Today’s Topic: Doodle Spirals and Petals
Good Afternoon, Quilters and Doodlers!
It’s 17 degrees below zero here in Minnesota-a perfect time to sit by the fire, sip a cup of tea and doodle my way to better quilting!
In our last lesson we doodled spirals. We doodled large and small, clockwise and counterclockwise spirals.
Today we will use only small spirals, but let’s add petals.
Systematic Doodles
Many quilters have told me they can’t doodle. I think what they really mean is-they don’t know what to doodle.
To help jump-start the process, for the next few weeks, we are going to doodle in a systematic way.
I have a method to my “madness” about doodling that I will share.
For example, I always start with a doodle idea and then build on it. If along the way, I meander in another direction, that’s great!
The idea is to get the pen moving–systematically at first, and then spontaneously.
Small Spirals with Petals
For today’s exercise, start with a small spiral and add small petals.
Doodle a small spiral with five petals. Continue doodling to fill at least one row of this flower.
Add a row with four petals.
Next comes three petals.
Finally try two petals.
Take your time and add rows and rows of these flowers to your notebook. The more the better!!!
Don’t worry about continuous line drawing! Lift your pen whenever you want for this exercise.
Later in the series, we will learn techniques to turn our doodles continuous lines for stitching. For now, the important thing is to work on eye-hand coordination.
Add More Rows of Petals
Once you’ve completed several rows of small spirals with one row of petals, add additional rows of petals.
Start with the five petal flower. Add a second row of petals. Keep the petals the same size-you’ll have to add more petals.
Next, begin again with the five petal flower. This time, add only five petals. The petals will have to be larger.
Notice how different the two flowers are!
Repeat this with your four petal, three petal and two petal flowers.
Doesn’t the double two petal “flower” look like a bow? Hmmmm…..maybe it’s time to meander off from our “flowers”????
Or….
Create Patterns
Try combining the variations in rows.
Which are your favorite combinations?
You are on your way!
Don’t stop.
Weekend Homework
Repeat this exercise over the weekend with a different pen or pencil. Add a few splashes of water color paint and doodle over them?
Fill the whole page with just the two, three, four and five petal variations.
And whenever the spirit strikes–try quilting the design!
Schedule
Be sure to check the Fine Art Saturday and Silent Sunday,
Then more doodling on Monday!
The best quilters are doodlers!
Doodling away the cold in Minnesota,
Lukewarm? Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com!
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13 comments
Anne Godwin
Catching up. Again. Ha ha ha! The story of my life! I’m in the South. Our temps have ranged from 73 to 31 the last two weeks. BBBRRRRRRRR
Thanks for this exercise. I used to doodle all the time. Time to restart a good habit!
Kara
Excellent exercise for quilting! I’m not a doodler so this doesn’t come easy for me but try to do some before I quilt, even if I’m just tracing designs with my finger—makes a huge difference.
Nerrida
It is nearly 5pm here in central Queensland, Australia & a sweltering 42C so while you are warming your hands to doodle we have the aircon working overtime. Just perfect for doodling 🙂
Cheri
Sounds fabulous!
beemerbunny
Thanks, Lori. I doodle while watching tv.
Alisa Merriwether
What is fine art Saturday/silent Sunday?
Lori Kennedy Quilts
When I’m on my game—I post an interesting piece of Art on Saturday and just a photo on Sunday.
Cristina
Thank you I’ll do it!
Cristina
Lory, how much time do you spend doodling a day? Several 10/15 minute sets or maybe longer? How often do you change the doodlled motif?
Lori Kennedy Quilts
I doodle almost every day for at least 15 minutes. In addition I doodle when I’m on the phone or watching TV —a few minutes here and there. I almost always doodle for a few minutes before I quilt to get the pattern set in my head.
I recommend doodling each pattern 6-7 times at least. There is no right or wrong here. Doodle until you want to move on. After awhile you will develop your own rhythm.
Jodine L Bergen
My daughter is a doodler but I never was. I tried to doodle, but found myself without any idea what to draw. I appreciate this idea that I can learn to doodle. I’m committed!
Cheri
This will be a good One Lori! I will do this, I will do this, I will do this! Thanks for the ideas and the nudge too! Now to warm my hands first🥴
Patricia Lediard
Thank you for this exercise in doodling. I love the creativity my mind feels, I can do this, I just have to start.
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