Doodle Grid Drawing
Working in a grid of small drawings can be a great way to eliminate those blank page scaries we all get sometimes. Whether you’re new to drawing or an established artist, everyone gets a little creative block now and then. This project is a great opportunity to shake it off and just get loose. We’ll set some guidelines, but you can take this in so many directions, all with the benefit of unblocking your creativity and maybe even unlocking some fresh ideas.
Don’t forget to share your work by tagging us in your photos — @gather.make.inspire
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Card Stock or Watercolour paper
1” Painter’s Tape
Black acrylic brush tip marker or Sharpie (something that won’t bleed if it gets wet)
Black Micron Pen in preferred mm
Materials to add color- choose 1 or 2:
Watercolours, paintbrush & water
Coloured pencils
Oil pastels
Chalk pastels
Paint markers
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Young artists will need help creating their tape grid, but this project has very little prep!
Create Your Grid
Determine what size you want your drawing spaces to be. You can measure out your grid or eyeball it by taping the perimeter first and then breaking up your paper with vertically and horizontally placed tape. This does not have to be perfect! Sometimes letting go of the idea of perfection can help your creative process.
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1) Using your thicker black marker, create some loose lines that span you entire page, making sure to hit all of your squares. You can use multiple lines or one continuous line. Your lines can be smooth or jagged.
2) Work back into each square using your fine tip pen. You can work on one square at a time or skip around, adding new little details inspired by your initial thick lines. Don’t forget to turn your paper as you go to open up your possibilities.
3) When you are done adding in your fine lines, it’s time to add a bit of colour. Using 1-3 colors in your medium(s) of choice, work back into your squares in the same manner as you added lines. Working the entire page and turning as you go.
4) Once your drawing is dry, it’s time for the big reveal. If you like, you can outline the interior of each square with your fine tip pen so that it has a defined boarder. Gently and carefully remove your tape and admire what you’ve created!
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These kinds of gridded doodle drawings can take as little or as much time as you like, making them incredible easy to add into your creative practice.
Take what you’ve learned here and expand into different proportions, different mediums…. Start with watercolour and end with pen. Grid up a canvas and go big with paint. This project seriously knows no bounds, outside of the ones you create with your tape!
We can’t wait to see what you create!