In praise of doodles: Doodle your way into a life of creativity and adventure

Bonus: A peek into my latest batch of doodles

I do not know why doodling has such a bad reputation.

I loved doodling when I was a child. I would draw and doodle all the time. It was a form of simple play and pure imagination for me.

Doodling was more than a ritual for relieving stress and boredom. It was a ritual for stimulation — I would doodle to search for new ideas and random inspiration.

Doodling would bring me fragments, patterns, and sketches from imaginative worlds that I wished to explore further.

Doodles represented my childhood in all its glorious foolishness. I never knew where and why I would start doodling, how I would continue it, and what I would end up with.

Doodling created paths for me — playful, naive, foolish, curious, and creative paths. It was impossible to know where they were going — it looked as if doodles had an agency of their own. Alternatively, my hands had their own minds that I could not decipher.

Unfortunately, I have grown out of doodling as it was something that was frown upon. Teachers would consider it frivolous — as if doodling would rip you off anything serious and intelligent.

Our workplaces are also not particularly favorable towards the act of doodling. Doodling is still seen as an idle and mindless activity. It is seen as a sign of boredom. This is unfortunate, because, I have experienced some of my most mindful moments at work when I was doodling.

Sunni Brown has written an amazing book titled “The Doodle Revolution”. She is an early pioneer, thinker, and expert on doodles. She tries to reposition doodling as an activity that is professional, respectable, and worthwhile. Here is her iconic TED talk:

Doodling has helped me to keep my sanity during times of Covid-19 lockdown. It has provided me joy and relaxation when I needed most.

Doodling is an activity that is refreshing, therapeutic, and playful.

You can do it instantly. You only need a pencil, a notebook, and 15 minutes to do it.

Below, I will share some doodles I have done. I have completed each in about 15–20 minutes when I was watching episodes of Friends.

Sample Doodle Journeys

1.As you see below, I started drawing random big triangles or cones from each corner. I have filled them with different circles, shades, lines, or patterns. I decided to put a flower at the center. That’s it!

2. I started with a river-like arch in the middle. Then, I decided I will populate the upper section with circles (empty or full). I shaded the lower section. I ended up adding a darker spiral figure.

3. I started with river-like arches in each corner. This time, I filled them with black circles. I have put a lake in the center. However, I decided I could have lots of small islands inside this lake. They ended up like large stones.

4. This time, I imagined four different planets on each side. I filled each with random circles and patterns.

5. For this one, I closed my eyes and did some random doodles. I then opened my eyes and incorporated some arches and loops. I inserted spirals wherever I could. I inserted some lines and shades as well. Afterward, I inserted five faces, some triangles, and some snowy/spidery figures (I have no idea what they are called:)

6. I divided the page from the middle. I decided that this could be a branch and created some leaves around it. I thought I could fill each leaf with some slogans or ideas. However, I could not find what these would be all about. So, I became stuck. I left it as it is (this happens sometimes, no big deal, give it some time). So, this is pretty ugly and I can view this as a failure. However, I prefer to refer to this as ‘work in progress’.

7. I created lots of cones or triangles in this one. I tried to fill each one with a different pattern. Well, it is not easy to the eye. I think it is a bit overpopulated and tiring. Anyway, it is what it is.

8. I was a bit tired and I just wanted to keep the momentum going in this one. My hands were eager to move, but I did not have enough willpower to think. So, I created a few big and small flowers. I love doodling spirals, so there are lots of spirals. This took me 10 minutes — it was too easy — so I consider it a guilty pleasure.

9. This one was a tiring one. I think I spent about one hour on this one. But I did not do it in one session. I came back whenever I was watching Friends. I did it in 10–15-minute sessions. I do not normally put any text in my doodle artwork, so it was a nice change to put some positive words. The final work is a bit intense and tiring, but I think I like it.

10. I love this one — it is so simple and joyful. I loved the process of creating it. It was mindless work — I love mindless work! It is just a weird flower.

11. Another mindless work. I love playing with spirals and circles. I love repetition.

12. I created lots of triangles. I put different patterns in each triangle. I thought the end result would be beautiful, but I now find it quite ugly:) I have no idea why.

13. I started with 16 rectangles. I did not use any tools so lines ended up not straight or tidy. I love breaking rules, so I am glad I did not use a ruler for the lines. So, the rectangles are not uniform. In each rectangle, I created some random patterns without thinking much. I did not care much and the end result was a bit underwhelming. But this is the key here: You do not obsess about the end result. You just enjoy the process with all its mistakes.

14. I started with lots of curves. I then created a different pattern for each area. I was watching an intensely colorful and loud movie when I created this doodle. As a result, the patterns are playful, but overwhelming at the same time. It is a cacophony.

Two reasons why doodling is comforting for your soul

1. Doodles are not based on professionalism, expertise, or exceptional talent. Doodles are the ultimate artistic tool for anyone and everyone. Doodles capture our amateur spirits. Doodling is easy and accessible — it is not intimidating. Everyone can do it in an instant. It is actually a statement against elitist art. Doodling is the ultimate art form for crowds!

Doodles are the most democratic and anti-elitist form of art I have ever seen. Everyone can doodle. Kids can doodle. You do not need a stroke of creativity or inspiration to create doodles.

Doodling is very easy and practical. You do not need any special skills or training. You can start right away.

2. You will feel relaxed and calm when you doodle. You will leave your stresses, anxieties, worries behind. You will actually leave them on paper in the form of doodles.

You can doodle when you are tired or bored or sad. No one will judge you. Do not let your inner criticism judge you. What matters is capturing your stream of consciousness and fresh ideas as they occur to you. In that sense, doodling is an act of magical creation.

Doodling is for your comfort and peace. Doodling is for your eyes and soul only.

Most of the time, you do not know how your doodling will turn out. It is a journey of unknowns. You do not know what will emerge, you just delve into it. And that is the beauty of it.

You do not need to worry about the end result. What matters is enjoying the process.

You do not need to correct any mistakes. All mistakes and ugly sketches are fine. They need to be appreciated as part of the process. They actually become part of the story.

Have you realized that I have not even cleaned the edges of the doodles above? The resolutions are also low. The images are not high-quality images.

All of these are intentional: I want doodles to feel fresh, amateur, and edgy.

I want my doodles to look like kitsch museums — they capture the beauty in ugliness. They capture my foolish, naive, and weird sense of style.

Anyone can doodle, but only you can create your own unique doodles.

Like fingerprints, your doodles are your creations only. Even if they look crude, your doodles are actually very beautiful and honest — because they reflect layers, emotions, talents, and emotions that are deeply hidden in you.

Doodling is one of the most underrated and powerful art forms out there.

It is instantly available for anyone and everyone, including you.

You can start doodling right now!

Once you start, you will probably love the process. You will embrace the chaos and the unknown as you move your hand. You will make mistakes and turn them into opportunities.

Each line, circle, or dot will connect with others in mysterious ways. You will be part of the mystery and the adventure.

You will learn how to surrender yourself to the unknown. One page at a time.

You will move towards a life of adventure and creativity where you are the hero. One doodle at a time.

I hope you enjoy your journey of doodling.

Sincerely;

Fahri

Fahri Karakas is the author of Self-making Studio. He is passionate about doodling. You can explore more here.