We’re excited to introduce Da Vinci Paints Ambassador Artist Charlie O’Shields, the curator of a custom Da Vinci paint color, Charlie O’Blue, along with Charlie’s Sketching Stuff Da Vinci watercolor sets and two watercolor trio sets, Vintage and Shiny.

Charlie is a well-known writer and illustrator who is also the creator of Doodlewash®, author of Sketching Stuff™ books, and founder of World Watercolor Month in July. Charlie’s natural optimism and childlike exuberance has led to an online community that attracts more than 100,000 members.

Charlie's watercolor illustrations using his custom curated Da Vinci Paints Vintage Trio

Welcome, Charlie, and thanks for talking with us today! To begin, please share a bit about how you discovered Da Vinci Paints and what you like about the company.

I discovered Da Vinci Paints several years ago when Da Vinci first started sponsoring World Watercolor Month in July. I immediately loved the vivid colors, how easy they are to rewet, and how well they work for my illustrations. Later, I visited the company in California and was given a tour. I was immediately impressed by this family-owned business and the passion that went into creating each product. It truly made me appreciate and love the paints even more. Best of all, I was made to feel like I was part of the family, as well!

You’ve said that you enjoy being a curator that promotes and encourages other artists. You obviously have a fun leadership style that brings people together. What is it about a sense of community that gets your juices flowing?

When I first started my blog at Doodlewash.com, I simply wanted a way to encourage myself to show up for daily practice. I soon learned that I wasn’t very interested in having an audience but truly wanted to connect with other artists so I could learn more and enrich my own art. I wanted to feature artists from around the world and create a shared experience.

With the monthly challenges, I was able to inspire other artists to join me in creating art each day, and it motivated me in ways I never expected. We all started showing up for each other and became a creative support group. If I didn’t want to paint something one day, all I had to do was look at what all of the other artists were posting online, and I was instantly inspired. Making art can be such a lonely business. I find it much more fun and rewarding to create as part of a community of artists. The biggest ideas are the ones that we create together!

Charlie’s storybook watercolor illustrations using his Da Vinci Sketching Stuff palette colors with Charlie O’Blue

Charlie O’Blue is obviously your signature color and is featured in nearly everything that you create. Explain why this color is so important to you.

I’ve always loved this color because it reminds me of staring into the sky as a child and trying to interpret the shapes of the clouds. It also reminds me of the idea of “blue sky thinking” and the infinite possibilities that come when we are thinking creatively.

From a more practical standpoint, I’m a full-time Creative Director for a packaging design studio. Working in the print industry, I spend most of my day using a CMYK palette (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). Charlie O’Blue fills the cyan spot in my palette and pairs beautifully with pink and yellow to create a full spectrum of gorgeous colors! I still like to make my own blacks, but I’ll often add a dash of Charlie O’Blue to make shadows more interesting and add a bit of sky glow to various parts of my illustrations.

When painting or illustrating, you mentioned that you don’t like to be trapped inside a frame. What is it about Da Vinci watercolors that works so well with your chosen style and format?

I consider myself an illustrator, and although the sketches I make can be put in a frame, that’s not always the end destination for my art. Each piece that I create is a bit of illustration that can be used in a variety of ways. For example, beyond my books, my work has appeared on candles, signs, menus, logos, duffel bags, backpacks, and even sneakers. I still feel like I’m just coloring my drawings like I might have done with crayons as a kid. My mom used to put my artwork on the refrigerator, and I guess I still judge my art and wonder if it’s indeed worthy of such amazing recognition. Through my Sketching Stuff brand, I hope to inspire more people to join me and create like a kid again!

With Da Vinci, I’ve found colors that are vibrantly rich, and I was easily able to design a palette that blends smoothly to create every color that I need for my illustrations. I’ve used the same 12-color system for years now, swapping versions of each color in and out to test them. I’m super happy with the current iteration of my palette, and I’m now able to create any color that I see or can imagine with just those 12 colors. It’s truly magical!

Charlie’s watercolor illustrations using his custom curated Da Vinci Paints Shiny Trio

You're well known for reflections in your illustrations and created a Da Vinci Trio to celebrate this characteristic. What is it about shiny things that fascinates you so much?

I can be very focused at times, but much of the time, I have a very short attention span, so any shiny object that pops into view is an easy distraction. As a kid, I would collect shiny rocks that I would find by the railroad tracks. There were lots of quartz and other rocks that were polished to a shine by the passing trains. It was like finding a little treasure. I think it’s that memory that makes me adore shiny objects in general.

When I first attempted to reproduce something shiny with watercolor, I was terrified! It seemed like it was so difficult. Once I managed to get over that fear and give it a try, that feeling turned to pure elation. It’s awesome to make something that really looks like it’s made of sparkling silver and gold with just a few colors. Watercolor itself is a shiny medium. The way the interplay of paper and transparencies reflect light is astonishing, making every illustration appear to have a bit of shine. That’s why I love this medium so much!