Cardinal Red Birds Male Female In Tree Watercolor Painting
By Charlie

Up In The Trees

Written by Charlie O'Shields

For our prompt of “Trees” today, I went for a tree branch with a couple of cardinals sitting on it. I would love to have this bird’s eye view of the world sometimes. It seems like it would make life on the ground reveal itself much more clearly. Even on the rare occasions when I don’t have my head in the clouds, it’s usually always at about tree level. I’m grounded when I need to be, but I just love daydreaming. Were it an olympic sport, I’m quite sure I might qualify for the competition. It’s not, of course, and it would be the oddest sport ever observed with people darting in random directions without a clear sense of purpose. But, that’s the thing about dreaming. There’s always a clear sense of purpose. It’s just not always readily understandable in the moment. That’s why I like keeping my head in the trees. At some moment, when I very least expect it, all will be revealed. All of those crazy thoughts will seem almost sane or even mundane. That’s the beauty of life when you spend each moment on the edge of hope.

And as I head into another weekend, I’m perfectly thrilled! It’s been a super busy week and I’m excited to relax and recharge. This will involve drawing and painting as always, but also a little time spent watching movies and playing video games. It’s what my inner child demands and I’m never one to disappoint him. Philippe and I both have a Nintendo Switch, but since the first one was originally my birthday present, I get all of the emails from them. I just received one alerting me that Pokémon Sword comes out today, though it’s not a game I’d be interested in. Then, not two seconds later, there was a knock on the door. It was UPS, and they were delivering that very game. So, I guess I now know what Philippe will be doing this weekend. It won’t be all about games, of course, as there’s a new exhibit opening at the art museum that we’re planning to see and then there’s family popcorn night tomorrow. The three of us will be watching Disney’s live-action Lady and The Tramp. We insist Phineas loves dog movies like this with “good actors” but, in truth, I think he’s just in it for the popcorn.

And though we should be doing more adult things like reorganizing closets, we’ll probably just skip that. Sometimes, in order to fully recharge, I just have to focus on doing fun things. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity. It’s the only way I can ever really clear my head so I can get back all of that adulting in due time. Since, the holidays are arriving soon, getting into this state is easier than ever! I’m so excited for our many traditions ahead. I’ve also learned not to wish for it to come too quickly or then it’s gone far too soon. No, it’s time to take things slow and savor every moment. It’s time to daydream and imagine wild and impossible things to DO and try next! It’s time to love every moment and make the most of times spent enjoying candlelight. There’s romance and love and all of the sparkling things that make life matter. And in the glow of that next candle, I’ll see ideas and think of the wildest things. I’ll be lost for a moment as I float just a bit above and, once again, find my head up in the trees.

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Gold Ochre, Vermilion, Quinacridone Red, Terra Cotta and Ultramarine (Green Shade). 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!
 Cardinal Red Birds Male Female In Tree 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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25 thoughts on “Up In The Trees”

  2. Wonderful cardinals, Charlie. They remind me that the bears will be hibernating soon so that the bird feeder can be filled and my pair of cardinals will be back outside my kitchen window. Enjoy your weekend!

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  4. I often think we should do the full 12 days of Christmas because 1 day seems an anti-climax after all the anticipation. We are a busy society, but they still manage in other countries. Of course, here we spend so egregiously (yay! a chance to use that word!) just for one day that we probably couldn’t afford to have 12 days.

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    1. Hehe! So true! 😃💕 Yeah, making it one day means it’s extra special, but so much pressure then! lol I think it would be much better doled out over several days indeed. As long as I don’t receive the presents from that song. 😉

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  8. Charlie says, “And in the glow of that next candle, I’ll see ideas and think of the wildest things. I’ll be lost for a moment as I float just a bit above and, once again, find my head up in the trees.”

    What a fabulous place to be!

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  9. Love the cardinals, we have a few pairs that stay around for the winter, joining the chickadees and tufted titmice at our feeder. They compete with a few hardy robins for the few remaining foods that nature affords them. Watching them somehow survive provides us lessons for our own lives, to live in the moment and make the best of what we have.

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  10. The cardinals are awesome, Charlie–I love the fact that they with us all winter in Northern Virginia, bringing color into our monochromatic winter days. Even more than the drawing, though, I was struck by the beginning words of your final paragraph, “And though we should be doing more adult things like reorganizing closets, we’ll probably just skip that. Sometimes, in order to fully recharge, I just have to focus on doing fun things. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity.” Maybe it is only true for certain personality types, but I know that for me your words ring true. It drives some people crazy to live in world that is not perfectly organized–the opposite is true for me. Savoring the moments, living in the present–that is what is important–most of the adult stuff will take care of itself, or never really needs to get done.

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    1. Thanks so much, Mike! 😃💕 Thrilled this post spoke to you! Yeah, I tend to “bug” the super organized people in my life. Living life in the moment is what I’ve found to be the most rewarding indeed. I do the necessary adult stuff, but yeah, much of it is something someone else prescribed. If they love it, awesome, but I’ll just stay childish little me! 😉 hehe

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