Written by For our prompt of “Skate Park” today, I made a sketch of a little beagle pup enjoying a ride on a skateboard. When I was young, I used to skateboard up and down the sidewalk in our neighborhood. I never learned to do any tricks as simply navigating all of the various bumps and uneven pavement was more than enough of a challenge for me at the time. This was most likely for the best as I also grew up in an era that was devoid of helmets or other protective gear. I wasn’t particular good, but I wasn’t bad either. There are lots of things I’ve enjoyed doing in life, even though I wasn’t particularly exceptional. And riding on a skateboard was just a lot of fun. As I got older, I switched to riding bicycles and soon my skateboard was retired to some dark corner of the garage and forgotten. Later in college, I would try rollerblading for a brief and rather harrowing time, before realizing that I was truly terrible at it, and the risk of injury far outweighed any brief moments of pleasure.
While I know that practice is the only way to improve at something, I quickly realized that I didn’t actually enjoy certain activities enough to practice them regularly. And riding on a skateboard was never about practicing, but instead, simply doing something more interesting than walking. As a child, sometimes that was the only reason needed in order to do something novel. It was just fun to try new things, and I never thought about how long a particular interest in an activity would last. To be honest, I never expected to still be making little watercolor illustrations after all of these years. I just thought drawing and coloring with watercolor was super fun! And, when there’s a high level of enjoyment, it becomes much easier to make the time to play. I soon learned, and often made up, methods and approaches that I personally enjoyed and I’m still experimenting as I go along.
Philippe and I were able to spend more time outdoors this weekend as the weather was perfectly beautiful. It was a wonderful chance to go on long walks with our own pup, Elliott, and enjoy some family time. We didn’t head out on skateboards, but did travel a bit to find a lovely walking path. And, Elliott does thoroughly enjoy a car ride as long as he can stick his head out the window a bit and feel the wind in his ears. I’ve never tried it, but he makes it look like the best thing in the world. Though I do miss the excitement of World Watercolor Month in July, I equally crave the peace and quiet that comes in August as things slow down a bit. It gives me a chance to write and doodle things that might never be published. It’s a chance to play with my own ideas and see if anything feels worth pursuing on a grander scale. But mostly, it’s a chance to simply create for the sheer pleasure of doing so. And, in the end, I think that’s the best way to make anything. Yet, I’m so happy to visit here each week and say hello to you, as I’m happily skating by!
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About the DoodlewashSketching Stuff Coloring Set – Da Vinci Watercolors: Charlie O’Blue, Hansa Yellow Medium, Opus (VIvid Pink), Yellow Ochre, Terra Cotta, and Ultramarine (Green Shade). ZIG Cartoonist Mangaka Pen with black ink, Princeton Aqua Elite Travel Brushes, in an A5 Hahnemühle 100% Cotton Watercolour Book. |
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I love your puppy on the skateboard – especially that beautiful skateboard!!! You had me laughing out loud Charlie with your description of skateboarding and your rollerskating experience. I can totally related because I would not even try rollerskating as mere skating is a dangerous experience for me and I would absolutely kill myself rollerskating. lolol Your weekend sounds so lovely. I had my first nice day in a weekend yesterday and it was glorious. I spent every single second of it outside. August does tend to be like that doesn’t it. It slows down out in the country too, less people, more quiet. The chitter critters are fighting with each other for the best spot for winter, saving pine cones and nuts, gathering soft things for their winter nests. It is funny watching them and watching the skunks who try to dig them out of the wood pile (I don’t honestly know whether they are after the squirrels or their peanuts). I have often thought that it must be absolutely awesome to hang ones head out of the window but I think it only counts if one has floppy ears. Have a great week Charlie and thanks for popping in. Lots of hugs and much love <3
Thanks so much, Zoie! 😃💕 Yeah, August does slow down a bit in general. And that’s so wonderful that you spent so much time outdoors. And, yes, I do think floppy ears help the look tremendously when it comes to sticking one’s head out car window. I don’t think I would look quite as cute! lol Hugs and much love to you! ❤️
Hahaha Charlie you should have seen me on my bike. I have no balance due to birth deafness on one side which throws me wayyyy off balance (just recently I got a hearing aid on the hearing side and it took a year for my brain to stop trying to throw me in warning). Back to the bike, I finally creamed right out on the road. The cars didn’t get me but the bike was left for the garbage (it had no brakes anyway). Then I tried to drive but the stupid road kept getting in the way. However the brain accepted the new programme for the most part (it took a year) and this week I’m back to hard racewalking. I can pass joggers. Really, feet are the best things.
