Its time to get started doodling even if you have no skills . This beginners guide is all you need. I remember the exact moment I picked up my first pen with the intention to doodle. I was sitting in a boring meeting, my mind wandering, and suddenly I found myself drawing little flowers in the margins of my notebook. What started as mindless scribbling turned into something that brought me genuine joy and, eventually, became a serious passion.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve felt that same pull – maybe you’ve caught yourself drawing random shapes during phone calls, or you’ve admired someone’s doodle art on social media and thought, “I wish I could do that.” Well, here’s the beautiful truth: you absolutely can! Doodling isn’t about being the next Picasso; it’s about expressing yourself, finding moments of peace, and discovering the artist that already lives inside you.
Table of Contents
- Why Doodling is Perfect for Beginners
- Essential Supplies to Get Started
- Understanding the Basics: Lines, Shapes, and Patterns
- Finding Your Doodle Style
- Overcoming the Blank Page Fear
- Building Your Doodle Vocabulary
- Creating Your First Complete Doodle
- Making Doodling a Daily Habit
- Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Taking Your Doodles to the Next Level
Let me take you through this journey step by step, sharing everything I’ve learned along the way, including the mistakes I made so you don’t have to repeat them.
Why Doodling is Perfect for Beginners
When I tell people I’m passionate about doodling, I often get this look – you know the one. It’s the “oh, that’s cute” expression that suggests doodling isn’t “real art.” But here’s what I’ve discovered: doodling is actually the perfect gateway into the art world, especially for beginners who feel intimidated by traditional drawing.
First off, there’s no pressure with doodling. Unlike realistic drawing where you might stress about getting proportions perfect or shading just right, doodles are meant to be spontaneous and imperfect. They’re born from your subconscious mind, flowing freely without the critical inner voice that often paralyzes us when we try to create something “good.”
I love how doodling fits into any schedule. You don’t need to set aside three hours and prepare a whole art station. I’ve created some of my favorite doodles during five-minute coffee breaks, while waiting for appointments, or during those inevitable moments when life slows down. It’s art that adapts to your life, not the other way around.
The therapeutic benefits are incredible too. When I’m stressed or anxious, doodling becomes my meditation. There’s something about the repetitive motion of creating patterns and shapes that calms my mind in ways that traditional meditation never could. Science backs this up – studies show that doodling can improve focus, reduce stress, and even enhance problem-solving abilities.
Check out this helpful YouTube tutorial: If I started drawing in 2025, this is what I would do by Javi can draw! This 9-minute video perfectly captures the mindset shift needed to begin your artistic journey.
Essential Supplies to Get Started
One of the biggest myths about doodling is that you need expensive supplies to create beautiful art. Trust me, I started with a basic ballpoint pen and whatever paper I could find. Some of my earliest and most cherished doodles were created on napkins, sticky notes, and the backs of receipts.
That said, having the right basic supplies can make your doodling experience more enjoyable and help you achieve better results. Here’s what I recommend starting with:
Paper: A simple sketchbook or even printer paper works perfectly. I personally love smooth paper because it allows pens to glide easily, but textured paper can add interesting effects to your doodles. Start with whatever you have, and as you develop your style, you can experiment with different paper types.
Pens: This is where I get a bit excited because pens are my favorite dooling tools! A basic black ballpoint pen is perfect for beginners – it’s forgiving, doesn’t bleed, and you probably already have one. As you progress, consider adding fine-liner pens like Sakura Pigma Micron or Stabilo Point 88. Different line weights (0.1mm to 0.8mm) will give your doodles more visual interest.
Pencils: While doodles are often done in pen, having a pencil for light sketching can be helpful. A regular #2 pencil or a mechanical pencil works great. Don’t worry about fancy art pencils at this stage.
Eraser: A kneaded eraser is gentle on paper and perfect for cleaning up light pencil marks, but honestly, embracing the imperfections in your doodles is part of the charm.
Optional additions: As you get more serious, you might want to add colored pencils, markers, or gel pens to your collection. But remember – start simple and build up your supplies as your interest and skills develop.
The most important tool? Your willingness to experiment and make mistakes. I can’t stress this enough – your best investment isn’t in expensive supplies but in giving yourself permission to create imperfect, wonderful art.
