What We're About...

 

A family friendly site, we are about having fun and enjoying the freedom to express our creativity. Within you'll find a variety of doodles and art by artists using various mediums, including pen & ink. All forms of art are welcome. We have nothing to sell or promote and no plans to do so in the future.

This is a place for a growing community of ordinary people to share their talents and inspiration with each other, as well as family and friends around the world. No competition allowed. Just the delight of seeing and appreciating what others are creating as well as sharing our own artistic discoveries.

In the spring of 2005, a spiritual friend encouraged me to find a hobby where I could get lost in time. Painting, writing, and drawing were a few options she suggested, and through experimentation I discovered the fun of drawing in pen and ink on Bristol paper. By just playing around without worrying about the end product, I found incredible freedom and gained greater self confidence. In fact, it's so much fun that I don't mind the work involved. My art became a form of meditation that I called doodling because up to that point I hadn't seen anything like mine. It was two years before I stumbled upon other people like me.

What a surprise when I discovered a whole doodling sub-culture. The internet abounds with us crazy artists and their creativity fed mine. Then a couple of years ago I discovered the Zentangle explosion and have purchased all of their books. They also use drawing as a form of meditation and have developed tons of designs to use within their tangles. I've enjoyed incorporating some of their pretty designs within my own work and appreciate how they have brought this form of drawing to the masses. Bless them! For more terrific doodling sites, check the links page and you'll see what I mean. Each doodler has their own style and something different to offer. Some doodles even qualify as a form of abstract or fine art.

You are invited to join us and share your work. Artists retain full rights and anything shared here is for just that purpose. Even if you think you don't have a creative bone in your body, you do. If you can write your name you can draw. Use these designs to get you started and play around. Fancy supplies are unnecessary. A piece of paper, a napkin, or paper bag and something to make marks will do.

Up for a new adventure, I joined a pen & ink class in March 2012. Wow, so much to learn and it's nothing like my personal style. Lots of fun though and I'm collecting new tools for my toolbox.  It will be interesting to see how this affects future work--or not. One of the benefits is sitting in a class with like-minded artists, because I've been so isolated in my work.

A few years ago we added a section called "Paper Crafting" that includes iris folding greeting cards, as well as general greeting cards. After turning out hundreds in two years I've set this aside to focus on drawing.

Make sure to check out "What's New" to see what doodles have been added since your last visit. That's also the quickest way to learn the latest website news. And, please notice the global links that are at the very top of each page. They are shortcuts for your convenience.

An easy way to view my doodles is through the Pictoral Index. The thumbnail images are separated into galleries corresponding to the Doodle Design pages, with several galleries on each Index page. Click on the image that interests you and go directly to the page it's located on.

 

If you have a moment, please sign our doodle guestbook and let us know you were here. Our other visitors will be interested in your comments too. 

 

 

 

 

 

   Dia

 

 Site updated:

5/10/2013

 

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Check out Dia's Consulting Website: Joyfuldia.com