28 days 28 drawings doodle challenge

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For February, our drawing (and media) challenge is to doodle something silly every day. Take a look at the list below. Join in anytime. All ages welcome. Check back here to see our videos and doodles! Show us your drawings on instagram, facebook, and twitter with the tag #28days28drawings and #kidcandoodle and we’ll share your doodles too. Hope you’ll doodle with us.

 

28 Days 28 Drawings February Doodle Challenge

 

Day 1 : cats in hats

I’m challenging myself to try a different medium each time — you should too! Whenever possible, I think it’s important to experiment with different materials and play with them. Try each one out, get a feel for how they work, and see which ones you enjoy using. Keep learning!

This was done using China Marker, a grease pencil often used to mark up proofs by photographers. This waxy pencil writes on plastics, windows, and other surfaces. I like their rich, crayon-like color; it’s my favorite drawing implement and what I often use to create the artwork for kidcandoodle.

 

Day 2 : dancing dogs

dancing dogs

This mint + pumpkin risograph print was made at Hato Press in London. The printshop offers a 2-color risograph printing workshop that is ideal for learning how the process works. It’s very similar to silk-screening, but done with the convenience of a photo-copier machine. It was such a fun experience — I want to do it again with Little Dude.

 

Day 3 : party animals

partyanimals

Double-duty: I added the blue to coordinate with the popular weekly Colour Collective twitter art prompt, “air force blue”. This was done with Prismacolor pencils, one of the best colored pencil brands. (My family gifted me a 72-color set for my birthday this year.)

 

Day 4 : sloths taking selfies

sloths taking selfies

Biro or Bic ballpoint pens are a drawing tool that I usually shy away from — I find them intimidating. I created these selfie-obsessed sloths using ballpoint, and then colored them in Photoshop.

 

Day 5 : doodling deer

28 days doodling deer

This doodling deer is painted with Windsor & Newton Designers gouache, and the color palette has a vintage look to it, don’t you think? (Thanks to Carin Channing for this doodle prompt)

 

Day 6 : panda pillow fight

panda pillow fight

Painting pillow-fighting pandas with Windsor & Newton Drawing ink seemed very appropriate, because the ink recalls Asian calligraphy, and pandas are native to China.

 

Day 7 : dinosaur detectives

dino detective

It’s hard to draw a dinosaur detective without making it look goofy! My Dino Sherlock was drawn with a Pentel brush pen and then colored using a mini set of Filia oil crayons, which are portable, and great for on-the-go drawing kits. I also love the vintage-look packaging.

 

Day 8 : penguin pirates

A post shared by Dylan Hall (@extrostar) on

My son Dylan likes to draw digitally, using pixel apps such as 8bit Painter, and he’s been contributing several drawings for 28 Days 28 Drawings, like this one for penguin pirates. *proud mama*

 

Day 9 : rollerblading raccoons

rollerblading raccoon

Raccoons are just too cute to draw. This rollerblading rodent was sketched with graphite pencils. A basic set like Derwent should be included in every artist’s supplies.

 

Day 10 : giraffes in galoshes

giraffe in galoshes

Wouldn’t it be funny to see a giraffe in wellies? I thought so too! Oil pastels were used to doodle this rain-ready long-legged mammal.

 

Day 11 : space hogs

space hog

Uh-oh, it’s a swine in space! Drawn with stubby Stabilo Stifte crayons, a genius 3-in-1 tool that can be used as coloring pencil, watercolor, or wax crayon, too. They are nice and soft and the chunky size is fun for small hands to hold.

 

Day 12 : trees hugging

tree huggers

I wanted to make sure that not all the drawing prompts were of animals, but still include unexpected things, such as this couple of tree huggers. Created with a mix of Windsor & Newton drawing inks and colored pencils.

 

Day 13 : fruits in sunnies (sunglasses)

fruits in sunnies

A fun medium to try is collage: it’s quick, experimental, and not too dependant on hand-eye coordination — perfect for this trio of sun-tanning tropical fruits. Also colored with China Marker pencil and Adobe Photoshop.

 

Day 14 : pika pool party

pika pool party

Pikas are such cute critters, resembling mice or hamsters. (You may not have realized that this Pokemon character was inspired by a pika.) I imagined they’d be fun-loving creatures who enjoy a good pool party. Also created using watercolor + colored pencils.

 

Day 15 : flying foxes

flying foxflying fox 2

This prompt was intended to have a double meaning: flying foxes could be clever pilots or fruit-eating bats (like those found in my former home of Brisbane, Australia). Please interpret as you please. I suggest using Prismacolor pencils or gouache.

