With all the holiday bru-ha-ha around here, art (or the making of it) just didn’t happen. After the kids left I went down to the studio, scratched my head and wondered what I was supposed to do. Because I really didn’t know. Oh, I have plenty of files full of inspiration but starting up cold after vacay time just seemed like too much work.
So I decided to play instead. I discovered a free workshop on line, Doodles Unleashed by Traci Bautista. You can check it out here. It’s probably even better if you’re not an artist because then you might enjoy the exercise in its purest form…simply making marks on paper. But being someone who makes marks on things for a living, I found myself second guessing what I was doing. No paisley patterns for me…I wanted results.
Once I discovered how difficult it was to let go of my expectations, doodling ceased being fun and became a challenge. At least two paintings suffered a grueling end when I grew impatient. Warning: Cranky artist + paintbrush= BAD IDEA.
But I kept at it. Because really, I was not going to be taken down by a doodle. How bad would that be? So I didn’t give up…and I didn’t give up my standards either. Eventually I arrived at a compromise that technically isn’t a doodle in it’s purest form (who wants a doodle virgin anyway?) but it’s different enough from what I normally do to make me feel like I learned something.
I started by marking the paper with various stencils. Two papers actually. This is about the one on the left. The one on the right, RIP.
The shapes reminded me of building. Of houses. The squiggle could be a river.
I did some quick and dirty scribbling with acrylics. Houses. A river. And holy crap, throw some pine trees in there and it’s my town!!!
Because there are houses in my town. And a river nearby. A creek runs through downtown. And we’re surrounded by the Tahoe National Forest. But…but…this is supposed to be a doodle!
To shut up my inner doodle critic I did some loosey-goosey stuff. Paint. Oil pastel. Markers. White-out pen. It’s all about compromise.
And I’m liking it just fine.
These turned out great — it’s always amazing to me where a painting starts – thanks for showing all the steps. And you definitely ‘doodled’ your own way!
Thanks, Judy. I’m enjoying the process.
oh this is so pretty, I was thinking of joining traci’s workshop,this is so inspiring x M
You can’t beat the price of her workshop, Michele. Watching her on the video is totally inspiring.
I love the evolution of this painting. I had the same response when I started the workshop and to see where you took the project is very inspiring!! Love it!
Hi Liz, so glad you stopped by! I think it’s good to take what we can from these workshops and put our own personal spin on it. Otherwise we’d all be making the same thing, right?
And I’ve never been good at following directions…
And quite the town at that! I could live there..
Great colors and love your process. Doodling is a funny thing..kind of cool to see where you end up if you just let it be..
Julie
“…if you just let it be…”
sigh…easier said than done, eh Julie?
This is wonderful! It has a feeling that falls somewhere between impressionist, abstract….great fun! Thanks for sharing the experience!
Thanks Pam. I really had fun with the process.
One of the loveliest doodles I’ve ever seen! 🙂
Thanks, Bonnie! It really was a stretch, way different than my usual work. Which is why it was a good thing for me to do. : )