Brush Your 2024 Full Of Color Joy!

The Discovery of Doodle-Fun-Apy!

Well….I was hoping to get this out yesterday and back to my regular Sunday posting but the words and images were a jumbled mess as they poured onto the page! Slipping on a scratchy uncomfortable sweater is what it felt like so I abandoned Substack late last night! My creativity was getting beat up by self doubt as I did not hit the publish key. Before I shut off the studio lights to head upstairs to sleep, leaving on a positive note seemed essential for happy dreams to be welcomed.

Guess what?! Doodle Ther-Fun-Apy arrived in my studio. Yes, I just made up that word as I type away here and that’s okay! Do you ever make up words? I opened a blank page in my sketchbook, uncapped my brush pen, and this is what appeared on the paper. My creative heart smiled and I skipped off to bed.

Doodle Ther-Fun-Apy Sketchbook Page One

Mercer The Island

This daily view is of Mercer The Island as I fondly call this small land mass in Lake Washington. He lies reliably resting in the same position everyday although his mood shifts depending on what Mother Nature’s weather decides.

I doodle this fella all the time as he’s fondly nestled into a place in my imagination forever. You ask quietly, why a he? Well, because this is what I sense daily as my gaze rests upon the soothing shape settled in the water.

Mercer The Island is always doodled with feet so today, I shook it up, and put him on wheels! Yippee for pushing that envelope to try new doodle character directions!

Otis The Corgi

Otis was a shy chap but had sit for a treat down pat. I was so impressed how quickly that little bottom connected with the pavement without hesitation. After I swooned over his oversized ears, the eyebrows of inquisitiveness made my heart melt. I had the joy of giving Otis a cuddle and petting those remarkable ears!

My Blackwing pencil could not resist leaping into action to doodle a quick Otis with super huge ears! From now on, I’ll call my pencil Wing as that is the sensation of the graphite flying across the paper surface. I just sketched up this pencil character to use.

Otis The Dog Doodle

Bookstores are my favorites to visit after art supply stores. Elliot Bay Book Company is a magnificent place! If you ever come to Seattle, put it at the top of your list to see and absorb the experience! Blick Art Materials is literally right around the corner so you can guess why this is a regular outing for me.

I’m sure you’re wondering what the photo above is all about. As I was wandering the book aisles, heading to the art book section, this bright red cover jumped out at me! Serendipity is a joy when it touches us and this was one of those moments.

While sitting on an airplane many years ago, with the deep loss of my 15 year old canine best friend Addie squeezing my heart too tight, this book concept whooshed into my imagination! In cursive writing, the beginning pages poured out of my imagination and The Sun Dog novel was started. The journal with this hand written chapter sits right in front of me on my desk behind my computer at this moment.

Well, this must be the year and the message is clear for 2024!

Thank you for being here and reading this blog. I appreciate the time you have shared out of your day. If you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas what you are curious about, please leave a comment.

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Happy 2024!