 

Day 16 : trucks eating tacos

trucks eating tacos

I know this was a tricky one to draw, and it would be challenging to not make it look cartoony. I wanted to have a few prompts that weren’t animal subjects, and it’s a nod to my love of tacos and the many I’ve sampled from taco trucks in Austin and Brisbane, Australia, where we used to live. Drawn with China Marker pencil.

 

Day 17 : reading rockets

rocket reading

If rockets had a book club, what do you think they’d read? My bet is on science-fiction. This was another quick sketch using my go-to drawing implement: China Marker grease pencils.

 

Day 18 : aliens skiing

aliens skiing

Aliens aren’t very good at skiing. Especially when they have three legs! These creatures are cut-up from magazines — a super resource for collage. Art recycling is re-creating AND re-using. Also doodled with Faber-Castell Pitt artist pens, another artist’s necessity.

 

Day 19 : flower painting

flower painting

I purposefully left this prompt open to creative interpretation. I thought of Van Gogh’s iconic Sunflowers painting, as well as the act of painting flowers too. Flowers are a lovely source of inspiration for artists — beginner or advanced, alike — it’s no wonder they continue to be a popular subject. Created with Pentel brush pen and Faber-Castell pastel pencils. Pastel pencils are more blend-able than regular colored pencils, but they also smudge easily, so take care when using them.

 

Day 20 : skateboarding pigeon

skateboarding pigeon

 

Day 21 : surfing banana

surfing banana

 

Day 22 : squirrels wearing scarves

 

Day 23 : singing sea lions

singing sea lion

Drawing with white and colored chalk pastel on black or dark paper is a terrific artist’s exercise to focus on lighting; it requires you to look at and draw only shadows and highlights. I cheated a bit here because I added the outline (I was being impatient), but ideally, you would try to fill out the figure by ONLY drawing the highlights, mid-tones or shadows. If the paper is dark, such as in this example, you would draw only the highlights and mid-tones, and leave the paper to be the shadows.

 

Day 24 : hula-hooping hippo

hula-hooping hippo

I animated Harriet the hula-hooping hippo, by making a simple gif in Photoshop.

 

Day 25 : sock superheroes

Introducing: Super Sock, a mini comic for you!

 

Day 26 : gorilla wearing glasses

Take a vote! Which #gorillawearingglasses do you like better? Number 1 or 2?

A post shared by Kid Can Doodle (@kidcandoodle) on

 

Day 27 : cactus eating cookies

cactus eating ice cream

Day 28 : octopus enjoying ice cream

octopus eating ice cream

 

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10 Imaginative Doodle Books

Need to add to your doodle library? Here’s ten doodle books to keep you drawing and your imagination growing. These are not books that show you how to draw things in a specific way, but ones that help get your wheels spinning. Presenting:

10 imaginative doodle books

 

1. Doodle!

by French illustrator Jochen Gerner (b small publishing) is terrific for younger artists, but stirs those creative juices, so it won’t bore older ones, and has enough activities to keep everyone amused!

Doodle

Doodle_spread

 

2. 3, 2, 1. . . Draw!

I’m a big fan of Serge Bloch’s drawings — especially his work combining photos of real objects — and his new book, 3, 2, 1. . . Draw! (Wide Eyed Books) is sure to make you see things in a whole new way.

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321-Draw-spread

 

3. Draw It! Colour It! Creatures

(Macmillan Children’s Books) This book is a great way to introduce budding artists to some of the best illustrators working today. It allows you to collaborate with your favorite artists (including Lorna Scobie) and demonstrates how they all doodle differently — each having their own personality and style.

Draw_It_colour_it_creatures

Draw_it_colour_it_spread

 

4. Chris Riddell’s Doodle a Day

(Macmillan Children’s Books) Make a daily habit of drawing with this diary of doodle prompts from the UK’s 2015-2017 Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell.

Chris-Riddell-Doodle-a-Day

chris_riddell_doodle_spread

 

5. Hirameki

Hirameki (Thames & Hudson), Japanese for “flash of inspiration,” is a clever book by artists Peng & Hu, who encourage you to doodle what you see out of paint splotches. Perfect for all ages.

Hirameki

Hirameki_spread

 

6. Drawing in the Sea

I love when doodle books combine subjects that we already love (like oceanography) with drawing, such as Harriet Russell’s Drawing in the Sea (Edizioni Corraini). You’ll not only enjoy doodling, but you’ll learn stuff about the sea, too.

Drawing_in_the_sea

Drawing-in-the-Sea-Harriet-Russell

 

7. Shackleton’s Journey Activity Book

A companion to Shackleton’s Journey (also by) William Grill, is brought by one of my favorite publishers, Flying Eye Books. William Grill’s brilliant illustrations make me want to draw with colored pencils.

