![A whimsical watercolor painting of birds gathered beneath a leafy tree. The background is a soft blue sky filled with simple silhouettes of flying birds in blue and lavender tones. The tree is lush with green and blue foliage, accented by hints of pink. Beneath it, a variety of abstract and semi-abstract bird figures are painted in muted greys, blues, purples, and splashes of yellow and pink. Two prominent pink birds with long legs stand on the right. The ground level features layered and overlapping birdlike shapes, conveying a sense of assembly or meeting. Text written below the image reads: “WWM 23/31 Group + Mixed Greys 2025.07.23,” “Parlement [sic] of Birds, inspired by Charlie Jane Anders,” with the artist's signature at bottom right.
WWM25 Day 23: Parlement [sic] of Birds
Today’s prompt—“Group + Mixed Greys”—took me into a dreamy assembly of watercolor birds. Titled *Parlement [sic] of Birds*, this piece was inspired by the speculative and wildly imaginative writing of Charlie Jane Anders, who often explores themes of transformation, identity, and collective strength.
I envisioned a kind of surreal council under a large tree, where birds of all colors, shapes, and degrees of abstraction have come together. The mixed greys in the prompt gave me an opportunity to unify wildly different characters and tones, while still leaving room for some bright, whimsical color play. There’s something about the randomness of form in watercolor blobs that, once inked or shaped slightly, reveals life and personality. That’s the magic of this practice for me.
Some birds remain purely suggestive, just a sweep of color and shadow. Others—like the pink long-legged pair—stand out as focal points. In the tree above, pink blossoms and watching birds suggest a layered, lively space. The background wash kept it soft and airy.
This was such a joyful painting to make—almost like painting a dream parliament where stories are told by chirp and flutter.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:pv5k32qul47sx6tokhtvtgkb/bafkreiasxgcfgvgnq3cbir3ijyc5bcn6my7qbdk66ruqa3ewu7jf6zacce)
A whimsical watercolor painting of birds gathered beneath a leafy tree. The background is a soft blue sky filled with simple silhouettes of flying birds in blue and lavender tones. The tree is lush with green and blue foliage, accented by hints of pink. Beneath it, a variety of abstract and semi-abstract bird figures are painted in muted greys, blues, purples, and splashes of yellow and pink. Two prominent pink birds with long legs stand on the right. The ground level features layered and overlapping birdlike shapes, conveying a sense of assembly or meeting. Text written below the image reads: “WWM 23/31 Group + Mixed Greys 2025.07.23,” “Parlement [sic] of Birds, inspired by Charlie Jane Anders,” with the artist's signature at bottom right.
WWM25 Day 23: Parlement [sic] of Birds
Today’s prompt—“Group + Mixed Greys”—took me into a dreamy assembly of watercolor birds. Titled *Parlement [sic] of Birds*, this piece was inspired by the speculative and wildly imaginative writing of Charlie Jane Anders, who often explores themes of transformation, identity, and collective strength.
I envisioned a kind of surreal council under a large tree, where birds of all colors, shapes, and degrees of abstraction have come together. The mixed greys in the prompt gave me an opportunity to unify wildly different characters and tones, while still leaving room for some bright, whimsical color play. There’s something about the randomness of form in watercolor blobs that, once inked or shaped slightly, reveals life and personality. That’s the magic of this practice for me.
Some birds remain purely suggestive, just a sweep of color and shadow. Others—like the pink long-legged pair—stand out as focal points. In the tree above, pink blossoms and watching birds suggest a layered, lively space. The background wash kept it soft and airy.
This was such a joyful painting to make—almost like painting a dream parliament where stories are told by chirp and flutter.
A stylized watercolor kitchen interior with orange-toned cabinets and appliances. A green refrigerator stands on the right, a bright orange oven is centered, and a reddish-orange microwave is mounted above. The backsplash is a light blue wash. The entire scene has a soft, vintage aesthetic evocative of a 1970s kitchen.
"My Retro 70s Kitchen Is Done!" — WWM25 Day 24/31
A loving tribute to avocado green appliances and burnt-orange cabinetry, this playful watercolor channels the spirit of a 1970s kitchen renovation. The composition features a centered stovetop oven painted in a rich orange, flanked by warm wood-tone cabinets. Above it, a boxy microwave sits snugly between matching upper cabinets, rendered in loose sienna tones.
The true star, however, is the olive-green refrigerator on the right—a nod to the avocado color trend that dominated midcentury kitchens. Its flat facade and brown handles keep the shape iconic and bold. A cool blue backsplash spans the wall behind the appliances, providing welcome contrast and a hint of modernity.
The watercolor technique combines bright washes, minimal contouring, and expressive brush shapes. The edges remain soft and fluid, helping the colors vibrate against each other while preserving a charming, sketch-like quality.
This piece celebrates nostalgia with affection and a wink, fully embracing the prompt “Avocado” and showcasing how color can evoke an era.
Number 24/31 in World Watercolour Month July 2025 #WWM25 #WorldWatercolorMonth #WorldWatercolorMonth2025 #art #painting #watercolor #watercolour and sometimes #ink #scannedimage #nofilter
Days 23 & 24, for #WWM25. "Parlement [sic] of Birds" for "group"+mixed greys, and "My 70s Retro Kitchen" for "avocado"+Olive Green
tag @charliejane.bsky.social
