Most of my daily doodles are done in a sketchbook, but since I draw every day and run a Printmaking Workshop for Kids, I am drawing on all sorts of materials (wood, plexiglass, foam, butcher paper, kraft paper, cardboard – you name it – I have drawn on it).
There is a beautiful paper called Legion Stonehenge – it’s 100% cotton and was initially created for printmaking – so I love to draw on it. The paper is 11″ x 14″ and the images below show a drawing that I created for a family that comes into my art studio. Using bubble letters, I created a composition of their names – and then using what I call spaghetti lines, I doodle the background using Windsor & Newton fineliners.
With over 25 years experience in graphic design and typography, and these last 7 years running Little Pulp – I have more than 10,000 hours of practice hand-lettering and drawing bubble letters. I start with pencil and block out the names of the kids, then I add in Mom and I have been putting in “and of course Dad”. It’s not a critical statement, just a touch of humor.
Many of the kids and parents that attend our workshops, here at Little Pulp, ask me how did I get so good at drawing bubble letters. I always tell them “practice”. For the last 7 years, almost every day, I have been creating bubble letter name cards for kids that come to our art studio. In the beginning, my bubble letters were not very good – but with a lot of practice, I have really improved. Here are some pics of the bubble letter name cards that adorn the walls of our art studio. If you like bubble letters, spend the next 7 years making bubble letter name cards for everyone you meet and you will get really good at it.
If you are in the New York City area and would like to visit our art studio, check us out at Little Pulp. If you are not in the NYC area, but would like some feedback on your bubble letters, please feel free to connect with me – I’d love to see your bubble lettering.
Most of my daily doodling is done in one of my many sketchbooks, though sometimes I like to just use a piece of paper – tomorrow, I might use a really big piece of cardboard – who knows? That’s the joy and power of making doodling and drawing part of your daily life. If you’d like to start your own daily doodle book – I’d love to hear from you.
Frank’s Daily Doodles 