Written by I was asked if I would draw my Halloween costume this year, but not planning to attend a party, I don’t have one. Also, it’s the 2nd #SelfieArt Day started by my pals Teresa Robeson and Kirk Livingston and I wanted to participate. I just wasn’t sure how to answer both challenges in a single doodlewash.
I have many pairs of glasses, but today I’m wearing the very first pair of glasses that Philippe picked out for me. I decided these must be in my Cabinet of Curiosities and might just help me solve my dilemma. So I present to you my latest treasure, an extremely conceptual selfie, and my Halloween costume for this year – The Invisible Man.
These particular glasses are special to me because Philippe was still in Paris when he helped me pick them out. At the time, we had no idea that we would ever actually end up together in reality. After sending him multiple selfies of me trying on various pairs of glasses, this pair was his final choice. I figure they qualify as a self-portrait because on justifying his selection Philippe had said, “They just seem the most you.”
As for being The Invisible Man, now that I think of it, this would be a ridiculous costume were it possible to turn myself invisible. In order to achieve the effect of floating glasses, it would also mean attending the party entirely in the nude. Which, for the majority of parties, is still considered taboo. But I guess since it would be impossible to actually see me, I could only offend people who had an inordinate distaste for Ray-Bans.
The concept of being The Invisible Man is fascinating to me, not just for the ability to hide in plain sight, but for all the questions it evokes. For example, if while attending this Halloween party naked, would it be considered rude of me to sit on the host’s furniture? When greeting my friends, would it suddenly seem inappropriate to hug? If someone else decided to attend the party as an actual naked person, would my costume be mocked for its lack of authenticity?
These little what-if scenarios that play out in my head are usually what stops me from attending parties in the first place. It’s even more exhausting because now everyone assumes after months of not seeing them, that you’ve been scouring their Facebook page and know everything that’s been happening with them. Unfortunately, that’s precisely what I haven’t been doing.
I show up to the party like a clueless fool who’s suffering from a terrible case of amnesia. I’m too cheery with Sheila who just lost her father, I smile and ask Joe how’s he’s doing after he was just diagnosed with cancer, and I forget that it’s Stephanie’s birthday. Even though that was apparently the very reason for this regrettable affair.
In my daydreams I imagine myself a favorite guest and someone who can happily mingle with anyone who comes along. But in reality, I’m that awkward, uninformed guy who just said the wrong thing. And although, I’m quite thankfully fully clothed, I’m red-faced and suddenly wishing I could just become The Invisible Man.
Cool answer, Charlie – a cunning way out of doing a full portrait 😉 Nice one!
I hear you on the conversational woes (too many to list, as we’ve touched on before). I’ve been bullied into a party on Saturday – get me with my wild social life – and I’m already shuddering over the prospect of these very things. I wish I knew how to become but a floating pair of glasses (though I’d prefer to remain clothed in doing so)!
Hehe! Thanks Jacob! 😃😃Wasn’t sure how to cover all my bases so I’m glad you liked the solve! 😉👍🏻 I guess it’s always good to be pushed out of our comfort zone. I’m sure you’ll have fun!! But still…being a floating pair of glasses would certainly make things a bit easier to deal with sometimes! Hehe
Love these glasses Charlie – I imagine they look smashing on you! 🙂 And I swear I see a reflection of Phillipe in the one lens :). Hey – I imagine you quite the party guy – knowing just what to say – you sure do in writing…. And how did you meet Phillipe all the way from Paris? Have you ever shared that story? If so, I don’t recall…. I think you’d make a great invisible guy in nothing but these glasses. It would be like the Emperor’s Clothes – we would all see you, but just pretend we don’t – haha!
Thanks Jodi! ❤️😃Hehe! I think it’s actually me in the reflection, as I was just painting what I saw, but cooler to think of it as Philippe! And I haven’t really told the story of how we met I don’t think… perhaps I will before the month is over! 😉And as for the last bit… 😳😳😊😊😊hahaha!!
wow – that was a bunch of random all together in one comment – haha!
Haha! No worries…that’s also a pretty good description of my posts, so I assume the comments would follow suit! Lol 😉👍🏻
Charming portrait! I guess we are all going to the perfect party at Doodlewash, and the best part it can be sans clothing if we want, lol. We can also can speak our mind, make intelligent comments or just giggle nervously and we are all accepted. Thanks Charlie.
Thanks Sharon!! ❤️😃 And okay…NOW you’ve finally described a party that actually sounds fun to attend!! Sign me up!! Hehe!!
Oh my, have you ever watched Naked and Afraid? It’s a strange thought to be naked in front of a bunch of people and then hugging them…and yes, sitting on their furniture! But, on to your glasses, lovely selfie! I love hearing about you and Philippe and how you work things out, charming you two.
