I don't know why but I've always loved doodling, especially when reading a book or listening to a lecture. I also draw doodles when I write my reviews. Imagine yourself I found out today is a National Doodle Day in the UK so I decided to post something about one of my favourite pastimes.
Apparently doodle patterns can be as revealing as your longhand. For instance, emotional people who crave harmony tend to go for rounded shapes and symbols such as circles, suns, flowers, hearts, lips and balloons. More down-to-earth, practical people who desire order draw square shapes and things that represent material security, such as boxes, doors, forts, towers, block letters and numbers. And determined people with a lot of mental and physical energy draw pointed or masculine images, from stars to arrows, zigzags, spires, stick figures and lightening.
Why doodle?
- Doodling is good for you because it helps relieve boredom and frustration, allowing pressure to be dispelled in a creative, playful way. The urge to doodle gets stronger as stress levels rise
- Underlying preoccupations can surface and take shape as doodles.
- Doodling maps your mind as you plan something new, worry about money or dream of a lover. Subconsciously, it may actually help you sort out your problems.
Know what your style means...
- Some symbols crop up again and again – such as the sun, stars, boxes, arrows, hearts, flowers and waves. This may be because they have special significance for human beings and are symbols that represent our aspirations, needs and feelings
- People who prefer straight lines tend to have strong willpower and self-control and like facts. Those who prefer curved strokes are more flexible, imaginative and emotional A single object represents the person doodling while the background scene or space represents the world around him or her. Several objects may represent people who are important to the doodler, different aspects of a situation, or parts of him or herself
- If your doodle consists of a single object or pattern, how big is it in relation to the space? A large object shows you are outgoing, appear confident and have a busy life. A small object suggests you observe more than participate, like your personal space and prefer a quiet life
- If you doodle at the top of the page, this is linked to dreams and aspirations. The bottom of the page is associated with security and material concerns. The right is concerned with the future and the outside world and the left relates to the past and family
- People who are sensitive or hesitant tend to draw with short, light or sketchy lines. Determined people who feel strongly about things use longer, firmer strokes
- Digging into the paper or going over and over something are signs that someone is frustrated, obsessed or stuck with a problem
- Heavy shading or criss-crossing of strokes suggest depression or worry
Do you like doodling? What technique do you usually employ? I usually have a felt-tip pen, a gel pen or a pencil nearby and yes, my doodle tend to differ, depending on my mood. I rarely use colour but I do draw a lot of human faces, flowers, stars and different symbols. The second doodle from the top is mine :)
