Four Mumbai doodlers share tips on how to pick up doodling

The term doodling may have been used to depict absentminded scribbling but donrsquot dismiss the art form as a pastime that unravels on the last page of a notebook Four Mumbai doodlers and artists who celebrate the creative and therapeutic impact of doodling tell us what inspires them how they approach their canvas and their tips for beginnersDaily inspirationSaloni Patel illustration artist moodyymooInspiration can come from any part of my day like instances with my dog experiencing certain emotions and the moments I observe around me I often go back to certain topics like period humour womenrsquos perspectives and stigmatised topicsTips1 Make doodling a daily practice it can be a form of journalling which is therapeutic2 Be reckless on the paper explore and be creativeTool of selfexpressionAmal Nair Kirthi Pillai and Yash Shetty from Doodle MapulsDoodling in a team of three helps to bring in different ideas and strengths it makes the final work three times better While we ideate together we divide the execution part between sketching line work and colouring Doodling is a language and a powerful tool to express ideas and thoughtsTips1 Ideate well and think of creative ways to express the idea2 Trust the process donrsquot worry about the end result just get started and keep at it3 You donrsquot need fancy tools start with a marker and explore the world of doodlingMumbai my museDiya Mary Joseph graduate architecture and founder of dheemilocalI began doodling in 2020 I would recall memories of train travel on paper to relive them Later I would doodle live while travelling in the train The subjects that interest me are small moments that define our humanity and us as Mumbaikars mdash like looking out for each other moments of joy and spontaneity and adapting to the train journey or just trying to get through the dayTips1 There are no rules for doodling you have the creative freedom Even if you are doodling from a reference or are live sketching so much of your interpretation and personality flows into the work which results in a unique creation2 I craft a small book with the empty sides of used printing paper so Irsquom not afraid of messing up a new book or pagePractise practiseHari Chakyar creative director at a digital marketing agency harichakyarI started maintaining a daily visual journal a few years ago where Irsquod draw the highlight of my day My style includes doodles and scribbles usually done with a black drawing pen on white paper Some days if Irsquom feeling particularly inspired I add colour I doodle as a way to train myself since I aspire to become a graphic novelist one day This will require me to make many sequential illustrations and the more I practise the faster and better Irsquoll get at itTips1 Doodle for yourself and because itrsquos fun Therersquos no right or wrong And donrsquot compare your work to someone elsersquos2 Doodle in one place like a drawing book or a notepad Note the date on each page This way yoursquoll be able to track your journey Doodle when you can and whatever you canDOODLEY GOOD BUYSThe Guidersquos top picks for doodle creators Handbound art journalsLOG ON TO thestitcheryroomministoreCOST Rs 900 Sakura Pigma micron pensLOG ON TO scoobooinCOST Rs 750 Doodleinspired rugLOG ON TO etsycomCOST Rs 5521 onwards Printable doodle practice paperLOG ON TO artjournalistcom Mini jot booksLOG ON TO doodleholiccomCOST Rs 99 onwardsScribble and learnHow to learn tutorialsA helpful list of ideas to get you startedLOG ON TO artfulhavencomeasydoodlestodrawFiveminute drawing hacks and doodling for beginnersLOG ON TO ShivangiSah7 and SanaRizvi on YouTubePractise creative journallingLOG ON TO academymashaplanscom