Doodle art and bullet journals go hand in hand. Here you will discover 25 easy doodle art and drawing ideas for your bullet journal. I have gathered together some amazing ideas to give you a place to start. You can learn how to draw the perfect doodle with a few simple tips.
A Doodle Can Be Anything
A doodle could literally be anything. Anyone can learn to draw them. Looking at the image below, you will see 2 pages that might be found in any bullet journal. The arrows, notes and labels could all be used in many ways. On the right, the numbers have been made special by simply adding a few extra lines.
Try drawing a set of numbers and add your own embellishments. Why not experiment with the direction of italic lines? Maybe you could add some spirals to the ends of the lines? Using thicker lines in some areas and simple shading or cross-hatching can really add depth and extra interest.
Experiment With Small Details
The arrows in the image above are a great example of experimenting with small details. Draw a few similar basic arrow shapes, and then add different embellishments to each.
With 2 different arrows, 2 different feather designs and 2 ways to embellish them all of a sudden you have 8 different arrows to choose from. Draw one more feather and that immediately doubles to 16 designs.
Focussing On A Single Subject
Collect together as many ideas on a single subject as you can. It may be that you want to record memories of a particular day or maybe you need ideas for a project. Single subject pages can help you focus.
You can keep the pages interesting by introducing some colour too. Don’t get caught up with realism, it really isn’t necessary. Doodles by essence are simplified representations not photo-realistic drawings.
Simplicity Is The Key
I love the simplicity of the doodles. Drawing a cup, pencil, or cloud in such a simple way can make you smile as much as anything you could draw. There are some fantastic drawing exercises for beginners here.
Simple doodles and drawings can be useful too. A simple drawing on a label can immediately tell you what is inside a sealed box more easily than words.
Doodling As Meditation
Doodling can also be wonderful for meditation. Getting lost in the design as you draw helps you concentrate on what is happening here and now. This in turn improves mindfulness.
The stylised plant in the image above, has been built up as the artist simply immerses themselves in the drawing process. It can be a wonderful way to relax, and can create the most wonderful effect.
Instant Impact
Mood boards within a bullet journal can give you an easy way to record the up’s and down’s of the day. It’s often easier to express an emotion with a simple drawing.
Using words takes much longer than a drawing and can be much more difficult to interpret later. Reading a paragraph of words can never have the instant impact a simple drawing has.
Making Things Easy
The mandala above is a wonderful example of something I love to do. In the same way as the plant doodle above, this mandala drawing would make a wonderful meditation piece.
You can learn how to draw the perfect mandala here.
Realism Isn’t Important
The drawing below has a surrealist feel. It shows that realism really isn’t important within a doodle. Anything goes, there are no rules. However, keeping things simple has many advantages. The simple shapes around the top of the drawing are made much more interesting with a little simple embellishment, The thicker line slightly above the base and to the left of each section help create a little depth in the shape. The 3 small circles in each one just bring them alive somehow too.
Repeating similar shapes to create a bigger image will always make the final sketch look more complicated than it is. Following the shape of adjacent lines helps to bring together the different sections of the drawing.
Often the best way to get an idea across is with the simplest representation. Hazard Warning signs are a perfect example of this. Why not sketch yourself a set of ‘Life’ doodles you can use in your bullet journal.
Simple Complexity
I really love the image above. Simple Complexity? Or Complex Simplicity? I will let you decide.
Look at the way the wonderful sweeping lines are emphasized by the areas filled with straight lines. Allow yourself to be drawn in as you follow those lines around the picture. I get lost in it every time I look at it. A few select dark areas can lift the image from the page and create depth. You can simply add areas at any time, it doesn’t have to ‘be’ anything.
Seeing Things Simply
Seeing things simply can be really difficult for any artist. The flower doodles in the image below are great examples of how doodles can help.
Leaving a small area untouched to create light within an image helps you see how that can be applied in a painting. Simplifying shapes within an image can help portraying feelings or other ideas too.
Add A Splash Of Color
Using colored pens or pencils to add life to your doodles is great. Shaded or flat colour can be used and will brighten up the pages of your journal.
They can also be used to draw your attention to something. You can use vivid, bright colours in completely unrealistic ways. It really doesn’t matter. Shading of tone or rough crosshatching in contrasting colours can help create shape and depth. Just enjoy experimenting.
Complex Simplicity
In a similar way to some of the other doodles here, the book cover above is all about repetition. An amazingly complex overall design is made up entirely of simple repeated shapes. It creates a stunning effect.
Bring The Garden Into Your Journal
Plants and flowers can bring your garden into your journal. I love these simple line doodles. You can add a splash of colour here too if you want to!
Single plant stems or flowers can be great to doodle in your journal. Try using the methods above and you can multiply your ideas quickly and easily. Take 4 stem shapes, 4 leaf shapes, and 4 flower colours and all of a sudden you have 64 different flower designs!
The Possibilities Are Endless
The possibilities really are endless as you can see below. Let your imagination run wild. You have none of the restrictions you might have with other artistic representation.
Enjoy it. That emotion will come through your doodles, and make you smile over and over again as you look back through your bullet journal.
Thanks for reading this post. I hope you enjoy creating the perfect doodles with these simple hints and tips.
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