Cherry Blossoms And Blue Tit Watercolor Painting
By Charlie

Spring In Winter

Written by Charlie O'Shields

For our prompt of “Cherry Blossoms,” I added a little blue tit bird to the mix, because I just like to sketch birds, and pop one in whenever I get the chance. I’ve always loved the look of cherry blossoms and, like so many beautiful things, it’s their rarity that makes them intriguing. Cherry trees only bloom for one or two weeks and the blossoms only retain their richest color for about three days. It’s a beautiful way to usher in spring, even though this is a month early. It’s so cold here at the moment, that my face actually hurt while walking outside. So, any dream of spring is a welcome thing indeed. It looked for a moment like the groundhog was right and we would be getting an early spring this year. But, nature had other ideas and there are still many cold days ahead. Seeing the first blossoming arrivals of spring always makes my heart skip a beat. While I do love the weather turning a bit warmer, it’s the fabulous show of colors the season brings that thrill me most.

Though it’s very cold here today, it’s looks quite beautiful. There’s an impossibly blue sky and lots of sunshine, giving it the feeling of a spring day as long as one stays indoors. And it strikes me that no matter the subject matter that I’m painting, I often lean toward bright spring colors. I just like to sketch and paint things with a touch of a sunny feel to them, that also reflects my continual optimism. This isn’t some blind belief that everything will turn out perfectly in the future, but simply a fervent hope that it will and believing it’s just maybe possible. In truth, some of the things I want to happen in the future are deeply improbable. They’re those things that feel more like whims and dreams than actual goals, but they stay on my list because very few things in life are actually ever impossible. I’ve no clue if I’ll be able to make even the things happen that I want to make happen in the next month. But, I’ll keep right on trying and hoping no matter what!

This is definitely my inner child at work. I’m not sure there’s a way for an adult mind alone to remain positive all of the time. But, the kid just believes what the kid wants to believe, so I let him! It’s fun to chase a dream that feels nearly unattainable. It would be so boring to only go after the things in life that I’m certain I could accomplish. While uncertainty can cause a few butterflies to flutter about in my stomach, I love setting improbable goals for myself. Everything from this blog, my books, my podcast to making an official month for watercolor each year in July when World Watercolor Month returns. It’s been such a fun journey made more fun by always trying new things and always believing those things are possible. It’s really just that easy, but there again, that’s an inner child talking. Which is why it’s the voice I always choose when I’m wanting advice on life and what to DO next. And even if things get tough, or stressful, or bad things happen as they tend to do in life, I know I’ll always get through it. I only need my childlike spirit that’s capable of making the most improbable things happen, like spring in winter.

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Hansa Yellow Medium,Vermilion, Opus (Vivid Pink), Terra Cotta, Cobalt Turquoise, Ultramarine (Green Shade), and Indigo. Staedtler Pigment Liners 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!
 Cherry Blossoms And Blue Tit 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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28 thoughts on “Spring In Winter”

  2. Fantastic Charlie and such a great bit of Spring. The snow you had yesterday arrived here today and the cold is coming in overnight. I got to snowblow the driveway because my art show meeting was canceled until tomorrow. It gave me a day to catch up a bit. Feeling better about the pending exhibit of flowers in art. Stay warm!

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  6. Having grown up in Door County, cherry and apple blossoms were a big part of my life. The way the county juts out into Lake Michigan means that we had a warm side of the peninsula on the Green Bay side, and a cool side by the lake. The trees blossomed across the county so the season of bloom lasted longer. But, we only had white cherry blossoms. The apple blossoms were pink, and smelled amazing.

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