Shackeltons_Journey_activity_bk

shackelton_spread

 

8. My Crazy Inventions Sketchbook

Andrew Rae and Lisa Regan created this book, My Crazy Inventions Sketchbook (Laurence King), for all of us doodlers with fantastical ideas (and those who want to come up with fun inventions, too).

My_Crazy_inventions_sketchbk

Crazy_Inventions_spread

 

9. Maps Activity Book

A follow-up to the gorgeously illustrated Maps (Big Picture Press) by married creative duo Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski of Hippopotamus Studio. Ideal for those who are geographically-challenged (like me!)

Maps_activity_book

maps-activity-book-spread

 

10. Change Your Life One Doodle at a Time

(Quarry Books) Can a doodle change your life? Author/illustrator Salli S Swindell (and I) think so! Doodling regularly helps your brain to think visually, observe details, focus, and become more creative. Doodle on!

Change_your_life_one_doodle

change_life_doodle_spread

 

Bonus number eleven : Extraordinaires Deluxe Design Studio Kit

design_studio_kitThis last one is not actually a book, but a lovely brainstorming box for budding designers who appreciate specially-packaged things. It includes a pack of illustrated cards that detail your “client’s” needs, and a pad for you to doodle your designs. There are three kits available here.

These lovely books are available at fine bookstores and museum bookshops.

WIN!

Win a set of the 10 imaginative doodle books above by showing us your doodle bomb by June 30, 2016. Click here for more details.

All images courtesy of respective publishers.

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Valentine’s Day treat box

kcdValentinesDay

Valentine’s Day Treat Box

Printable Download

 

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days. Maybe it’s a silly holiday, but when I was growing up in the US, I loved giving and getting the little love notes from my classmates. In Australia (where we moved to) and in England (where we currently reside), it’s not really celebrated in schools, so you can’t buy those mini packaged valentines at the store. As a result, my sons and I have made it a tradition to make our own. Here’s a few examples of valentines we’ve made in the past.

valentine_making

Above from left: Little Dude putting stickers on the lolly cards; fairy cookies in stitched envelopes.

 

smileThis year we’re doodling these candy cubes, and you can too. Just download this treat box template, decorate, cut out, fold and fill with candy to give to your sweeties. I recommend printing it out on heavier paper stock so that the box is strong enough to hold the goodies.

 

KCDvalentinesbox

Click on the above preview to download.

 

Need more ideas? Here’s 90 more here and 30 more here.

Hope you have a happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Please note that by downloading our Valentine’s Day treat box, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.

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Experimental Media : Ikea bits

experimental_media

Experimental Media

 

Drawing with IKEA bits

This year, I thought I’d challenge myself to doodle with a different medium each week. Some materials will be traditional drawing implements, such as markers or crayons, but others will be more experimental.

We’ve featured artists who have played with unusual ingredients: Claudi Kessels (nature), Javier Pérez (corn chips) or Justin Garnsworthy (plastic), so it’s not new, but it’s fun to try new things, mix it up, and see things in a different way.

For my first try, I happened to have many IKEA bits lying around (we just moved across the planet, from Australia to England), so here’s how I used them in my drawings:

dog drawing with IKEA bits

drawing of boy sneezing made with IKEA bits

drawing with IKEA bits of a man juggling

drawing of a bee with IKEA bits

drawing with IKEA bits of a whistler

This last one is by Little Dude:

cat in a car doodle with IKEA bits

What I learned

I enjoyed doodling with the bits — they instantly add character and liven up drawings. I was less precious with technique and creating something realistic, especially because the screws tend to roll around, so it’s a bit more spontaneous and fresh.

trythisNext time you draw, think of ways to add the pencils or eraser to your drawing. How about combining your toys to complement your art? Lego pieces or doll clothes would be great! Have fun and check back to see what we play with next week.

 

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Holy Hairdos! a new printable

Hi Doodlers! I’m so happy to share a new printable with you! Believe it or not, this one was inspired by a dude who has been in the news much lately. You may have heard of him?

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I thought it would be funny to draw animals with fancy hairstyles: like a cat with a mohawk, or a monkey with Pippi braids. So with the help of the internet, we’ve created Holy Hairdos! for your doodling pleasure.

Just click on the Holy Hairdos! cover image below for your FREE printable pages. Please note that by downloading, you agree to our terms.

HolyHairdoscoversm

 

What’s your favorite hairdo?

 

 

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Doodling with Gemma Correll printable

Hi Doodlers! Gemma Correll, author of the upcoming Doodling for Tree Huggers & Nature Lovers, and her publisher, Walter Foster, have given us an exclusive printable from her book to celebrate its release in September. YAY!

doodling_treehuggers

Just click on the image below to download or here. (2 pages) Please note that by downloading this printable, you agree to our terms.

