Happy New Year, dear readers. If you go over to the Sketchbook Challenge blog, you'll see my post which features "Doodling" as the first theme of the New Year. I hope this is a non-threatening way to begin to get involved (if you are hesitant) and loads of fun for the well-seasoned sketchbooker.
I'm double posting here, but you'll need to go over to the Sketchbook Challenge to see the January prize drawings.
*Doodling**
None Threatening Drawing for Anyone At All
Doodling, Noodling, Moodling, call it what you'd like.
This quote from Brenda Ueland, sums it up nicely:
So you see, imagination needs moodling - long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering.
We all doodle: on the phone, at meetings, on grocery lists. On our calendars. Do you remember all of the hearts and little flowers on your school notebooks? Until your teacher told you to "pay attention." Really puts the kebash on doodling greatness. (I pay better attention whilst doodling.)
Somewhere along the line, you may have stopped doodling. Let's get your doodle on this month!
Here are some doodling starters tips for beginning-again doodlers.
Doodle on brown paper, graph paper, looseleaf paper, in your journal.
1. Use a really simple pen and any kind of paper. For instance, are you working on a work related problem? Doodle on the edges of that paper. Let doodling begin to creep into your everyday life.
2. Doodling is meditative but sometimes our minds resist (believe me, I know). Decide to "take 5" and put on a song you love. Doodle to it. I'll bet you go for 15 minutes.
3. Doodling is really good for developing drawing skills. Your eye-hand coordination will improve.
4. Doodle straight lines, curving lines, open shapes such as boxes, circles, ovals. Look at what you've already doodled and repeat some of these motifs.
5. Make a doodle sampler. A page full of doodling ideas: flower shapes, pod shapes (like my pods). Link the shapes together with lines, dots, flourishes.
6. Mix it up and use different line widths. I like to start with a Micron 01 and go up to 03 and 05.
Coming up ... resources in the art world to broaden your doodle vocabulary. Happy Doodling!