Understanding the Basics: Lines, Shapes, and Patterns
Before I dive into complex doodles, let me share something that revolutionized my doodling: everything starts with basic elements. Every intricate doodle you’ve ever admired began with simple lines, basic shapes, and repetitive patterns. Once I understood this, doodling became less mysterious and more approachable.
Lines are your foundation. Practice drawing different types of lines: straight, curved, wavy, zigzag, spirals. Don’t worry about making them perfect – in fact, the slight irregularities in hand-drawn lines give doodles their charm and personality. I spend a few minutes at the beginning of each doodling session just warming up with different line exercises.
Basic shapes are your building blocks. Circles, squares, triangles, hearts, stars – these simple forms can be combined, overlapped, and modified to create complex-looking designs. I like to think of them as the alphabet of doodling. Just as letters combine to form words, basic shapes combine to form beautiful doodle compositions.
Patterns bring everything to life. This is where doodling gets really fun! Patterns can be as simple as dots, stripes, or crosshatching, or as complex as intricate mandala-like designs. The key is repetition with slight variations. Some of my go-to patterns include: scales (like fish scales), brick patterns, vine-like swirls, geometric grids, and organic flowing shapes.
Start by filling a page with different line types, then another page with various shapes, and finally a page experimenting with patterns. Don’t judge these exercises – they’re not meant to be masterpieces. They’re your warm-up, your vocabulary building, your foundation for everything that comes next.
I remember feeling frustrated in my early days because I wanted to jump straight to complex designs. But taking time to master these basics made everything else so much easier and more enjoyable.
Finding Your Doodle Style
One question I get asked constantly is, “How do I find my doodle style?” It’s a great question because style is what makes your doodles uniquely yours. But here’s the thing – you don’t really find your style as much as you develop it through experimentation and practice.
When I started doodling, I tried to copy styles I saw online. While this was good practice, I felt like something was missing. My breakthrough came when I stopped trying to replicate others and started paying attention to what naturally flowed from my pen. Maybe your natural tendency is toward geometric patterns, organic flowing shapes, cute characters, or abstract designs. All of these are valid and wonderful starting points.
Geometric style appeals to people who love structure and precision. Think mandalas, tessellations, complex patterns with mathematical relationships. If you’re drawn to this style, start with simple grids and build complexity gradually.
Organic style is more fluid and nature-inspired. Flowers, vines, water-like flows, and natural patterns characterize this approach. If this resonates with you, practice drawing from nature and let your lines flow naturally.
Character-based doodling involves creating cute faces, animals, or anthropomorphic objects. This style often has a playful, whimsical quality that brings joy to both the creator and viewer.
Abstract doodling focuses on pure design elements without representing recognizable objects. It’s about composition, balance, and visual rhythm.
Don’t feel pressured to choose just one style! I’ve found that my style has evolved over time and even varies depending on my mood. Some days I’m drawn to precise geometric patterns, other days I want to create flowing, organic designs. Your style will develop naturally as you doodle more and pay attention to what brings you joy.
Overcoming the Blank Page Fear
Ah, the blank page – every artist’s nemesis! I used to stare at empty pages for what felt like hours, paralyzed by the infinite possibilities and the fear of “ruining” the clean white space. If you’ve felt this way, you’re definitely not alone, and I have some strategies that have helped me overcome this creative roadblock.
Start with a single dot or line. Seriously, it’s that simple. The hardest part is often just beginning, so make that first mark without any expectation of where it will lead. I often start by drawing a simple circle or a random curvy line, then let my doodle evolve from there.
Use prompts or challenges. Sometimes our brains need a little nudge to get started. Try prompts like “draw something that makes you happy” or “create a pattern inspired by your morning coffee.” I keep a list of simple prompts on my phone for those moments when inspiration feels elusive.
Practice the “no judgment” rule. This is crucial – give yourself permission to create “bad” doodles. I have pages and pages of doodles that I don’t love, and that’s perfectly okay! They were stepping stones to better doodles, and each one taught me something.
Start small. Instead of facing a whole blank page, begin with small sections or use sticky notes. There’s something less intimidating about filling a 2×2 inch space than an entire page.
