Bluebird Red And Pink Dahlia Watercolor Painting
By Charlie

Spring Is In The Air

Written by Charlie O'Shields

For our prompt of “Dahlia” today, I paired some with a little bird, because I just adore sketching birds. Today there was initially snow predicted in the forecast, but that changed suddenly to sunny skies so it’s been quite lovely here. The kind of day that makes it impossible not to smile a bit more. Though a chill is still in the air, things definitely seem to be warming up for spring! There’s just something about sunshine that feels like fuel to me. On a sunny day, I can get twice as much done as I can on a gray and cloudy day. I love cloudy days, but they just make me want to snuggle up with a good book rather than actually work on projects. Even though sunny and warm days are heading my way, there will be lots of rain coming as well. Where I live, the rain doesn’t just make an appearance, it shows up and stays for several days, raining nonstop. This bit of spring, I don’t care quite as much, but it’s worth it for all of the beautiful flowers that it brings.

There’s something oddly cozy about thunderstorms, and I’ve liked them since I was a little kid. Philippe, however, isn’t as much of a fan. Indeed, he doesn’t like the calm before the storms because it’s also the time of year that’s tornado season. This is not something he grew up with or had ever experienced before, so that’s made spring a bit of dicey season for him. While we both love the sun and longer days, there’s certainly nothing wonderful about a tornado. I’m very used to them and have spent many bits of spring hiding in basements since childhood. On a stormy evening that has a potential for tornadoes, Philippe usually has a laptop, phone, and iPad all open with screens showing various different meteorological maps. It’s like our house is suddenly transformed into a weather center. I didn’t even know there were that many different maps available. But these days, I’ve noticed that he seems to be a bit less tense when this season arrives. Like anything, after a few years of experiencing something, you just get used to it.

I’ve only ever lived in the same city with four full seasons. For me, it’s a way to mark the year and each season brings new and different impulses along the way. Though I’ve had many opportunities in my life to relocate to other places, I’ve always been most fond of the one I’ve always called home. Spring is one season where I get a little kooky and extra dreamy. I start thinking about new ideas and things I’d like to try next. Yes, I’ve not even come close to completing all of the crazy ideas I already have in play, but I can’t imagine a life where I would ever stop dreaming and trying new things. Sure, it’s likely a better path to mastery to focus on something specific and keep working at it until I’ve achieved greatness. But, I think living a life full of fun and possibilities is equally great. Perhaps, it’s not a way to master something as singular as a challenging technique, but it’s definitely a wonderful way to master life itself. There’s so much joy to be had in trying new things. And each year, I get that urge all over again as I experience that singularly fabulous moment when spring is in the air.

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Hansa Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Red, Opus (Vivid Pink), Cobalt Turquoise, and Ultramarine (Green Shade). 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!
 Bluebird Red And Pink Dahlia 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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32 thoughts on “Spring Is In The Air”

  3. Gorgeous Charlie! The birds were very active in our yard today.we have had several days of above average temperatures and almost all the snow has melted. One inch of rain is expected tomorrow. Being excited about new things is great! I’m getting ready to take down one art show and hang up another. Life is good.

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  4. Having lived my entire life in a tornado zone, I’m used to it, but not complacent. A number of years ago we had straight line winds come through our neighborhood while I was at work and Joe was working out of town. I knew something was up when I couldn’t get home after work because of roads being closed and when I finally picked my way home on back country roads, my yard was full of emergency vehicles. It was night, so I couldn’t really tell the damage until the next day. What a mess! Trees down all over and four days without electricity. Plus it was so hot I thought I might melt. With a handy chainsaw, and a generator, we managed to clean up and save all of our frozen food. I never want to have something like that happen again!

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    1. Oh wow!! That sounds like a mess indeed! Glad nobody was hurt. Yeah, tornado season is not fun at all. Nor is being without power. That’s always the worst! But… saying all of your frozen food is pretty awesome!! 😉

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  6. I love thunderstorms, although we don’t get them often! We do have 4 seasons in SoCal, but outsiders don’t notice them. Winter is December and January – some rain and cold, some warm and clear. Spring starts with February (daffodils bloom) and ends in May – mostly clear and warming up. Summer, June through October – some overcast in June, but no rain ever. Fall is basically November – clear but some colder days. Maybe wind. Grass and many trees and plants green all year. Blooms all year. Some trees turn red and yellow in Fall, before dropping. The changes are subtle, but I can feel the start of each new season. Beauty in nature wherever you live!

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  10. Charlie says, “There’s so much joy to be had in trying new things. And each year, I get that urge all over again as I experience that singularly fabulous moment when spring is in the air.”

    I raise my glass to Spring and to that lovely bird and dahlia painting. Spring is always in the air when flowers bloom at DOodlewash.

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  11. What a great flower and bird. So much detail. I really would like to sit next to you and watch you create. 😉 Seasons are something I miss living in Oregon. (I don’t miss the tornadoes!) Some years we have all four, but most years they just all blend together. And some years they are mixed together. We had winter one day back in January for about 20 minutes.

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    1. Thanks so much, Lori! 😃💕 Yeah, I think the weather in general has just decided to keep getting crazier. Global warming is certainly a culprit. We get a “spring tease” hear during winter and then it snows again usually.

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