If You Can Doodle, You Can Paint: Transforming Simple Drawings into Works of Art

by Diane Culhane

Doodle your way into a big painting!

Doodling is really just mark making . . . marks that happen when you are otherwise occupied. These intuitive marks that flow from you naturally while you are doodling are an expression of your true style, like your handwriting. This book looks at our doodles as resources; treasures from which we can create full-sized paintings. Even if you don't consider yourself a doodler, the exercises and techniques in this book will give you a fun way to tap into your personal style, the voice that comes from deep inside.

Through the exercises in this book, you will dig into your creative life to find a style that is authentically yours. The invitation starts with a pencil as you work through automatic and specific doodle assignments. Eventually, you will learn how to size up and combine these doodles into larger compositions. Then, you will begin mixing it up with watercolor paints and, finally, with acrylic paints.

We

- Dig for treasure/doodle

- Observe, arrange, and study

- Make folded books for doodle-ready surfaces

- Copy your images with hand/eye coordination

- Scan and enlarge your doodles

- Add color combinations with colored pencil and acrylic paint

- Create compositional grid paintings, and

- Create a large complete painting!

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Crafts, How To, Design, Drawing

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2017

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

super fun and totally inspiring.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the exercises about using different amounts of your fingers/hand/wrist/arm/body in a drawing

[Kim Mcclung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Diane Culhane, and this lovely book is just like her: Bright, optimistic and accessible! A great gift for anyone wanting to try something new to unleash their creativity!

[mai · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what i expected but it's still inspiring

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this felt like a little book filled with inspiration for art. I have been wanting to pick drawing and painting again for over a year, but never found the courage and inspiration to actually do it. This book showed me ways simple splashes of colors and lines can jumpstart your creative mind and paint and draw.
Simple doodles that I do on the corners of my work agenda can become such much more if I just let my imagination take me where it wants. In terms of painting advice, I did not feel like I was getting any real tips and tricks. Let the pencil take you where you need to go is not really a revelation.

[Beckie Gallegos-Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavy on the doodles, light on the painting.

[Chris Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many books on creativity in art seem to oscillate wildly between vague homilies and trying to cover their arses over plagiarising the best points from Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. And finally here’s one that doesn’t do either - instead it’s a bracing, fun, enthusiastic and deeply welcoming book about the importance of pure creativity and just throwing ideas together. It’s a rarity that these things are genuinely inspiring but this one, I think, is just that. Absolutely one I’d not hesitate for a moment to recommend to novices and students. Wonderful

[Starshine Everlight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I checked it out from my library hoopla. I am adding it to my wish list because I would like to own this one myself fora reference. I would love to work through it slowly, doing all the activities and spinning off my own artwork from the inspirational pictures included. This is a helpful reminder. The Art isn't about perfect recreation and i shouldn't give up.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has s an excellent “get started” book and specially for those who don’t think they can draw and paint. It gives value to any drawing and shows how to turn it into a personal piece of art. Good and easy instructional language. I also think it’s a good reference book for school teachers.

[Janice Heck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read of this book i found it was a reminder what I did we a small child less inhibitent not so now.

I found it enlightening and a delight this taking me back to fun children have and proud of their art work.
I've always been a doodler even as an adult

[Ruth Ninneman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just great old-fashioned fun

But if you feel your time is better spent if you call it meditation then you can call it that also. You just can't have a mind block when you're doodling.

[Renee Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has several ideas for transitioning from doodling to doodling with purpose. It discusses lines and how lines and shapes make up compositions. It also discusses moving on to using doodles with painting to create a piece of art.

[Stef · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some fun, , empowering, creative ideas for turning doodles into works of art.

[Kipahni · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a life long doodler this has elevated my scribbles to the next level. M.O.M.A. here I COME!

[Laura Paulisich · Rating 5 out of 5]

iLOVE this inspiring book! Fast! Beautiful! I will always remember "Taking a Line for a Walk"!!! #thankyou

[Shamekia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful book, but not quite what I'm looking for. I'll stick to doodling, maybe work my way up to painting next year.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun. Innovative. I am keen to use what I’ve learnt in my art.

[Vi · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK....

[Megan Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and inspiring.

I'm always trying to do such perfect artwork. Just can't loosen up. Plan to go through this book, trying everything!

[Ietrio · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pictures are okay. The text is another one in a long list of "no skills, but trying real hard to feel good about myself".

[Jana M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!

[Cynthia Nicola · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely going to tape some rolled paper on my walls to doodle big!! Otherwise not really a book for me.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check it out.

Very interesting drawing prompts for any skill level. This is a meditative and low pressure way to get started drawing. Truly, anyone can draw.

[Nishath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice one to understand some doodling techniques ,also some exercises for mindfulness

[Beverley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty book. Not much content. Or maybe just not what I expected.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply inspiring! I love doodling and always find myself hitting creative blocks when I paint. This book has helped me work through those creative blocks.

[LL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the exercises in this book. Great jump start. I picked and chose what interested me.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was put off by the doodles and didn't think the book would be of much help. But then I got to chapter 5 and saw the paintings Culhane had made and worked backwards. Such a help!! Gives me hope....

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book, and there’s something so satisfying about knowing doodling is okay, not less of an art form: because some days that is all I feel like doing! Consider this a more relaxed art form of zen doodling , more like scribbles, really, but it all coalesces into something that is appealing for all its inherent messiness. This is my initial impression but I’ll take a closer look some other time.

If you like Jane Davies’ work, or Carla Sonheim, or Daisy Yellow, you’ll probably like this too.