World Dream Day

Today is World Dream Day, which invites us to embrace all of our dreams, goals and aspirations. This made me think back to when I very first started painting, and purchased my very first set of boxed watercolors. They were Winsor & Newton Cotman at the time, and I was so thrilled with all of the possibilities that I might create next. It made me feel like a real artist, even if the paints were labeled “student grade.” I would go on to learn about richer colors and pigments, but I’ve never forgotten that feeling of getting that first set. And I still very much consider myself a student today. But, it was truly like a dream in a box. All I had to do was open it, grab that brush and let those colors come out and play. There’s always a lot of discussion on art supplies, but one of the most important sometimes goes unmentioned. And that’s passion. It’s free, by the way, and doesn’t cost a dime. And when you have that in your painting kit, you’ve got the most important art supply of them all. The one that makes dreams come true. I’m still dreaming and changing, but for this post, I decided to paint this doodlewash using all of the 12 colors in my current palette (listed at the end of the full post).

So much has happened since that first day I picked up a paint brush, which was still just a little over 3 years ago now. And my dream back then hasn’t really changed much today. I just wanted to make some people smile when they saw my art and hopefully evoke some lovely memories and stories along the way. For myself as well as for the viewers of whatever it was that I posted. My dreams have come true in so many ways. Thanks to the internet, I was able to connect with people around the globe who did smile when they saw my art, and better yet, shared their own wonderful stories that it evoked! And, for my part, I’ve faithfully shown up each and every day since the very beginning, painting random things and sharing the random stories and thoughts that come to mind. A couple of months ago, I started a podcast called Sketching Stuff, telling these stories in an audio format. Sort of like a cross between a radio play and an audiobook. Something I wouldn’t have dreamed would happen when I first opened that little box of paint. (And, by the way, Episode #7 came out today, so please take a listen when you can and leave me a comment!)

It’s been an incredible journey and what’s more incredible is that it’s still happening now! I have no intention of stopping and, if nothing else, I hope to provide living proof that we can indeed show up each and every day to pursue our dreams. Never let anything in the world stop you from chasing your passion. It’s the thing that makes us feel the most alive and makes us better people to the people who rely on us. I know I’m always being the best person I can be when I’m true to myself and doing what I love most. And sure, I have dreams so large and ridiculous that they will likely never come true. But the very act of dreaming them makes me feel more alive. That feeling of being on the edge of possibility is truly amazing. In many ways, just feeling that fills me with enough hope and wonder to propel me forward. In this state, I can at least do something cool, if not the amazingly wild thing I had in my head. Like simply showing up, to share and write about a little thing I made today. Nothing elaborate, to be sure, but an image of a tiny box of possibility that started me down this journey in the first place. So now, I simply want to pause, smile and reach out my hand to every other person on this planet who will join me in embracing the infinite possibilities that are waiting for each and every one of us on this wondrous World Dream Day.

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About the Doodlewash Da Vinci Paint Co.: Aureolin, Azo Yellow, Vermilion, Benzimida Orange, Quinacridone Red, Opus (Vivid Pink), Cobalt Turquoise, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Ochre, Leaf Green, Terra Cotta, and Indigo.  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!

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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