Written by Today, we have a quickly doodlewashed flowery texture, combined with, not surprisingly from me, some food. I was running really far behind most of the day today, so it was nice to take even a short little break to make something. I don’t think I’ve ever made anything quite this orange before either. Philippe looked at it and exclaimed, “wow! A burst of Vitamin C!” which I’m not sure was so much a compliment as an observation. Strangely, flowers are my least favorite thing to paint. This should elicit gasps from watercolorists everywhere, but it’s true. I’ve no idea why this is. I certainly wasn’t beaten with a daffodil as a child or anything weird like that. Perhaps it’s my rather rendered and detailed style that makes them feel like a descent into madness. They’re horribly complex if you’re not painting them fairly abstractly. I’m sure, like painting human beings, I might find the appeal if I practiced more, but I’d rather just sketch my shoes or my lunch instead.
Finding the subject matter that moves you is part of discovering yourself as an artist. Being able to paint anything at all is not the same as actually loving to do so. There are simply things that call us to paint them and others that dare us instead. Like a kid, I’ll definitely take the dare, but when I’m done with that, I prefer to return to the things that I enjoy most. Or, as I did here, simply sneak in the things I’d rather be painting. It strikes me that I’ve now been challenging myself and many of you with these prompts for a year now and it’s fun to try to come up with something to interpret them. But for anyone playing along on these little adventures, please remember that painting what you love is always the most important thing. And equally important is stealing that time you don’t think you have in order to paint them.
I’m rushing once more and barely have time to make this post, but equally glad I took the time to do so. The way I feel after making something is impossible to describe. If I had skipped this day, I would have gone to bed with a little empty place inside of me. That place that can only be filled by illustrating something. Anything at all really, but preferably something that makes me really happy. That “stuff” in my life that reminds me of those wonderful stories from my past. Little bits of things that don’t quite give the full picture, only enough to imagine the idea. This is what makes me smile. A notion built out of ink and watercolor, suggesting the start of story or the glimpse of a memory. I’m not making a masterpiece waiting to be hung in a gallery. I’m just sketching stuff. And in the end, it’s simply a matter of choosing between the flower or the fruit.
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About the DoodlewashSennelier L’Aquarelle: Red Orange, Sennelier Red, Indian Yellow, Opera Rose, and Payne’s Grey. Lamy Safari Al-Star Fountain Pen – Extra Fine,
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with Platinum Carbon black ink in an A6 
Suggesting the start of a story or the glimpse of a memory – what an absolutely lovely thought. Yes, art inspires. I love coming to this site every day, always something charming to view, always something worth thinking about, and often something to remind me to do something good in the world. You’ve done well, Charlie, getting us doing. I love this orange and the flower – orange is such an exuberant and joyful color. A burst of vitamin C on Happy mode.
Aww… thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 I really can’t thank you enough for always stopping by to view my sketches and read my rambles. It means so much to me. I’m never actually sure if what I’m making and writing matters, but you always make me feel that it does. Thank you for that my friend. 💕
Loved the oranges w/ the orange 🌺!
Sent from my iPhone
Thanks so much, Martha! 😃💕
Great texture, as always. And yes, orange! (K)
Thanks so much, Kerfe! 😃💕 hehe… yeah… insanely orange… kind of fun to try though!
Well, it certainly is very orange! I kind of want an orange now, so mission accomplished. And there was a ‘wow’ in Philippe’s remark, so I’m sure it was a complimentary observation. 😉 I’m the same with flowers, actually – they’re troublesome beggars. Here’s to doing whatever!
Thanks, Jacob! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, there was probably a compliment buried in there somewhere. And I’m glad you agree on flowers, I’m so incredibly impressed by those who can render them, but I tend to botch them more than not. lol
I know what you mean about working on a subject that you love. I love to paint animals most of all, but Trying to
Sorry, pressed Send by mistake…. I’m trying to learn to paint everything. This week I worked on a Walking Dead scene for a friend’s older teenage son. It’s not my thing at all. I’m going to take your advice and go back to an animal next I think! PS I really enjoy your blog. 🙂
Aww thanks so much! 😃💕 I’m thrilled you’re enjoying my blog! And yes to learning to paint everything… I’ve literally tried to paint everything I can imagine. It’s the best way to understand what you love and what you don’t. Also, it’s always good to push out of our comfort zones from time to time. But equally good to return there when we need to! 😉
This bright orange caught my eye as I was trawling through your past posts. You may not like flowers but you paint them beautifully and your oranges look like a wonderfully tasty burst of vitamin C!
Aww thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