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I had an idea pop into my head the other day to do a series of blog posts about my experience with keeping the creative juices flowing—or how I do it.
It would be easy to center these posts around “Artist’s Block”. I am no stranger to this as I’ve experienced it many times in the past, and it’s a particular bear when your entire career depends upon you manifesting new and fantastic, amazing designs that impress people continually.
I want to try to focus on the positive here, however. Let’s not focus on blockages. Let’s focus on how to keep the creativity flowing.
The universal Law of Attraction says that in order to “get” you must “give”. If I want to “get” creative, I must “give” it out through doing. You know… Use it or lose it.
So let’s get started, shall we?
(Check back each Friday at noon MST for the continuation of these tips!)
Tip two: doodle
Doodling is such a fantastic creative skill.
If you’re doing it right (and I use that term loosely), then you’re honestly not too concerned with the outcome of those little scribbles you’re making on your page.
All you’re doing is heeding that little urge you’re feeling to “do something”. Why not making that “doing something” creative and worthwhile instead of just zoning out?
Ugh, this meeting is so boring… Hey! I’ll doodle while so-and-so is droning on about quarterly analysis.
Ugh, my doctor’s appointment is running late… again. I know! I’ll doodle something because I don’t think I can take one more minute of scrolling mindlessly through Facebook.
I’ve been stuck on this phone call with tech support for what feels like forever… Ah! I’ll draw the cat while he’s sleeping.
As I mentioned earlier, your doodles do not need to be anything earth-shattering. I’m pretty big into doodling flowers and curly vines, so that’s what typically ends up in my meeting notebook at work, for example.
I have a sketchbook in my purse that I take with me everywhere, too, so sometimes when I find myself stuck waiting on an appointment, I’ll pull out my sketchbook and doodle.
Let’s say you don’t really feel like you have a particular “thing” that’s your go-to for doodling. Then draw what you see in front of you. Draw your notepad. Draw the dying plant in the corner of the waiting room. Draw the chair across the room in the restaurant. Draw the forks on your table. Draw the stapler.
If those things just aren’t your thing, look up Zen Doodling and see if something piques your interest in that arena. I’ve picked up many fun patterns and scribbles from doing Zen Doodling.
Draw patterns. Draw words (that’s what hand lettering is, after all – just words that are drawn instead of written.)
One of my favorite doodlers is Peter Deligdisch from Peter Draws. He’s pretty eccentric if you watch him on YouTube. You get to listen to his random streams of consciousness. (I’m pretty sure if most of us actually vocalized the thoughts going through our heads it would sound pretty similar.) He has great suggestions and thoughts around drawing and doodling. He often describes what he’s doing as “just lines.” Most of all he’s just outstandingly talented. If you have an inferiority complex, stay away from his mandala videos. Or better yet – drop-kick your inferiority complex and watch his mandala videos and get inspired.
Speaking of mandalas – those are another great doodling tool. I’ll sometimes prep a page in my sketchbook with some guides and then start adding to the mandala at random times until I eventually fill the page or feel like the mandala is complete.
Not sure how to prep a mandala? Kara Benz of Boho Berry has a great YouTube video you can watch. She also does beautiful mandalas.
I’ve done many mandalas over the years. And while some of the ones pictured above go beyond a simple doodle and involved more planning, I find they’re a very nice, therapeutic tool to use to draw for the sake of drawing.
Do you have a favorite doodling technique, tool, or go-to? Share it below!
Be sure to follow my Instagram account @kellyro77 to stay up-to-date on my creative endeavors.
List of materials:
Contains affiliate links. See disclosure for more info.
Pocket Moleskine Sketchbook
Sharpie Pen
Leuchtturm1917 pocket sketchbook
Pigma Micron pens
Liquitex Acrylic Paints
Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen
QoR Watercolors
Etchr Watercolor Sketchbook
Odyssey Art 
Looking great
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