Written by Welcome to April and a brand new Doodlewash adventure! This month we are celebrating all of those things that make our inner child squeal and giggle with glee. And, I hope you’ll let that little kid guide you as you create this month just to see what fun things might happen. For my own little entry, I decided to paint my very first experience with watercolor! Yep, the first watercolor paints I ever tried back in July 2015 along with my first little doodlewash I ever created. While most of us had at least tried watercolors as a kid, I simply have no recollection of that ever happening. It was only crayons, markers and colored pencils for me back then. So when I very first tried them, it was like reliving a childhood memory I was meant to have had. And I truly felt like I was a child playing with crayons for the very first time. It was amazing! Perhaps that’s also what added to that magical feeling I felt, but either way, I immediately started a blog called Doodlewash. A fun name I made up to keep that feeling of simple, childlike wonder that I never wanted to lose. I kept practicing daily, and have for each consecutive day ever since (1,367 days today!). After trying all of the various watercolor painting approaches, my own greatest joy came in an unexpected form. I guess you could say I’m a coloring book artist who likes to make his own sketchbook coloring pages first! Then, instead of crayons, I use watercolor for its glorious blending and luminosity, but most often painting completely backward, from dark to light, and in a ridiculously short amount of time. Yep, I’m thrilled to say, I actually DO sketch like a kid!
While I’ve had many requests to share my “painting techniques,” I’m an unconventional sketcher and I don’t employ painting techniques in a traditional fashion. That’s why, instead, I always send you to my masterful friends who are actual art teachers and, well, totally phenomenal. And, not surprisingly, that’s exactly what I intend to keep doing because I’m not planning on becoming an art teacher myself. My goal is to write and illustrate books. But, I am a cheerleader, an instigator, and I hope someone who inspires people to simply try as much as they can, show up to make something new each day, and find their own wonderful path in art. That said, I’ve realized that there are some helpful things I can share with you, and the answer as to how to share them was always waiting for me in this very moment that I’ve doodlewashed here. I can simply share with you how I like to sketch and color in a way that gives you that same experience of being a child again. That exceptional creative spark that came with a full confidence of knowing that whatever you were making was awesome and worthy of a place on mom’s refrigerator gallery. Nothing too serious or technical, but just a bit of play between your classes. And my greatest hope, a way to help absolute beginner’s feel the same excitement I felt that will hopefully inspire them to take more drawing and watercolor art classes! Seriously, take as many as you can! That’s my real secret!
So, please stay tuned as the reveal of all of those recent epiphanies will be happening this month! It’s taken me quite a bit of time to find my place in the art world and I think my place is just a step or two outside of it. Or, at the very least, an odd and unique place in the middle of it all. You see, I’m still not entirely sure, but I hope you’ll join me on my next adventure to discover just what place you think I might be best suited. As ever, I’m all ears, so please let me know your thoughts in the comments! Like most artists and the art they make, I’m a work in progress. I know in my heart that I love making things and inspiring others to do the same. Beyond that, it’s all a lovely mystery that I hope to figure out by trying some new things that I never expected I’d try. I’ve always said I’m not truly a rebel, which is true, but I think in the end I’m an accidental rebel. If you’re reading this, I’m thrilled, because it’s not likely you got here through a search engine. I don’t write posts that they like. See? I’m a rather rebellious artist after all! In my heart, though, I just have to believe that there’s a place for someone like me. And I equally have to believe that there’s a beautiful place for each of you out there reading this as well. We’re all beautiful, creative people who deserve that chance to shine. To get that coveted spot on the refrigerator of life as we share what we make with pride and glee. It’s simply the art of sketching like a kid again!
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Nickel Azo Yellow, Terra Cotta, Quinacridone Red, Leaf Green, Cobalt Blue, and Cobalt Turquoise. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with black ink and 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 can’t wait until your Sketchbook Revival video goes live. I’m hoping it’s one of the first because even waiting until April 22 is hard to do! I know we occasionally had watercolors to use at Bible school, but for the most part, in my day, we had these books where you swiped a wet brush across the paper and color magically appeared! Sometimes, I still feel as though that’s whats happening when I paint!
