Have Some Doodles, by Teen Contributor Riley Jensen

During this pandemic a lot of people have an excessive amount of free time. It can be hard to find things to do that will fill all that time, so here are some simple doodles that could take up some time. Also, this is an easy programming idea to share because you don’t need a lot of supplies.

Basic Banner:

1. Draw two squiggly lines with some space between. These lines should be parallel to each other and horizontal.
2. Connect the two lines at both sides.
3. At two corners that are diagonal from each other draw a small swirl, but don’t connect the swirl to the line.
4. The swirls will be connected to the squiggly lines with two straight lines. One at the point where the swirl stops and one where the swirl curves in.
5. This is the point where you can trace over the banner with a black pen.
6. Now, you will need two colors that are close to each other. One will be the color of the banner and the other will be the color of the shadow. Color the main part of the banner and the outside of the swirl the lighter color. Color the inside of the swirl the darker color, so it looks like a shadow.

Color Gradient Words:

1. Get two colors that are close to each other so you can achieve the gradient.
2. With the lighter color, write out whatever word you want. You may want to make the word a fairly large size.
3. With the darker color, go about halfway down each letter and go over the bottom half.
4. Now, you can either leave the word the way it is or you can trace the word however you want.

Separated doodle:

1. Draw two semi-circles with a good amount of distance between them.
2. Fill in the semi-circles with the same color that they were drawn with.
3. Trace the flat parts of the semi-circles with a black pen.
4. In the space between the two semi-circles write whatever word you want.
5. Once you have your word you can do whatever you want to it to add flare.

Here are some more doodle examples:

Also, here are some great books about doodling and lettering:

Riley, Teen Reviewer

I am a senior in high school and an avid reader. I have been reviewing books on this blog since 2012. I love musical theatre and listen to show tunes a lot. I also love murder books (both fiction and nonfiction), and she wants to go to college to be a forensic scientist after high school. Reading is one of my favorite things to do, so I must put that hobby to good use for my mom.

Filed under: Teen Programming