Haha! I haven’t seen that show…we don’t have cable so unless it’s on Hulu we miss it. I saw a clip from it though. Sounds like an interesting concept! (Though the censor blur seems like it could get dizzying…would have be easier to watch if aired in Europe😉) And thanks!! ❤️😃Glad you like my doodlewash selfie!! Hehe
Love the glasses Doodlewashed – Philippe has good taste! 😊 I’m glad you didn’t write your post in invisible ink Charlie! I enjoyed your story. 😄💚🌟
Thanks Jill!! ❤️😃 And why didn’t I think of that?!! Would have been much faster to complete the post!! Haha! 😉👍🏻
Love the selfie! I’m sure visible you look great in them! If you wore clothes, would the clothes be visible? Does anything you touch become invisible? And I’m totally not imagining you naked.. Lol!
I used to be great at parties and I guess I can still talk to anyone but my tolerance level for those things has gone way down. I would much prefer an intimate dinner party with around 10 people would be more my style.
Thanks Kari!! ❤️😃 Glad you like the selfie doodlewash! And one can’t help but wonder right?! Lol It’s sooooo fascinating!! According to the book and movies the clothes are always visible…hence the need for nudity for the fullest invisibility… and making anything invisible to the touch wasn’t mentioned but would make for an even cooler story!! In the end, yes …craving smaller gatherings is not a sign of age as much as wisdom. 😉
Love the glasses and the story behind them. I’m awkward at parties too and always want to leave early. I find FB very much like that if you miss it for a bit then you wonder if you missed a death everyone else knows about. Sheesh!
Glad you liked this Catherine!! 😃😃 Yes… Facebook almost seems a requirement for real life social gatherings. I used to try to take a peek before parties, but it felt like I was back in college and cramming for a test. This made the prospect of a party even less enjoyable! 😳Ugh!!
Yes, too much information floating around in general…
but a great self-portrait. Definitely conceptual art. (K)
Thanks Kerfe!! ❤️😃I’m so happy you like this one! I didn’t want to include my face in this sketchbook…hehe…so I needed another solution! 😉👍🏻
Favorite possessions are very telling I think. In which case, your whole sketchbook is a self-portrait!
Oh yeah!! Hehe…thanks so true!! 😃👍🏻
I like those glasses. Your awkward conversation moments are pretty funny. By the way, Kirk Anderson is actually a favorite political cartoonist of mine, I was disappointed that it linked to my dumb sketches. If you were mentioning me, you might consider “Livingston” rather than “Anderson.” Just a thought. But really it was Teresa’s idea.
Oh wow!! What the heck happened?! Autocorrect or moment of insanity! 😊ugh! Duh! So sorry! All fixed! This is what happens on a lazy weekend post when you don’t actually read it before hitting publish. 😊😊But glad you liked the rest of the post at least! Hehe
Way to go!! Humorous indeed. We all have those awkward crazy moments when we wish we were invisible.
Thanks Susan!! Glad you like this little doodlewash and story!! 😃😃
This is just gorgeous, Charlie1 I love your deft light touch. kudos! Phillipe has good taste…. but that goes without saying!
Thanks friend!! Yeah…Philippe does has excellent taste. 😉👍🏻 I guess I can’t really say he has bad taste though since he also picked me! 😊😊hehe
I picture you as the life of the party, not the awkward person saying the wrong things (that is actually me), my dear! I love your brilliant creativity on this selfie! Those are really great glasses; I want to see a photo of you wearing them! xo
Maybe I’ll doodlewash one next month and actual try a full selfie! 😉lol Thanks Teresa! I’m not the life of a large party, but I can make people laugh at intimate gatherings where I’m less terrified. ❤️😃
I hear ya…I’m definitely more relaxed and humorous among just a couple of friends, but I’m still nowhere as funny and witty as you are! x
You’re too sweet! ❤️😃 I like thinking of myself that way… much better than smart ass. 😊hehe
LOL! Well, you’re definitely smart, but not smart-ass! x
Haha! Thanks friend!! ❤️😃
Very cool glasses :-). I think if invisible people wear clothes, the clothes are visible. So if you do decide to go to a party tomorrow, you just need to find a really long turtleneck that covers all you face and hair. Then have your glasses on a wire about 4 inches above the top of your head. And wear gloves.
I prefer small gatherings too. I find them friendlier and cosier. Hope you have a lovely day tomorrow whatever you do. Unless you really, really want to have a soooooper scary halloween :-)!
That would make an awesome full costume!! Since my doodlewashed costume consisted of just glasses, it made actually invisibility a requirement (along with the nudity! Lol) Your way work brilliantly. But alas, we’re skipping the parties to hide at home again this year. So I choose, lovely day! Hehe! And I hope you have one as well! Happy Halloween friend!
Oh yes, you are clearly invisible and naked in your doodlewashed portrait :-). And staying home is the easiest way to dress up as an invisible man for a Halloween party. I hope you, Philippe and Phineas had a lovely day at home. I had some lovely times at home and bird stalking.
Thanks friend! Glad my nude portrait was too shocking! Hehe! 😃 We did have a lovely day at home! We live in a neighborhood with no kids so we didn’t get to hand out candy (that would have been fun actually…I like seeing all the costumes! Hehe) Hope you found some good birds!!😉👍🏻