Those magical books where color appeared when you used a wet brush! Thanks for reminding me of those, Sandra! I had forgotten all about them, but oh, they were fantastic!
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕hehe… it’s a total work in progress as it’s not remotely rehearsed, though you wouldn’t expect anything less (or more? I’m not sure! lol). And love that you still feel that effect of those books when you paint! hehe… To me, that’s exactly what keeps bringing me back each day!
can’t wait!!!!
Thanks so much, Jodi! 😃💕
My first art love was with a Crayola educational pan set. One day I hope to teach a let the kid play workshop. I myself an working on letting this kid play. I had this fun idea, among many, to paint hearts with various textures and yeah I love hearts. I’m having fun putting my book together too. I look forward to see what you’re working on.
Thanks, Mireya! 😃💕 That all sounds so lovely and awesome!! Yes to all of the above! Sounds like a lovely experience to be sure and who doesn’t love hearts! The symbol of everything we should strive toward when we sketch and color!
True and I love when I happen upon them in nature.
I often tell people to whom I give my art that it is refrigerator art. And really, what could be better? Mom’s love the art they put up on the fridge. Who could hope for more?
Exactly! hehe 😃💕 I think that’s the best thing in the world. When I was in art school someone bought something I made and was shy about saying they hung it in their bathroom. I was thrilled… what could be more intimate than that?? lol 😉
Charlie says, “I’m a work in progress”
In five words, you have written joy, faith, peace, excitement…and volumes of all that is good.
Bravo!
My favorite aunt gave me a tin of water colors, exactly like the one you have painted, same color too.
She gave it to me Christmas of 1950 along with modeling clay and a plastic bib apron with violets on it.
Oh wow, I haven’t remembered that in about seventy years.
Thanks, Sarah! 😃💕 Yeah, I’m totally a crazy wreck of a work in progress… hehe… I’ve no clear idea of what I’m supposed to do next. But, that’s the fun part! And wow! So happy this brought back such a wonderful memory! A true sign that you were meant to paint as well as write! 😉
Your paint box looks very inviting! I’m waiting for Sketchbook Revival to start and hoping your appearance will be near the beginning. It’s amazing how much you’ve created with watercolors since 2015!
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah, I hope you enjoy it, and equally hope you know that everything I do is off the cuff and unrehearsed. lol I lack a certain polish that others likely have, but everything I DO comes from the heart!
Yay, Charlie!!
I can’t wait!
We are all works in progress, aren’t we?? 🙂
Thanks, Karen! 😃💕 Yeah, we are! And that’s exactly what makes life so amazing and FUN!!
U r paint box reminding in my school time
. NiceLie
Yay! So thrilled this brought back good memories, Snehlata! 😃💕
You’re an inspiration!!! Looking forward to the revival!
Thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕 hehe… I’m not a pro when it comes to video, but it was fun to try!
This will be an exciting month! And even though I’m not sure where you land in The Art World (hehehe), I am thankful that I get to tag along see what you are up to. Every day is a new adventure and a new delight.
Thanks so much, Ellie! 😃💕 Mostly because you also aren’t sure where I land in The Art World which is quite affirming! lol I just know that I love sketching stuff and that’s all I really need to know to keep on DOing it! 😉
I love this little paint pallet. You did a fantastic job of painting it…love the color. I still remember the ones I used as a kid. Some sort of paint supplies were always in our Christnas stockings and Easter baskets. Waiting patiently for your workshop video….so exciting.
Thanks, June! 😃💕Yeah, there’s seriously nothing better than getting art supplies. It’s the best prompt to make art I can imagine!
wonderful red box full of watercolor goodies! Love that brush too!
Thanks, Gaeyle! 😃💕 Glad you liked this! Nothing better than a fresh box of watercolor goodness!