Elevated Doodle Art

Elevated doodling art: Here is a row of whisks that I doodled in Birth of Venus as well.
Showcase your talent and win big in Artists Network prestigious art competitions! Discover competitions in a variety of media and enter for your chance to win cash prizes, publication in leading art magazines, global exposure, and rewards for your hard work. Plus, gain valuable feedback from renowned jurors. Let your passion shine through – enter an art competition today!

Doodling All Grown Up

Doodling is fun and non-intimidating. It is something we can all do — and likely have done at some point in our lives. In a way doodle art encompasses all I think making art should be: enjoyable even if it can take a lot of time and effort.

I have been adding doodles, marks, scribbles patterns and blotches to my paintings for many years and often this is one of the most enjoyable part of the painting process, the part I most look forward to. Here I share examples of what you can do with doodling and patterning in your art, so that you can share in the creativity and ease of doodle art too.


If you want to dive deeper into the art of doodles, the Mixed Media Mega Collection is the perfect way to build your skills and have fun while getting lost in the process!


Figurative Work with Fabric and Crochet-Inspired Patterns

doodling sandrine pelissier | elevated doodle art figure drawing
Life patterns #5 – Ink and mixed media on Yupo paper. The background of this figure has been covered in geometric patterns and looks like paper or fabric, but is essentially just an advanced form of doodling.

 

Timeless #8 - limited edition original linoprint. The background doodling on this linoprint looks a bit like crochet.
Timeless #8 – limited edition original linoprint. The background doodling on this linoprint looks a bit like crochet.

In my figurative works, the doodling is often used as a reference to traditional feminine crafts and will look like fabric, decorative paper or crochet.

In the Birth of Venus, which is a reinterpretation of the famous Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, I had a lot of fun doodling the all too familiar objects that surround a woman in her home. I made my Venus a domestic goddess to show the contrast between impossibly idealized versions of women in classical western art and the realities of contemporary life.

Birth of Venus -- Ink on paper mounted on board
Birth of Venus — Ink on paper mounted on board

 

Details of doodling on the Birth of Venus - I took some elements of the original painting and modified them, the sea is becoming a sea of laundry. I also added a row of electric fans to represent the wind, present in the original painting.
Details of doodling on the Birth of Venus – I took some elements of the Botticelli masterpiece and modified them. The sea is becoming a sea of laundry. I also added a row of electric fans to represent the wind, present in the original painting.

 

Elevated doodling art: Here is a row of whisks that I doodled in Birth of Venus as well.
Here is a row of whisks that I doodled in Birth of Venus as well.
 

 

Details of household and cleaning objects that I doodled on the painting.
Details of household and cleaning objects that I doodled on the painting.

 

Details of household and cleaning objects that I doodled on the painting.
Another view of the details of household and cleaning objects that I doodled on the painting.

 

Still Life Doodling: The Faux-Collage Look

In my floral still lifes, adding heavy patterning to some areas makes them look very similar to origami paper. Many people looking at these paintings have trouble believing I did not collage paper or fabric to make the painting and have to take a closer look to believe it is all hand-drawn — with elevated doodling, in many cases. See how you can make flower paintings from imagination and add patterns in my latest book: Painting Imaginary Flowers: Beautiful Blooms and Abstract Patterns in Mixed Media.

In Calgary
In Calgary by Sandrine Pelissier

 

In Hong Kong by Sandrine Pelissier
In Hong Kong by Sandrine Pelissier

 

Still Life in Red by Sandrine Pelissier
Still Life in Red by Sandrine Pelissier

 

Landscapes: Doodling Big!

The subject of landscapes lends itself to big-sized painting and this is an opportunity to push doodling to the next level, working on a grand scale and pushing the limits of your focus (and patience!).

“Ravelled” is a 72 x 36 inche triptych made of only white doodling scribbles on a black background.
“Ravelled” is a 72 x 36 inche triptych made of only white doodling scribbles on a black background.

 

Details of the various scribbles in “Ravelled."
Details of the various scribbles in “Ravelled.”

 

“Timelines II” is another example of a painting I did with only with a doodling scribble.

“Timelines II” by Sandrine Pelissier. In essence, this is a painting with doodling as its foundation.
“Timelines II” by Sandrine Pelissier. In essence, this is a painting with doodling as its foundation.

 

Detail of “Timelines II”
Detail of “Timelines II”

Below is a detail shot of “Timelines II” as I was making the doodling scribbles that came to encompass all the marks found in the painting. This image illustrates what I meant about focus and patience.

Making any mark over and over (and over again!) requires focus and a good deal of patience. If you decide to use doodling extensively in an artwork, be sure to remember this. Just because it is a doodle doesn’t mean it doesn’t take effort on the part of the doodler!

The Doodling Possibilities

From still life to large-scale works to narrative paintings and drawing with complex meanings that inspire them — doodling can find its way into all of these. Has it inspired you to think about incorporating doodling in a more “grown up” way in your art? Leave a comment and tell us how. And if you already add doodles to your art, share your experiences in the comments.


For more instruction from Sandrine Pelissier, check out her video downloads below:

                                   

 

Related Articles

Join the Conversation!

  1. Love your post! There is a widespread belief that this actually corresponds to enhancing one’s intellectual prowess. Someone who scribbles appears to be distracted or clearly unfocused. However, this is an activity that gives the brain an uncomfortable but rewarding exercise in engaging and processing complicated thoughts and ideas. Likewise, those who rely on their talent for creativity also use doodling to unlock that artistry and creativity within them. https://www.halfcircles.in/Doodles.html

  2. I have drawn with doodles a long time ago but I underestimated it because people do not recognize it as an art of work, but I never left them, in fact I created works with complex stories and a lot of detail. I am happy now to have continued despite the criticism, today I have a style that evolves as I grow up too.

Become a member today!

Choose an option below to join now.

$14.99/month

Join Now

 

Free Gift Included

$99.99/year

Join Now

 

  • Stream over 850 videos anytime, anywhere.
  • Enjoy exclusive events with live discussions from today’s top artists!
  • Get access to the Artists Magazine archives and save 30% on additional magazines.

View All Benefits

*Membership cannot be purchased with Gift Cards.