Doodle your Way

Last December I wrote about doodling and how I've covered one paper after another with my doodles. Five of my doodles were published in a new book, Zen Doodles: Oodles of Doodles from North Light Books.

(https://www.northlightshop.com/zen-doodle-oodles-of-doodles/?lid=BVcmmac110414)

I mention doodling again because I gave copies of the books to some of my relatives at Christmas. To my surprise and delight, they have become doodlers!

My niece, Lindsey Szymaszek, a busy doctor and new mom, now creates doodles. She says, "I love it! I have doodled so much and they are all over my house."

She doodled around the letters of her son's name. What fun!  

I come from an artistic family. I grew up thinking that I was an artist. If you look at my early drawings though, they are no different from any other child's drawings.

The difference: I was encouraged to explore artistic outlets. I'm a firm believer that everyone has an inner artist in them. Doodling is a great way for anyone to touch that artistic spot in themselves. 

The Oodles of Doodles book gives you instructions to recreate the pieces that appear in the book. All you need are small pieces of Bristol board, which you can buy in packets at art stores or online, and a Micron pen or two. I take a small plastic envelope of doodling supplies with me. I use them all the time to create little art pieces which I often give away.

           

The Zen Doodles book gives credit to Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, who founded Zen Tangles, their more formal approach to making doodles. They have encouraged others to use their method, and they also have no restrictions on adaptations such as Zen Doodles. Just as we have all become photographers through our smart phones, we can all become artists with doodles.

Doodle on!  And send me your doodle pieces to share with others!