doodlage

The secret power of the doodle is to turn procrastination into action. After months of putting off creating another tattoo design, I decided to simply doodle it. Which is why I once again have a lot of cling wrap around my arm…

I also found another sneaky way of procrastinating productively:  the riches of image bookmarking in visualizeus where I gathered a lot of inspiration image for this design.

This is scaled down a lot - the final design fills my whole upper arm. The doodles calmed down a lot as they developed:


Then went through several more iterations as Morag cut it up and re-arranged it on the curving surface of my arm and shoulder. I was lucky to have an artist with such confidence and skill.  She was not afraid to add and change where needed.

Its a strange experience to be tattooed, especially if you are used to drawing a lot. I love being at the center of calm attention as the artist focuses so closely on their work. Watching the needles stitch ink across your skin is mesmerizing - if you can bear to look. You learn about all the subtle differences of sensitivity across your body. Designs that require a lot of detail on the inner elbow are not recommended… You learn to regret all the little fronds, roots, drops and thorns you added in a excess of zeal while still in the design stage.

And after all that it came out perfectly - crisp black lines, lovely colours.  But for now I am left with this:

Masha at nightcity

In my cyber-travels and web-stumbles, I found that for some reason, there’s proportionally large percentage of super-talented doodle-artists in the Southern Hemisphere… Why is that, I wonder…maybe because people walk around up side down? Is there something in the water, down under there? No matter, Australian doodlers have impressed my to no end, and I’m more than happy to introduce you to some of them (there are so many, I had to break the list down into two posts!).
JAMES GULLIVER HANCOCK:

FONTAINE ANDERSON:

DYLAN MARTORELL:

BECK WHEELER:

Btw, in case you haven’t noticed before, there’s a tag/Category Around the World that you can choose to view all of my posts about fellow doodlers from, well, around the world. Enjoy

Wood That Works is a collection of kinetic sculptures by physicist/artist David C. Roy. They look like doodles, made of wood and they MOVE!!!!

More videos of Mr. Roy’s “working wood” on Youtube
David’s Blog shows in great detail, how the artist comes up with ideas for his non-static masterpieces.

Thanks to Lauren aka Creativecurio for the link.

We already saw doodles as a perfect tool for public service advertising. Now, here’s more proof, this time in video:

trittico from mapo_mapos on Vimeo.

Circular Painting from Fly on the Wall on Vimeo.

It seems Jim Bradshaw draws on anything and everything. He doesn’t discriminate between his fancy Moleskine, piece of cardboard or an old Zip Disk (remember those? ;)). And to tell you the truth, I don’t give a flying pig, what he doodles on… they’re all absolutely spectacular, let me tell yah:

In Jim’s own words: “When my brain seizes up, I do a journal/sketch and everything gets better again.”

Couldn’t agree with him more

Ok, kids, sit up straight, don’t fidget, I’ll tell you about this A+ website. Full of extra-credit creative activities and exciting homework. And guess what? You’re more than welcome (moreover - encouraged!) to doodle on your notebook’s margins. Between the lines and all over the pages is fine too. Really!
Wondering why I all of a sudden sound like a 2nd grade teacher? Check out this incredibly fun and fresh project - Underground Art School:
There are super-talented teachers and students:

There’s SHOW-AND-TELL (on Flickr) and Passing of the Notes on Etsy:

Hell, I even like their sponsors And you can support them by buying the first issue of Underground Art School Magazine on MagCloud for mere $10.
And most importanly, there’s plenty of doodles to go around:

Enjoy. And here’s your homework:

Yey!!! I have some good news to report!

* I made my very first sale to a lovely lady who owns an AlliesAdornments shop which features super feminine, pretty and elegant antique… well… adornments of all kinds. I love the way she presents them on top of hand-colored old photos so they practically become part of it (click on the pictures to check them out up close and personal):

* I created my very first Treasury (on Etsy, it’s no small feat - a hand-picked collection of 12 products made by other Etsians. Great tool for promoting tons of incredibly talented artists that “make home” in the vibrant Etsy Community). Naturally, I picked some cool doodles to showcase in it. Go see it before it expires in a few hours:

* Last but not least, one of my pieces was featured in a booklet by Norm Lanier, the CraftyCoach who gives excellent advice to people who want to make a living by selling what they make with their own two hands

And if it’s not too much trouble, please feel free to Stumble, Digg and otherwise bookmark my DOODLAGE SHOP any way you’d like so the world could discover it quicker I’m ready for the fame and fortune, LOL

I already wrote about famous people’s doodles. Now, right after the rush of political campaigning that resulted in the historical election, even the canditates’ doodles made the news
You can read a story from Chicago Tribune about presiden-elect’s doodle that was sold at a charity auction some time ago:

(via fellow Twitter Nic3496)

Or watch a CNN video on the same topic (plus the professional graphologist’s analysis of Palin’s scribbles:

Hmm… I wander what John McCain was doodling

I don’t think I’ve ever been in a Nordstrom before (nothing personal, we just don’t have one where I live). But I like what they (with help from the wonderful photographer Ruven Afanador) did for one of their ad campaigns.
Check it out:

These five little doodle-cartoons from Steve on the theme of Inner Child made me giggle into my monitor today. I’m all for sharing, especially because Steve, in addition to not being addicted to coffee and running, is definitely addicted to doodling. Enjoy: