On 01.02.02, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Too late for surgery, I had chemotherapy, which failed. In May the chemotherapy was changed and I was soon in remission which was celebrated and welcome and lasted nine years - until October 2011. There was progression in 2011 so more treatment was indicated and I am now back in partial remission. But I'm not only a cancer patient - I also enjoy my family, walk my dogs and am learning to draw and paint. Life is good!

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Doodling & Noodling

Bert Dodson, in his new book, KEYS TO DRAWING WITH IMAGINATION, asks his readers in chapter one to doodle and noodle. The idea is that you "take a line for a walk" and be sure to begin and end at the same place. And then choose one pattern to fill in the empty spaces. The line walk is a right brain experience, just follow where the line wants to go. That's doodling. Choosing or designing a pattern and placing it deliberately in each space is a left brain activity. That's noodling. I repeated this exercise several times. Here's a sample:


When I went to facilitate the boys' Arts & Crafts group at Juvenile Hall this week I asked the boys to doodle, then noodle. I demonstrated the activity and then turned them loose to construct their own. I wish I had remembered to bring in my CD player so they had something to listen to while they worked, but I didn't and we chatted a bit instead. They were delighted to work with ballpoint pens, contraband I am allowed to bring into the facility. Sometimes staff allows the kids to sit with paper and 3 inch pencils, something they could doodle and noodle with, if they chose.

This afternoon I was wanting to break in my first Moleskin watercolor sketchbook. I've had it on the shelf for at least a month but there's such a mystique about Moleys, and I'd never drawn in one before, so I found it intimidating to begin lest I sully it in some way. So I decided to doodle and noodle on page one.


Having done that I'm hoping I can move on and FILL THAT BOOK, that's the goal. I like it that I'm taking my first Moleskin seriously, that I don't want to do slap-dash work in it. I have another sketchbook for those hurried pieces. I want to save the Moleskin for my very best -- and, as a beginner, my very best ain't great, but I'm hoping it will show a serious effort, a real attempt.....and steady improvement.

And then I found out that I'm 67% creative....whatever that means:

You Are 67% Creative

You are beyond creative. You are a true artist - even if it's not in the conventional sense of the word.
You love creating for its own sake, and you find yourself quite inspired at times.

4 comments:

  1. What fun! A great way to loosen up and begin a day. I will have to get the book!

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  2. I am also working through this book and love love love it!! Your doodles are great.

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  3. Thanx for the link Barbara, I have mentioned your blog on my recent blog entry.
    I also think the book sounds interesting and have ordered my copy today!

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  4. Anonymous7:08 PM

    I've been thinking of getting this book, too. Sounds like you're having a great time with it. Great doodles!

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