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Dishes done (EDM #64)

Dishes done

Watercolor & Noodlers Ink in Moleskine 5×8″ watercolor notebook
(click image to enlarge, select “All Sizes”)

I love doing dishes. When I saw these, all nice and clean and lined up on my sink I had to capture them in my sketchbook.

I like waking up on mornings when there’s dishes to wash from the night before. It’s a nice, relaxing way to start the day peacefully. Doing dishes doesn’t require deep thinking, heavy lifting, computers, manuals, or electricity–just a sponge, water and soap. I can listen to NPR on the radio while enjoying the warm suds and squeaky clean feel of a plate as I line it up in the rack. I admire the jewel-like color of the dish soap, which I keep in a squirt bottle originally designed to apply hair dye–similar to the ketchup dispenser at my favorite greasy spoon. I reflect on how much I like the dispenser and the clear plastic sponge holder suctioned-cupped to the tile backsplash.

I look out the window over the sink and see the ugly rose bush from Home Depot that always looks straggly and think about replacing it. I ponder when my next door neighbor will landscape his yard and get rid of the ugly little red rocks from the previous owner. I admire the huge tree that I can see across the street and I urge the ivy to keep on growing that is very slowly starting to cover the soundwall at the end of our street.

Then the dishes are done and it’s time to move on to something more demanding, but I’ve had that little time to go from sleep to awake and have actually accomplished something tangible while still in my jammies.

(I keep changing my template, trying to find one that doesn’t either resize the 500 px wide Flickr images or cut off their sides. Do you find this type hard to read? Also, the comment option is at the top of the post in this template which seems dumb, and I don’t like the blue background).

20 replies on “Dishes done (EDM #64)”

You take time to do dishes and to draw it! Congratulation, I would just start by drawing and do the eventually do the dishes.

Your blog is readable enough for me, but I still have young eyes;-)

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Oh I do admire you, dishes are the last thing I remotely like to do. But the way you describe the serenity of the whole process makes me want to pick up a sponge and play with bubbles.

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Now, Jana — this is GORGEOUS!! Loose wash, fine, clean details — just PERFECT!!!!! I love this style of yours ….!!!!

As for washing dishes — I’d rather stay up until 3 AM then wake up to dishes — however, I share the same task — listening to NPR and PUTTING THE DRIED DISHES AWAY …..!!! HATE to face them thangs in the am! LOL

LOVE the sketch, Jana — really really really!

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terrific Jana! I would find this a difficult drawing to do, the perspective, ovals, overlapping shapes etc!! you’ve handled it all so beautifully, the whole piece nicely composed with also smaller compositions (the three white mugs, the way their handles turn and play against each other) to enjoy within the larger work. your great colors, wonderful that bring it all together, enjoying this small piece of your everyday 🙂

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Jana, who would of thought dishes could be so exciting. I’ve never looked at dishes in this way, infact I have a sink full now and when I woke up to Pittsburghs cold and rainy day ahead when I walked out my kitchen was a mess. I dont like it much, but maybe I should take your way of looking at it and it will be all better when I go back out and look at it again. Your writtings atre uplifting also so I’ll come hear before I tackle the kitchen duties for the day.
Now what about the rest of the house?:)
have a good day,
Linda

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This is so lovely and peaceful. I like doing dishes too. What a complex drawing and you made the colors in each object so beautiful.

I’m envying your banner. My son and I are still figuring out how to make one in our blogs.

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Jana, I love this layout, it looks attractive and loads fast and looks great.

I do this same thing only with the evening dishes. Love the perspective and all the detail!

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Jana, I love your little dishwashing story! And the sketch, too, of course. Isn’t it fun to read about the small, contenting things in other peoples’ lives? I bet the search function of your blog will come in very handy. I don’t think Typepad has one.

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Thanks everyone…but really, the reason the dishes are there in the morning (and sometimes still there the next morning, and the next…) is because after dinner I often choose to do art rather than dishes. And today, they’re going to have to sit there all day because I don’t have time to wash them this morning because I slept in a bit and now I have to get to the office!).

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By Post Author

Jana,

I love this drawing. It looks so peaceful, for some reason – perhaps because of your beautiful writing. The colors are simple and effective, the lines are flowing and lovely. I don’t feel quite the same way you do about dishes, but you’re making me change my mind! 😀

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Good Morning! What a neat way (pun intended!) to start the day! I usually load dishes into my dishwasher and only have to do icky pots by hand. I doubt they would make such an interesting drawing, though. They get piled into the second sink to drain because I don’t have room in my miniscule kitchen to have a drying rack.

Your Blog loads fine for me and I don’t mind the font, either. Tastes differ as to background, so you’ll have to decide that for yourself 🙂

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isn’t it nice to see dishes done! i love the red thing beneath glass things thing. (excuse my sudden loss of vocabulary) i usually listen to david devant and his spirit wife while washing up the dishes. That wooden rack looks like the ikea-bought one we used to have in london.

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I like the template. The type is perfectly readable to me. I agree that the comment option at the top feels counter-intuitive. I’m afraid that almost every housework task doesn’t appeal to me. Though I don’t mind cooking and preparing for that. The colours look lovely and fresh and clean in this illustration – like the dishes.

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I love your clean dishes! We have the same dish rack, and i had to smile, as i almost thought it was my kitchen counter. I love doing dishes too. I find the activity relaxing. Still… after all these years.

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Lovely reflections on the lid and beautifully sensitive text – I however do not like doing dishes in the morning – I like my men to do them in the evening without my asking!

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I love this one Jana, I sometimes enjoy doing the dishes, it is a time to think, mine sometimes dont get done until later in the morning, especially if its cold.
I can read your blog easily and thanks for your comments on mine

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