Tubular Tree

(Xmas at Work 2007) 

I loved making this tree. The white stacked tubes are from the photo paper rolls I used at work. I saved them from a landfill, for awhile anyway. The greenery was nabbed from an old wreath. The white pinecones were on the wreath. I made the bejeweled icycle ornaments, although the hooks were purchased. I ended up giving them away, one-by-one to various co-workers.

The pair of redbirds are on a silver painted twig. I love using birds and nests on Christmas trees. The red wooden cranberry strands, the red and silver ball ornaments, and the mini-lights were items I already had on hand.

Nothing was glued or pinned-down. Everything was stacked, wrapped and/or hooked very carefully. One drawback is that every time someone walked close to the table, I'd cringe. One big nudge and the whole thing would have come down!

doodle art shop on Etsy

Wave Back - Chair Sculpture

I just opened a shop on Etsy. Check it out! I'm finally ready to sell my chair sculpture "Wave Back" and hope there's someone out there that loves it as much as I do. It's been on a small platform pedestal in my place since the beginning. I've treated it like a museum piece, but I'm ready to see someone actually use it, if that's what they want...

Please drop by and mark it as a favorite!

Doodling Improves Comprehension...

Shoe Doodler

I recently had a gig at a department store to doodle on Tom's shoes for customers. I used Sharpies! It was fun and I've since picked up some shoe-doodling projects from co-workers.

The photo shows my own shoes that I practiced on using Sharpies. I used to just wear them to walk the dog or work in the garden. They're now one of my favorites!

doodle book: Discovering Your Visual Language

Now available as an eBook for Kindle!

Clemens Bookstore

One drawback for publishing the book for Kindle reading is that all of the doodles and art pieces are no longer in color. I felt that the contents were so rich in information and exercises that the lower pricing for eBooks out-weighed the loss of color. The art is strong enough to translate my intensions from color to black and white imagery.

Escapes

Cityscape

This doodle began with a simple shape in the center. From that point on it became an exercise in adding decorative elements, incorporating both positive and negative spaces.

My early doodles were mostly created with a black felt pen and then enhanced with a red felt pen. In Cityscape I've added a blue color as well, which opened the door to later doodles that exploded with the full color spectrum.

Seeing Eye to Eye

Sometimes I'd use patterns to fill in areas. It could be just dots or a graphic I made up. I think that I was really just stalling, waiting for the next choice and not quite ready to end the doodle.

Read My Book!

I wish I had had this book when I was a young, budding artist. It is so rich with information and exercises to help get the creative juices flowing. It's based on a class I had at The Kansas City Art Institute, in Kansas City, MO, that helped me to develop a strong visual language. I remember the first day of class when the teacher started talking about how we would be creating doodles to develop our art. I was smiling the whole time because I had already been doodling for quite some time. Sweet class!

The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, in Kansas City, Mo, requested five books to sell in their gift shop. A very good beginning and very encouraging. It's beginning to sell on Amazon too, as I continue with new marketing efforts. It's been an exciting month for me. Things are moving slowly, but they're moving, and here's hoping that they at least keep moving!

Patches

Wonder where on the page I might have started this doodle? Most likely the same area of the page that I tend to always begin a drawing, painting, or place an element for a graphic design layout. Where you begin isn't as important as just being aware of it. Awareness of what you doodle, placement, and the repetitive elements is only the beginning of your discovery.

Checkered Face

When you're first starting out to develop your doodles, there will be many, many stumbles along the way. After all, it is doodling. Just remember there is no right or wrong to it.

I don't remember doing a lot of my early doodles, but this one I do. How long did it take to fill in all the little spaces and keep track of where I was? I'm trying to doodle with purpose here, but I've missed the point. But still, it is kind of a cool drawing...

Lamp

As you look at my early doodles, you can see that there was no planning to what I drew. I just sat down and doodled things I saw around me or had seen before. Even at this early stage, I was adding decorative elements and doodling in the negative spaces.

doodle book: Discovering Your Visual Language

Visual language refers to your style of art. Everyone already has their style, but may not be aware of it. By doodling, you can develop your own language and become more aware of your individual artistic vocabulary. 


The subconscious act of doodling will help you define your language, and I have included exercises to help you document and discover your style. You will evolve to doodling with purpose and transform your art.


"What I appreciate the most about the doodle book is the exercises which she provided. I never thought of keeping a portfolio of my doodles. I now wish that I had. Thanks for opening up the pathways to free-thinking and self-awareness of our own art styles and giving us a way to embrace who we are." - Julie Watson, graphic designer


"What a great book and set of exercises to help get the creative energy flowing. I think this book gives a great road map to beginning the creative process and helps turn your doodles into final works of art." 
- Wayne Wilkes, painter


Now available at: CreateSpace and Amazon

Email me for a 20% discount code to be used at CreateSpace only.