Create a ritual. I’ve found that having a small ritual before doodling helps ease the transition from “real world” to “creative space.” Maybe it’s making a cup of tea, playing specific music, or taking three deep breaths. Find what works for you.
Remember, the blank page isn’t your enemy – it’s your playground. Every mark you make is a step forward in your creative journey.
Building Your Doodle Vocabulary
Just like learning a new language, developing your doodling skills involves building a vocabulary of visual elements you can draw upon. When I first started, I felt limited because I only knew how to draw a few basic things. Building my “doodle vocabulary” opened up endless possibilities for creative expression.
Start collecting visual inspiration. I keep a small notebook where I jot down interesting patterns I see throughout the day – the texture of tree bark, the pattern on someone’s shirt, the way shadows fall on a wall. These real-world observations become resources for my doodles.
Practice drawing simple objects from memory. Start with easy things like flowers, leaves, stars, hearts, simple faces, basic animals, houses, trees, and clouds. Don’t worry about realism – you’re developing simplified, stylized versions that work within your doodle aesthetic.
Learn basic pattern families. Some pattern types that I return to again and again include: dot patterns (polka dots, scattered dots, dot grids), line patterns (parallel lines, crosshatching, radiating lines), wave patterns (ocean waves, sound waves, zigzags), spiral patterns (snail shells, galaxy spirals, rose spirals), and geometric patterns (diamonds, hexagons, triangles).
Study other doodlers. Look at doodle art online, in books, or on social media. Don’t copy directly, but analyze what elements appeal to you. How do they use space? What kinds of patterns do they favor? How do they balance detailed areas with simpler ones?
Keep a reference page. I have a page in my sketchbook where I practice and catalog different elements I want to remember. It’s like a personal doodle dictionary that I can reference when I need inspiration.
Building your vocabulary is an ongoing process. Even now, years into my doodling journey, I’m constantly adding new elements and refining existing ones.
Creating Your First Complete Doodle
Now comes the exciting part – creating your first intentional, complete doodle! By “complete,” I don’t mean perfect or complex. I mean a doodle where you start with intention and develop it into something that feels finished to you.
Choose a simple focal point. This could be a flower, a geometric shape, a simple character, or even just an interesting line. The focal point gives your doodle direction and purpose. I often start with something I’m confident drawing, which helps build momentum.
Build outward gradually. From your focal point, start adding elements around it. Maybe your flower gets leaves, then a stem, then smaller flowers around it. Or your geometric shape gets surrounded by patterns, then those patterns extend across the page. The key is to develop your doodle organically, letting each addition suggest the next.
Vary your line weights and densities. This is what separates a random collection of marks from a cohesive doodle. Use thicker lines for emphasis and thinner lines for details. Create areas of high detail (lots of small elements) balanced with areas of simplicity (larger, simpler shapes or even white space).
Don’t overthink the ending. One mistake I made early on was not knowing when to stop. A doodle is finished when it feels balanced and complete to you, not when every inch of paper is filled. Sometimes the most powerful doodles have plenty of white space.
Embrace happy accidents. Some of my favorite doodles came from mistakes that I incorporated into the design. Maybe your pen skipped and created an interesting texture, or you drew a wonky line that actually added character. Roll with it!
Your first complete doodle might not be gallery-worthy, and that’s completely fine. It’s a milestone in your creative journey, and every doodle after this will build on what you learn from this first intentional creation.
Making Doodling a Daily Habit
Consistency has been the secret sauce in my doodling development. I don’t mean you need to doodle for hours every day – even five minutes of regular practice will compound into significant improvement over time. Building a sustainable doodling habit is more about creating a routine that fits your life than about perfection.
Start ridiculously small. I began with a commitment to draw just one small doodle every day. Some days it was literally just a few lines or a simple pattern. The goal wasn’t to create masterpieces but to maintain the habit and keep my creative muscles active.
Find your natural doodling times. Pay attention to when you naturally reach for a pen to doodle – maybe it’s during phone calls, while watching TV, or during work breaks. These moments are golden opportunities to turn unconscious doodling into intentional practice.
Use transition moments. I doodle while waiting for appointments, during commercials, before meetings start, or while my coffee brews. These small pockets of time add up, and they’re perfect for doodling because there’s no pressure to create something elaborate.
