Day 6 - Sweater Season Watercolor - Doodlewash
By Charlie

Sweater Season

Written by Charlie O'Shields

One of my favorite bits of fall and winter is the ability to wear sweaters most of the time. It makes getting ready for the day a breeze as it’s just far easier to grab a t-shirt of some color and toss a sweater over the top. In honor of this simplicity, I decided to whip up this little doodlewash, quickly sketched in sepia ink with just two watercolors. This is a sweater I purchased a few years ago in Paris and it’s still one of my favorites today. It’s from my favorite store there called Jules, which is why I usually pack light knowing I’ll be filling my suitcase with new clothing finds on my return. It’s a chain store and not a fancy boutique. I love it precisely because it has cool stuff at very affordable prices. When I’m not shopping deals in Paris, you’ll find me at Target and Marshall’s. I don’t like to spend lots of money on clothes and actually like them more when I know they were a steal. It’s like wearing a little trophy of sorts that I earned for either the diligence in my search or simply having the good luck of stumbling upon a good sale. Either way, it’s a lovely prize.

During the fall and winter months, the mornings are rather dark here. While stumbling around trying to find clothes to wear, I’ve sometimes come up with some wild, and even silly, combinations between my v-neck sweaters and the t-shirt I randomly chose to put under them. Once, while brushing my teeth I look up to find a tiny face peeking out. It was Batman, from a t-shirt with the logo from the 60’s cartoon. I considered changing it for a moment, but then thought, “what the hell!” and went to work anyway. Since I work in a creative shop, nobody there said a word, though I did get one odd look on the elevator from someone in a suit. But he was probably just jealous. I really can’t imagine having to wear a suit to work. And I’ve no interest in actual fashion that appears in magazines. It doesn’t really matter when I plan to just buy whatever Target tells me is in vogue anyway. It’s a bit like having a personal shopper, albeit a perfectly shotty one that’s always a year or two behind the trends.

I figure my ridiculous pairing choices are just my own unique version of fashion. Nothing that would ever appear in a magazine, of course, but fashion nonetheless. For example, I have a cobalt blue v-neck sweater that often gets accidentally paired with a red t-shirt creating a palette that should probably only be used to paint the Virgin Mary. But, like these sketches and posts, I don’t edit and just go with whatever comes out. I’ve found a complete lack of planning is often when the best things happen. Even if they’re silly things, they’re fun because I’m just as surprised at the outcome. This, for me, keeps life interesting and never plodding into full routine. It’s those little unexpected moments that I love, so I just let them occur as they come. Happily embracing my questionable fashion choices, while splashing ink and paint about to see what manifests on a page. I’m sure one day, when I have a bit more time and more patience, I’ll have an idea for a larger painting that I simply must create. In the meantime, I’m happy just going with the first thing that comes to mind, like I do every sweater season.

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Vermilion, and Indigo (2/3 of my “Vintage” Trio!).  Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with 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!
 Day 6 - Sweater Season Watercolor_IG_

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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38 thoughts on “Sweater Season”

  3. You can sure make me smile and laugh with your, what you call, ramblings. The elevator scene is like something in a movie…..a comedy perhaps. I like the search as well and really like both of those stores. This Paris sweater was a great find and sure it is very comfortable at your day job. 😊

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  4. I love your sweater! Wish I could wear them. I’m always too hot even in cold weather. Cool and comfortable drives my taste in clothing. Talk about odd looks, when I stroll outside in the morning frost and wind, wearing short sleeves and summer trousers.

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  5. I bought a sweater once – maybe 30 years ago. Here in Southern California, it’s cool enough for a sweater between 1 AM and 4 AM – and I’m asleep or working on the computer. So, yeah, I’m a bit jealous of your really beautiful sweater. Take me to Paris – maybe I’ll buy a sweater there and wear it on the plane home. As for the Batman tee-shirt – really, Charlie?

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    1. Thanks Sharon! 😃💕 I’m sure we’d have a perfectly lovely time in Paris together! You should come! hehe… and yep… Batman rocks! lol Yeah, I didn’t think it was a shirt I would wear beyond the weekends, but one can never second guess the dressing in the dark muse. 😉

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  8. Beautiful sweater Charlie. I can imagine you wearing it with a pair of jeans and some really snazzy running shoes. I have a couple of thick, quality sweaters that I have had for decades. I have worn them only on the coldest days when we are skating. They were made in Canada, (so few clothes are made here anymore) and have stood the test of time. So your sweater reminded of those very bulky sweaters that I refuse to give away!

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  9. Charlie says, “I don’t like to spend lots of money on clothes and actually like them more when I know they were a steal.” Wisdom in action!

    It occurs to me that a visit to doodlewash
    gives the same feeling as wearing a prized sweater.

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  10. I love it when we reach the point in life where we are comfortable with who/what we are, and not being dictated by what somebody else declares as “must have latest fashion”.

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  11. What a beautiful sweater! I have a “sweater” (actually it is a Hanes zip up sweatshirt) that I wear when I am creating art. I call it my Mr. Rogers sweater. I often wear it to the classes I teach because it is cold in there. It was new this year, replacing the old one. Now it has become this paint, stain and bleach spotted sweater that matches my art journaling personality.

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  12. It does look very cosy. My granddad had quite the selection of knitted sweaters and cardigans, and they always looked super comfy. We used to call those and similar ‘old man jumpers’, but I don’t care anymore as long as they’re comfortable! Bonus points for the Batman tee scenario, obviously.

    Oh, and hi again, I guess 🙂 It seems like a while since I’ve dropped in here. I kinda fell out of the blog loop for a while but, hopefully, have just got back in. I hope all is well with you! <3

    Reply

    1. Jacob!! Welcome back! 😃💕 And yeah, I totally should get points for Batman! Although you did just compare my sweater to one your granddad might have worn. 😊LOL But no matter… thrilled you’re back! All is well here! Hope everything is going splendidly with you my friend!

      Reply

      1. Haha 😛 All the cool kidz wear granddad cardies and jumpers (or at least they used to, I’m out of touch now!) so you’d have been trendy around here! 😉

        Glad to hear it! 🙂 Yes, all is well here too.

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  13. I like your style. As for me, I only wear dresses, and mostly, the cheapest I can find, though I do make an exception for Land’s End because their clothes last forever! A number of years ago when I was still wearing blue jeans and tops, I made a decision that I would never ever buy a new sweatshirt again. GoodWill has so many barely used sweatshirts for bargin prices that I couldn’t justify retail prices.

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Lisa! 😃💕 Yeah, it’s perfectly ridiculous to pay a lot of money for clothes these days. There’s so much to be found for nothing much at all! And getting a “steal” is way better than paying full price for just about anything! 😉

      Reply

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