GCorrellDFTHANL

Don’t forget to check out our 3 1/2 Questions interview with Gemma.

doodlingprizes_gemma

See more of Gemma’s work and comics here.

What’s your favorite Gemma Correll Doodle book?

 

Art © Gemma Correll, used with permission by Walter Foster Publishing (MUCHOS GRACIAS!)

 

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Feature with a Creature Doodle Game

featurecreature_game

Creature with a Feature Doodle Game

 

Here’s a drawing game we created to help you come up with a Creature with a Feature for Kid Can Doodle’s Gallery Show. Download the Game here.

KCDcreaturegame_prints

Instructions:

There are two pages of clues, Actions and Animals. The object is to draw a picture using a clue from each page. You can choose the ones you want to draw or randomly pick from one of the two methods:

  • Drawing out of a Hat (option A)
  • Rolling a die or pair of dice (option B).

You will need (A) two hats or bowls or (B) a pair of dice to play.

  • (A) Cut out the clues, careful to keep the two sets separate. Put each set in a separate container, mixing them up before picking one from each hat or bowl. Draw a picture as the clues suggest.
  • (B) Set the two pages of clues in front of you. Let the die or dice choose what you draw. You can roll one die on each page and draw the set of clues based on what the die lands on, OR roll the dice twice, and take the numbers rolled and match them to the number listed on each clue, then draw your selected clues.

Note: To get a number 1 for (B), you will have to roll one die, but to get numbers 7-12, you will need to roll a pair of dice.

Your Feature with a Creature drawing is created by drawing one Action and adding an Animal to it. Possible combinations include ‘whales eating ice cream,’ or a ‘crocodile riding a unicycle,’ or a ‘giraffe going potty.’ Here’s a few doodles that you shared with us!

 

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Bird Bingo

kcdbirdbingo

Last year, when KCD did a doodle tour during the school holidays, we played Bird Bingo, a game I created after seeing so many birds in Brisbane. Now you can play the game in your neighborhood! Here’s a US version I’m introducing as a FREE printable download. More versions will be available in the future. Click on the image below to download the card.

KCDBBUSA1v2USA1

 

KCDBBUSA2v2USA2

 

Word of warning: Spotting birds requires patience, and it will be challenging to spot all of the birds in one session, unless you take this game to a bird sanctuary or zoo.

Play Variation: See how many of each bird you can spot, and see who can find the most.

Please note that by downloading, you agree to our terms.

 

 

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Doodler Plays with Paper

Copenhagen-based HuskMitNavn’s inventive use of paper makes his drawings come alive. As you can see below, the artist transforms a piece of paper from a flat sheet to a dimensional canvas by folding, crumpling, tearing, and rolling. It’s an imaginative way to integrate the page into the piece of art. Take a look:

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I like his sense of humor and playful approach to drawing. See more of the artist’s work here.

trythisTake a sheet of paper and fold a corner. What do you see? A kite? A cliff? A hat? What if you roll a piece of paper into a cone? Can you imagine it as a tunnel or is it a spyglass or can of soda? Or try tearing tiny holes into it; can you picture a snowstorm or is it bits of apple that a caterpillar is eating? Experiment with combining pages together, or folding one sheet and passing it to a partner to see what he/she comes up with! I bet they will surprise you. There are infinite possibilities! Happy doodling!

All images via HuskMitNavn. Story via Lost at E Minor.

 

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Pet Shop Primas paper dolls

PetShopPrimas

Introducing Pet Shop Primas, our new fashionable friends: Katerina, the sleek feline, pretty pooch Paulina, and their sweet sidekick Hannah, the hamster. We wanted to create paper dolls in honor of New York’s Fashion Week and were inspired by the best-dressed bunny, Fifi Lapin, author of the book/blog What Shall I Wear Today?

When I was little, I often made my own paper dolls. I’d start by drawing my favorite model from teen magazines, and then create their clothes by tracing the figure while holding the papers up to a window. You can do this too—we’ve started the process for you. Just download one or all of the dolls below, print, color and cut them out to play with. To make additional clothes, you can use my cheap technique of taking another sheet of paper and place on top of one of the dolls, holding them both up to a well-lit window. Design a dress by carefully tracing the outline of the doll as you draw the garment. If you’re lucky enough to have a light-box, you can use that for better results. Take a look at the fantastic Fashion123 Student Show for more inspiration.

primasstand
To download Paulina, click here.

To dress Katerina, click here.

And here for Hannah.

 

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