How to Doodle

What are doodles?

“Doodles” is a term often used to refer to simple, spontaneous drawings or sketches that are typically done absentmindedly while a person’s attention is otherwise occupied, such as during a meeting, class, or phone call. These drawings are usually uncomplicated and may feature various shapes, patterns, objects, or even random scribbles.

Learning how to doodle is a fun and creative process that doesn’t require any special skills or tools. I started doodling a long time ago when I was a child. Kids doodles are usually simple, playful and fun. If you are a doodle beginner, in this tutorial I will tell you how to get started.

Supplies

To make doodles on paper, you have to make sure you have supplies like:

• Paper: Start with a plain sheet of paper or a sketchbook.
• Pens or Pencils: Use a basic pen or pencil to begin. You can experiment with different types later.
• Eraser: In case you make any mistakes or want to refine your doodles.

To create digital doodles, you will need these tools:

• Graphic Design Software: Photoshop, Illustrator, Inkscape, Procreate, Mockofun, Krita, etc. are great drawing apps.
• Graphic Tablet (optional): Graphic tablets offer a more natural and precise drawing experience compared to a mouse. They respond to pressure and tilt, allowing for varying line thickness and shading plus, you can create fine details, which is great for doodling.

Step 1: Small Simple Doodles

How to doodle drawing?

If you are a beginner it is always best to start simple to gain confidence. You can try with small simple doodles and drawings.

• Begin with basic shapes like circles, squares, triangles, scribbles and lines.
• Draw these shapes randomly on your paper. They can be any size or orientation.

Scribble doodles are probably the most easy to make and anyone can draw them even toddlers.

Step 2: Pattern Doodles

Doodling is often spontaneous and unplanned. Allow your mind to wander and see what emerges on the paper. Don’t worry about creating something specific or perfect.

For example you can create aesthetic simple doodles by playing with doodle patterns and designs:

• Experiment with different patterns, such as swirls, zigzags, dots, or hatching.
• Try filling in your shapes or patterns with various lines and textures.

Pattern doodles involve creating repetitive designs and motifs, such as paisleys, mandalas, or tessellations. These doodles can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Step 3: Doodle Elements

As you gain confidence, start incorporating simple objects like cupcakes, ice-cream, flowers, stars, hearts, envelopes, arrows, speech bubbles, or animals into your doodles. You can also doodle everyday objects or things you see around you.

Step 4: Character Doodles

Character doodles are a creative and fun way to explore and develop characters for various artistic and storytelling purposes. Create doodle characters like cartoon characters, fantasy characters, superheroes, monsters, anthropomorphic characters and so on.

As a tip for beginners, if you add doodle faces to objects you turn that object into a doodle character. Emoji doodles are one of the most popular character doodles.

Step 5: Doodle Borders

Doodle borders are decorative or ornamental elements that you can use to frame or enhance various types of creative projects, both digital and traditional.

Use doodle borders for:

• Scrapbooking: Doodle borders are a great addition to scrapbook pages. They can frame photos, journal entries, or other elements on the page.
• Bullet Journals and Planners: Doodle borders are popular in bullet journaling and planners. You can use them to separate sections, highlight important dates, or create decorative elements on your pages.
• Handwritten Notes and Letters: When sending handwritten notes, letters, or greeting cards, you can embellish the margins with doodle borders to make them more visually appealing.

Step 6: Word Doodles

Word doodles & typography doodles involve playing with fonts, lettering, and words to create visually appealing text-based designs. They can include quotes, phrases, or single words integrated into the artwork.

Step 7: Experiment With Different Doodle Styles

There are no rules in doodling. Explore different styles and techniques to find what resonates with you. Try using different pens, markers, or colored pencils to add variety to your doodles.

Types of Doodle Art

Try different types to doodles and see what do you like best. Here are some of the doodle styles:

• Zentangle. Zentangle involves creating intricate, repetitive patterns within small, defined spaces. Artists use specific, trademarked patterns called “tangles” to fill these spaces. Zentangle is typically done with black ink on white paper, with an emphasis on deliberate, meditative strokes.
• Zen doodling. Zen doodling does not have the same structured approach as Zentangle. It involves creating freeform, often abstract, and organic doodles that are guided by a sense of mindfulness. Artists may use various patterns, shapes, and styles without adhering to specific rules or patterns.
• Stendoodling. Sten Doodling is a stencil-based doodle art technique and the best doodle art for kids. You can start by drawing a basic outline and then use various types and sizes of stencils to create designs and shapes.
• Mandalas. Mandala doodles are often circular in shape and feature geometric patterns, shapes, and symmetry. Common elements include circles, squares, triangles, and intricate designs radiating from the center outward. Mandala doodles tend to have a central focal point or design from which the repetitive and symmetrical patterns radiate.

Step 8: Color Doodles

Doodles can include color, but whether or not you choose to use color in your doodles is entirely a matter of personal preference and the specific style you want to achieve.

• Black and White Doodles: Many doodles are done in black and white using just pen or pencil. This minimalist approach can create an elegant and classic look. It also allows you to focus on line work and intricate details.
• Color Doodles: If you want your doodles to be vibrant and eye-catching, using a full spectrum of colors can achieve that effect. You can use colored pencils, markers, digital brushes, or any coloring medium you prefer.

Step 9: Doodle Over Images

Doodle over photos is a popular technique that is used by kids and adults alike. You can draw on image using a think brush and color white for the doodles. There are lots of graphic design tools that you can use like Photoshop, Gimp, Inkscape or online tools like in the video featured in this tutorial.

Step 10: Use References and Inspiration

Look for inspiration in books, online resources, or even the world around you. Try doodling things you find interesting or appealing.

Watch tutorials or follow artists who specialize in doodling to learn new techniques and gain inspiration. Behance and Dribbble are two places where you can find amazing doodle artists.

If you don’t have design skills, you can also use doodles made by other people. Find doodle elements on different sites like Freepik, Vecteezy, etc. You can also purchase custom doodles from websites like Fiverr.

Step 11: In Conclusion

Remember that doodling is a highly personal form of creative expression. You can use it in virtually any context that allows you to convey your thoughts, ideas, and emotions in a unique and artistic manner. Use doodles in notebooks, journals, greeting cards, for scrapbooking, for making coloring pages and so on.

So, don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Doodling is meant to be relaxed and spontaneous. If you make a “mistake,” see if you can turn it into something interesting.