Create a simple tracking system. I put a small dot in my calendar for each day I doodle. Seeing those dots accumulate becomes surprisingly motivating, and missing a day here and there doesn’t feel like failure when you can see the overall pattern of consistency.
Don’t aim for perfection. Some days my doodles are elaborate and beautiful, other days they’re simple and rough. Both are valuable. The rough days often lead to breakthrough moments later, and they definitely count toward building your skills and maintaining your habit.
Connect doodling to existing habits. I doodle while drinking my morning coffee, which makes it feel less like another task to remember and more like a natural part of my routine.
The magic happens in the accumulation of small, consistent efforts. Your skills will develop almost without you noticing, and you’ll build a treasure trove of creative expression along the way.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
After years of doodling and helping others start their journey, I’ve noticed some common pitfalls that can discourage beginners. I made most of these mistakes myself, so please learn from my experience!
Mistake #1: Comparing your doodles to others online. Social media can be simultaneously inspiring and discouraging. Remember that most people only share their best work, often after years of practice. Your day-one doodles aren’t meant to compete with someone’s day-1000 doodles.
Mistake #2: Being too precious about your doodles. I used to be afraid to “mess up” my sketchbook with imperfect doodles. This fear kept me from experimenting and taking risks. Now I embrace the messy, imperfect pages – they’re evidence of growth and exploration.
Mistake #3: Trying to fill every inch of space. Newer doodlers often feel compelled to fill every bit of white space, leading to cluttered, overwhelming designs. White space is not wasted space – it gives your eyes places to rest and makes your detailed areas more impactful.
Mistake #4: Giving up too quickly. Doodling skills develop gradually, and progress isn’t always linear. Some days your doodles will feel amazing, others less so. This is completely normal and part of the creative process.
Mistake #5: Sticking to only one style or subject. While it’s good to develop consistency, don’t limit yourself too early. Experiment with different styles, tools, and subjects. You might discover unexpected preferences and talents.
Mistake #6: Forgetting to enjoy the process. It’s easy to get caught up in creating impressive results, but the real joy of doodling lies in the meditative, present-moment experience of creating. Don’t let outcome anxiety steal your creative joy.
The most important thing to remember is that mistakes are learning opportunities, not failures. Every wonky line and “failed” doodle is contributing to your artistic development.
Taking Your Doodles to the Next Level
Once you’ve built a foundation and developed a regular doodling habit, you might find yourself wanting to push your skills further. This is an exciting stage, and there are so many directions you can explore!
Experiment with different tools and surfaces. Try doodling with brush pens, colored pencils, or even digital tools. Explore different paper types, from smooth bristol board to textured watercolor paper. Each tool and surface will influence your style in unique ways.
Study composition and design principles. Understanding concepts like balance, contrast, rhythm, and focal points can elevate your doodles from collections of pretty elements to cohesive, visually compelling compositions.
Develop themed series. Choose a theme – maybe “flowers,” “geometric patterns,” or “abstract faces” – and create a series of doodles exploring that theme. This focused approach can lead to rapid skill development and help you develop a signature style.
Share your work. Whether it’s with friends, family, or online communities, sharing your doodles can provide motivation, feedback, and connection with other artists. Instagram, Pinterest, and Reddit have active doodling communities.
Take on challenges. Participate in drawing challenges like Inktober or create your own 30-day doodle challenge. Having external structure and community can push you to explore new ideas and maintain momentum.
Consider practical applications. Your doodle skills can enhance many areas of life – bullet journaling, greeting cards, gift wrapping, presentation slides, or even wall art for your home.
Remember, “next level” doesn’t necessarily mean more complex or time-consuming. It might mean more intentional, more personal, or more joyful. Define advancement in terms that matter to you and your creative goals.
Starting your doodling journey is one of the most rewarding creative decisions you can make. It’s accessible, forgiving, meditative, and endlessly surprising. Every mark you make is a step forward in your artistic development and a moment of creative expression that’s uniquely yours.
So grab that pen, find a piece of paper, and make your first mark. Your doodling adventure starts now, and I can’t wait to see where it takes you!
A Teacher with 5 years of experience. Our Expertise, is reliable to meet your full Academic development needs . Worked on many crafts and construction projects offering services from design to development to deployment over the years. You will find many of my works in my business portfolio on request.