Thanks awesome that you’re back to racewalking, Linda! I think that feet are definitely the best thing for sure. I’m always more confident than when I’m trying to ride something! lol Have a wonderful week! 😃💕
That Beagle knows the true essence of being the best sk8r boi! Made me smile, Charlie. Thank you.
Aww thanks so much, Ann! 😃💕
Adorable beagle and beautiful skateboard, Charlie! I practically lived with either roller skates or ice skates on my feet when I was a kid but I never saw a skateboard until I was in college and never tried skateboarding. My sister was 40 when she decided to go to college and her “gym” class was in line skating and we all teased her about skating for credits. She came to visit us in FL when she was taking the class and she insisted I give it a try…definitely not for me. She, however, was awesome on those skates.
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 That’s awesome that you tried it! Yeah… inline skating was not something my body was meant to do properly, I think. But it’s always fun to try! hehe
Skateboards weren’t much of thing in Portland, Oregon when I was kid (I think they were mostly a California thing then). But we had our own version. A bunch of us kids, rounded up old roller skates that didn’t work, or one of the pair was lost, etc. We tore off the wheels and nailed them to a piece of plywood that was big enough so two of us could lie on it at time, and we’d ride it down sloping driveways. Absolutely no steering capability or control once it started rolling, and sheer luck that we didn’t end up in the road when a car was coming. We sure had fun with it though.
That sounds like a blast!! Yeah, I have no idea how we survived childhood, actually… seems like we were allowed to take all of the risks. But the fun was such a wonderful reward! 😃💕
Love your painting & fun memories! 🙂
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕
Charlie, you always get me with those Beagles! 💜💜💜 In junior high skating was the in thing. It hurt so bad to fall on my padded butt. Funny, I was never afraid of getting hurt or injured. Ask me to skate now and I go into full panic mode. Of course, I have been injured for a LONG time and pain meds do NOT work on me so I do have a healthy fear of getting hurt. Big butt padding or not. 😂😂😂 I do have one regret, though. Skating parties were the thing back then and I did try my best. At the last skating party, off by myself, I was getting good enough to A) not fall and B) make it around the rink on my own. It was a good day and a great accomplishment. So, my regret? I never skated again. I wish now that I had kept going to the skating rink and that I had made the effort to master skating. I think (I hope) it’s like learning to ride a bike. Once you learn, you never forget.
Now, riding my bike….absolutely! I have the scars on my knees to prove it. I still want to bike ride again, but, my overwhelming fear of re-injury and re-brutal PAIN, stops me in my tracks cold. I made up that word: re-brutal. 😂😂😂 My mother bought me a bike and it’s lovely. I was so disappointed and even cried when I realized how injured I still was and how truly terrified I felt. It was a sad moment for me. I don’t want to live in fear, Charlie. I don’t want to live “limited,” you know what I mean? BUT, maybe one day. Soon.
I’ve lost more weight, Charlie. Four more pounds. I still have what feels like 600 pounds more to lose. 😂😂😂 My clothes are starting to fall off. Ugh oh. That could cause problems. 😂😂😂 AND…..I ended up in the emergency clinic AGAIN a few days ago. I was cutting lettuce for dinner and I decided to slice my finger, too. It gushed so bad, but, thank God, no stitches and healed up pretty fast.
Your walks in nice weather sound so lovely. We were 105*F today. 😭😭😭 Love you much. 💜
Hola, mi amiga! 😃💕 I think skating is definitely something your body would remember. Mine never figured out how to do it properly! hehe And, it’s been years since I’ve ridden a bike (I have like zero butt, so falling involves hitting bone! Ouch!😊. Congrats on the weight loss! And I’m happy to know you didn’t need stitches for the finger, but ugh! No fun! As is 105 degree heat… so far the weather here is staying below 90, but the humidity… yuck! I’m ready for autumn! Hugs and much love to you! ❤️
Great doodle, Charlie. When skateboarding started in the UK I’d just got married and considered myself to be a bit too old. Then a few years later mountain biking arrived. I could go out to the hills and explore, get muddy and no one would think anything of it. I’m in my 60s now and still get out there.
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕 Yay for still getting out there! I bet you could rock a skateboard if you tried it!