Art Journal About Doodling

Let Your Inner Child Free!

© Jenn Greenleaf

Nov 4, 2008

Creating doodles does not have to be reserved for the cover of your phone book while waiting on hold, or for when you are bored during class. There is something very freeing about letting your mind wander while your hand creates something that is uniquely your doodle.

Materials:

• Art journal
• Pencils
• Glitter gel pens, variety of colors
• Black fine-tipped sharpies
• Post-it notes, either traditional yellow or multi-colored
• Memo book pages, white
• Glue stick
• Junk mail

Instructions:

1. Open your art journal to the first blank page spread. Tear up the junk mail into different sized random shapes and strips. Adhere the pieces to both sides of the page spread.
2. Collage over the junk mail pieces with post-it notes and memo pad pages. Be very random and try not to create any particular type of pattern.
3. Start doodling using the pencils and colored gel pens on the blank memo pad papers first, and then on the blank portions or dull spots of the junk mail pieces.
4. Doodle using the black sharpies next. Create doodles on the blank spaces of the art journal pages, on the post-it notes and on the junk mail. Layer the doodles so they overlap more than one page element.
5. Add text using both the gel pens, as well as the sharpie. Create journal entries, descriptions of the doodles you have created, song lyrics, poetry, or random quotations.

Variations:

• Create a structured collage (scrapbook page layout style) and create a doodled border around the edge. Then, proceed to doodle on the paper elements added.
• Rather than collaging with junk mail, create a watercolor wash covering the entire page spread. Allow the paint to dry completely, and then proceed with the post-it notes and doodling.
• Fold the memo paper pages in half, adhere them to the pages, and then doodle on the inside in a sort of “flip book” style.
• Pretend your art journal page spread is actually the front and back of a textbook that’s been covered over. Doodle as you would during a boring classroom lecture, in study hall, or while waiting for the bus.
• Further embellish the art journal pages with brads, eyelets, beads, buttons, and gems.

Repeat this art journal prompt as often as necessary until the urge to doodle has subsided a bit. Work on this art journal prompt with children, as well, as a way to bring forth basic art journaling techniques. Do not limit yourself to just your art journal. This prompt will work very well for altered book projects, ATC work, and mixed media paintings as well.

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