatever splashes of paint I could muster would be much like the boats I built as a kid. I wasn’t particularly patient back then either and I would enthusiastically jump in and rush to the finish line. I just wanted a boat that floated down the stream so I could chase it. I wasn’t trying to build a masterpiece, I was just trying to have a bit of fun. When it comes to painting, I think I need to always remind myself to focus on the pure enjoyment. After nearly two years of daily painting, I find myself wanting to top myself, but then I resort to things I know I’m used to painting. So, today, I ventured off into parts unknown for this little splash of paint. I figure if I keep writing about that little boy who used to try anything and everything I should probably start acting a bit more like him.
We are now less than 2 weeks away from the start of the next World Watercolor Month and I’m so excited! I plan to play and try new things and I hope every watercolor artist reading this will be joining me. July is a month that’s made for us. A chance to push ourselves to make something daily and to experiment and play. A full month where we have permission to post whatever happened that day. Every little splash of paint, whether or not it landed in the spot we intended, is a beautiful contribution to the world. That’s the spirit of the month that I hope everyone will continue to celebrate. If you’re just thinking of trying watercolor, then I say, DO it! Jump in and paint the world with us and create what your heart tells you. Above all, July is a chance to be a kid again. To grab some art supplies and have a bit of fun. I, for one, will be happily splashing paint and doing whatever fun thing I feel like trying next. I may not always make something amazing, but it will be every bit as fun as those rainy days long ago, when I was racing sailboats in the gutter.
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About the DoodlewashM. Graham Watercolors: Quinacridone Rose, Azo Orange, Azo Green, Permanent Green Pale, and Ultramarine Blue. Alvin Draft-Matic Mechanical Pencil in an A6 Hahnemühle Watercolor Book. |
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Beautiful! The colour of that water – perfect. I don’t remember doing this in roadside gutters, but certainly remember similar stuff on the nearby waterways, though probably at a slower pace! There was something about the floating reeds, leaves and other ‘sailboats’.
No need to feel stuck indoors! If you’ve nowhere to go, getting caught in the rain is the best! In fact I’d love to see the neighbours reaction to you trying this event today 😉
Aww thanks so much, Jacob! 😃💕 Glad you liked this one… it was so super fast! hehe But yes! I would LOVE to try this again today! If we lived closer together, you know I’d make you try it with me! hehe😉
Haha! Well, of course – it does sound like fun! Who cares what the grown-ups think 😉
Yeah! Growing up is over-rated!! Lol 😉
Love this little boat, Charlie, all ready to go with the flow. I liked making them of walnut shells, though they usually sank. Last summer, I taught my 3 year-old grandson how to float a leaf down a tiny creek – he loved it. Anything that will sail, roll, chug, trot, or fly – kids love movement, don’t they?
They do! I still do! hehe 😃💕 Yeah, leaves were actually the best… natural little boats!
Awwwwww, childhood memories.. 😍😍😍😊😊
Yay! Glad this brought back great memories, Kiran! 😃💕
So True, Charlie.. ☺ I lOve your paintings and blogs also.. 😍😍
Aww thanks so much, Kiran! 😃💕
Pleasure.. 😊😊
That is the cutest little boat ever, I love it Michael 😊
hehe… thanks so much, Phil! 😃💕 Glad you liked it!
Charlie Even LOL
I just assumed you’d given me a new pet name! LOL 😉
Lol, no, just my brain giving out again Charlie 😉
My brain gives out all the time! hehe… I can relate! 😉👍🏻