More Doodles

Short exercises ideal for small groups or classes, designed to focus the mind and kick start creative activity.

One Shape Three Characters

One Shape Three Characters

WHAT

Using a simple shape to spark ideas for drawing.

YOU WILL NEED:

Paper, a pen or pencil (I like the fluidity of pen for this), a small shape cut from coloured card

INSTRUCTIONS:

There is no right or wrong here, we are interested in the journey and not just the destination.

  1. Place your cardboard shape in the centre of your paper and take a few moments to appreciate its properties. Is it straight or curved, spiky or smooth, complex or simple?

  2. Using your pen or pencil, start to build a character around your shape. In the example above I repeated the drawing 3 times with the same shape, and each time the shape became a different character element within the drawing ie an arm, a nose nose, a leg.

  3. Continue to add elements and detail until your character is fully formed.

  4. Repeat the activity using a fresh piece of paper and the same shape.

  5. Be playful and have fun!

Dots and Triangles

Dots and Triangles

WHAT

Using a series of dots and lines to create fragmented patterns.

YOU WILL NEED:

A felt tip pen and, water and a brush.

INSTRUCTIONS:

There is no right or wrong here, we are interested in the journey and not just the destination.

  1. Draw three dots in a triangle formation (do the pretty close together), and join them up with lines to form a triangle.

  2. Now add another dot to one side of your triangle. Use lines to join two sides of your triangle to this new dot, forming a second triangle.

  3. Repeat step 2 until your page is full of triangles.

  4. with a wet brush (not too wet or drippy), paint around three sides of alternate triangles and shade them in with a light wash. Repeat this across your design.

  5. Add a simple pattern to your remaining triangles, I used a series of straight lines.

  6. If you like add a simple shadow to your pattern. This can make it look like a solid sculptural object. Mine looks a little like a crystal parrot.

Berry Trees

Overplapping Circles

WHAT

A simple pattern with interlocking circles.

YOU WILL NEED:

A felt tip pen and, water and a brush.

INSTRUCTIONS:

There is no right or wrong here, we are interested in the journey and not just the destination.

  1. Draw a series of circles covering your paper. Make sure that they overlap each other.

  2. Now add patterns within each shape that you have created. Try dots, swirls, lines and curves.

  3. Shade in some of your patterns to create contrast.

  4. Now use water (remember to wipe your brush on the water pot so it’s not too drippy) to add wash and texture to your patterns. Following your ink lines makes for an interesting effect.

  5. If you like, add a simple shadow to some of your original circles. This will add a slightly three dimensional effect.

Circles and Sails

Circles and Sails

WHAT

Patterns with circles and lines.

YOU WILL NEED:

A felt tip pen and, water and a brush.

INSTRUCTIONS:

There is no right or wrong here, we are interested in the journey and not just the destination.

  1. Carefully draw a series of circles of different sizes across your paper. Take your time and place them carefully.

  2. Create links between the circles with a series of lines. This will eventually make a mesh of triangles and diamonds.

  3. Within each shape make a pattern with a series of lines. Try and vary these so they are not all the same.

  4. You may want to add embellishments to the circles too. Circles within circles work well here.

  5. Now use water (remember to wipe your brush on the water pot so its not too drippy) to add wash and texture to your patterns. Following your ink lines makes for an interesting effect..

  6. If you like, add a simple shadow to your pattern.

Overlapping Circles

Berry Trees

WHAT

A quick trio of trees doodle.

YOU WILL NEED:

A felt tip pen and, water and a brush.

INSTRUCTIONS:

There is no right or wrong here, we are interested in the journey and not just the destination.

  1. Starting in the bottom half of your paper draw a short line heading straight up, and without taking your pen off the paper draw a blobby leaf shape on top of it. Using a continuous line add another one, and another one, and another (go on keep going) until you have something that looks a little like a tree or a bush.

  2. Now add another trunk next to your first, and start to add blobby leaves again. Try a slightly different shape this time.

  3. Repeat step 1 to make a third tree.

  4. You may want to add a few lines breaking out from your tree trunks to give the impression of branches.

  5. Now use water (remember to wipe your brush on the water pot so its not too drippy) to add wash and texture to your trees. Following your ink lines makes for an interesting effect..

  6. If you like, add a simple shadow to your tree trunks. To add realism make all the shadows flow in a similar direction as if they are created by the sun.