Written by Sometimes I write prompts that momentarily confound even me, like today’s prompt of “glossy.” As I was leaving work, I asked my creative team what came to mind with this word, which quickly prompted suggestions along with a debate. “No, that’s not glossy, it’s shiny!” the debate began, and continued from there. So without intention, I created a nefarious prompt. I began to run through things in my head, having the same debate with myself while I was heading home. With no idea what I should paint tonight, I opted for tomorrow morning’s breakfast. This will consist of some pancakes with syrup, assuming syrup must somehow qualify as glossy, along with even the pat of butter on top? A requirement really, if you’re going to have pancakes properly. Also, it’s been a long week and I’m rather excited for the weekend ahead. Not because we have any special plans, but mostly because we have no plans at all, save the pancakes. To me, that’s the perfect start to a weekend break. An equally perfect start is not bothering to think too much about things and just go with what comes to mind.
But, I was still rather distracted by what actually qualifies something as glossy so I looked up the word. According the dictionary it means “shiny and smooth,” which means that shiny objects apparently count as long as they don’t contain jagged edges. Words are a funny thing indeed. It seems sometimes we have more words than we need to describe things, which only creates a sort of confusion rather than the clarity one would expect. As I type these posts quickly each day, I try to use the words that best fit what I’m trying to say, but I’m often at a loss for that perfect word. The one that changes a bland sentence into the one with a bit more interest as I intended. I think this is when one should go back over a post in order to correct things a bit, but I just type as I think. These are truly just spontaneous rambles, so bless your heart for reading along. As much as art can create emotions and trigger responses, words are capable of doing the very same thing. I tend to approach both with wild abandon, simply hoping the combination comes together in some meaningful way.
The thing that what I love about art and writing is that it’s a wonderful way to press the reset button. I’ve had thousands of things to deal with this week and each night I can just say, “screw it, let’s take a break.” Without my nightly ritual of painting and posting I think I’d probably lose what’s left of my mind. And in those moments while I’m painting and madly typing, I’m not thinking about the week I just survived. I’m thinking about all the little things around me that make my life so special. Philippe is singing along to the song we have playing while dishing out some spaghetti. This is also the sign that I’m nearly at the end of this post or need to be quickly. Phineas is plodding around on the floor like a government inspector, occasionally sneezing at something he finds out of place. It’s all perfectly simple, un-notable really, but it’s the most wonderful feeling of all. The perfect moment when I take my little hour to paint and write about random things that come to mind, even getting totally lost in the question of “what the heck is glossy?”
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Quinacridone Red, Yellow Ochre, Terra Cotta, and Cobalt Blue. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. |
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“I’m rather excited for the weekend ahead. Not because we have any special plans, but mostly because we have no plans at all, save the pancakes.” pure joy
Aww thanks! Glad you liked this! 😃💕
Glossy is a big cooking term. Make the sauce glossy with the addition of butter. And really? Now I have a major hankering for pancakes! Darn you Charlie O’Shields!
Thanks, Lisa! 😃💕 Well, I did add butter so I guess that counts! hehe… sorry about the pancake cravings.
Heheh I enjoyed reading behind the scenes story about glossy illustration and how you came up with an idea. Illustrated Pancakes 🥞 are really mouthwatering 😋
Thanks so much, Snehal! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, these posts quickly come out of the oddest moments. Glad you liked it!
How wonderful to have no plans except pancakes! Your painting looks yummy!
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah, pancake only plans are the best kind of weekend! hehe
You’ve got the Normans and the Saxons to blame for a lot of those redundant words. They’re the reason a bovine is a cow in the field and beef on the table, and I strongly suspect they’re behind glossy and shiny too. If your morning pancakes look anything like your painting, they’ll be a good way to start the process of unwinding- you’ll be too busy digesting to be stressing.
Thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, they look like this and although I could have three, I’ve lately opted for just two. Need to start losing the winter weight! 😳lol
Ok the perfect word here would be… delicious. I mean, seriously delicious. Enjoy your pancakes Charlie, have a bite for me!
Aww thanks so much, Jennifer! 😃💕 I did indeed enjoy them! These were traditional, but Philippe makes a gluten-free that’s awesome!
I think Phineas has a photic aversion to things he doesn’t like and that’s why he sneezes. But I bet he like pancakes.
I watched a TV food show that showed the fluffiest pancakes in the world, made by adding – wait for it – mayonnaise! Mayo is basically egg yolks and vinegar, so that makes sense. Or maybe just throw in an extra egg to do the same. As for glossy – who has the time to find out when there are pancakes in front of you?
hehe… yes to that! 😃💕 Yeah, Philippe adds a bit of whipped egg sometimes, especially his gluten-free version. And as for Phineas… I think that’s totally the case! And he would indeed enjoy pancakes were he allowed any.
As of yet I have no plans for this weekend. I am just going to do whatever happens. And I had problems with glossy too. I typed in glossy on Pinterest and saw some leaves, so that’s what I painted. Not sure I actually achieved glossy, but I did end up with leaves. 😄
hehe… yay… that works! 😃💕 Yeah… I’ve used this prompt before and ended up with a mirror cake. It’s not one of the easiest ones for sure!
I like the “glossy shine.” Your pancakes look delicious.
Aww thanks so much, June! 😃💕
LOL 😁 Phineas the government inspector! 😁 Suggestion, Charlie, for one of next month’s Doodlewash Challenges, post a photo of Phineas so we can paint him? Then you’ll have a bunch of portraits of him to enjoy. Also, bless your heart for sharing your journey. ❣️
Thanks so much, Miste! 😃💕 hehe… ohhhhh Phineas would love all that attention! lol That’s a fun idea. Maybe I should make a little giveaway when the entry is an illustration of him. 😉
Oh, yes, please do it!!! 😁🐕
That syrup looks so glossy! Pancakes sound delish.
hehe! Thanks so much, Susan! 😃💕
Syrup looks glossy and delicious.. Yummy pancakes..!
Yay! Prompt solved! hehe… glad I made glossy happen and that you liked it! Thanks, Anita! 😃💕