Doodles Unleashed: Mixed-Media Techniques for Doodling, Mark-Making & Lettering

by Traci Bautista

Doodle, draw, paint and play! With Doodles Unleashed , you'll discover wildly new ways to bring doodling center-stage! Traci Bautista teaches you how to use doodling as a meditative exercise, a raw form of expression and a vehicle for telling your personal story. Work with an arsenal of creative tools, from markers, pencils and pens to stamps, stencils, inks and paints, to find unique, intuitive ways to make your mark. Inside Doodles Unleashed , you'll learn how And if that isn't enough, you'll find links for additional downloads and video tutorials sprinkled throughout the pages, for even more doodle insight. With over 60 doodling techniques and exercises, you'll find plenty of ways to unleash your creative spirit and make your mark!

Genres: Art, Crafts, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2012

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 43%. Maybe the formatting of the ebook made this seem kind of chaotic? Maybe the paper book is less a nonstop and thus somewhat overwhelming list of prompts? YMMV.

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Doodling is an artform that many of us have practiced since we were young, whether intentionally or subconsciously. We all have our own artistic style, and it is displayed very clearly in the marks we make. For me, doodling is a time to make marks, experiment with lines and shapes and let them take over the page. Doodling is my form of meditation. As I work, it takes me to a place of relaxation and comfort. I don't plan out what I am drawing, the pen dances on the page as I let my intuition take over. Each mark leads to the next, and the result is never exactly what I expected. I never double-think or question the marks I'm making, but rather I let the marks spill onto the page. It's a fluid motion, unfolding over the canvas without a plan - total freedom." Introduction - pg 5

This book covers a wide range of mark-making using various substrates and tools, which go a long way to stimulating the Creative impetus. Vividly colored with lots of photos and images that are well laid out, and accessible, Traci offers a useful resource for either igniting or accelerating your Artistic potential. There was definitely some areas of repetitiveness, which could have been edited out, dropping probably ten or so pages. If you're into Collage, Mixed Media, Art Journalling, and or, Painting you'll find this helpful.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great ideas can be found in this colourful edition of Doodles. Even if you don’t really care for the actual designs and multiple lines in each sketch it’s the ideas behind the designs that are valuable editions to your sketchbook and creating your own lines and unique coloured patterns.
This book is inspiring and aims to get you to let go and scribble and draw and stop thinking that your work has to be perfect and an exact copy of someone else’s work. Make your designs your own, your work is perfect because it is your work, your idea created by you.
With bright coloured pages, lots of bold lines, and ideas galore, this book is well worth a read thru and sitting down with your own sketchbook and letting loose all over the pages.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book about finding one’s style using mixed media and not being afraid of making interesting marks. Given doodle in the title, I was hoping for more tips to incorporate drawing into artwork as drawing is my weakest skill.

[Linette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whilst this book had some great starter ideas, I found it to be very repetitive in information and artistic style.

[April Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not what I was expecting.

[Lee F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my thing but interesting~

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could see myself coming back to this one. Lot’s of solid instruction and inspiration to jump start your artistic endeavors.

[Janette Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Doodle" is defined in the Webster Dictionary as "an aimless scribble, design or sketch". Doodling is an art form that many of us have practiced since we were young, either intentionally or subconsciously. The purpose of this book is to provide inspiration and instruction in the art of doodling.

The author begins the book by listing many inexpensive and common items that she uses as art supplies. She instructs the reader on the types of paper, pencils, markers, paint, paintbrushes and adhesives that she uses.

Ms. Baustista begins the drawing section of the book with very basic "doodle prompts." These prompts are illustrated with color pictures that show you exactly how to design your own doodles. The author always encourages the reader to be creative in finding their own unique doodling style.

The author shares more advanced doodling and mixed media instruction as you progress through the book. This book is appropriate for artists of all skill levels and backgrounds. There are many online videos, articles and downloads that support the information in this book.

I have been scrapbooking and card making for several years, but I have very little confidence in my ability to sit down and draw a picture from scratch. I thought that doodling might build my confidence and get me started in the right direction.

I found this book to be very inspiring. The prompts are great and I love how the author starts with very simple projects and then progresses to more difficult techniques. I experimented with some of the projects at the beginning of this book and was very pleased with the outcome.

I read the Kindle version of this book on the Kindle for PC Application. I enjoyed seeing large color photos on my laptop screen.

This book provides enough inspiration and information to keep a "doodling artist" busy for a very long time. I was amazed at all the ideas and projects that were presented here. Highly recommended for those who are ready to take their "doodling" skills to the next level.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to check out this book via Overdrive for my Kindle Fire and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The formatting was great. It's packed FULL of great information, instructions, and visuals and while I probably won't incorporate all of them in to a mixed media collage of my own, the author did share many ideas I would use. The doodling concept is actually not as heavily explored in the book as I thought it would be.

[Rita · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm afraid that this book is a complete waste of money. The book is a set of instructions in point form on what to do to "jump-start" doodling. It is written in a very flat and lifeless monotone with little passion. I find the design samples to be kindergarten-ish at best and not very inspiring. The cover is the only part of the book that is inspiring. The author's collage samples in the book appear to be better formed art. Perhaps she should stay with that.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite doodling book! I love Traci's style and you don't have to be able to draw perfectly to create really cool doodles and lettering. She has lots of different ideas and her book is so much fun to read. You can use Traci's ideas as a guide to let your own style come through. I especially love her girlie glam doodles and she also uses lots of recylced items in her art work. I can't wait for her next book!

[Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

She has an impressive skill for drawing feminine faces. Didn't read all the text cover to cover, just browsed through it, mostly taking in the artwork. Her mixed media result isn't quite my cup of tea, it feels a bit too messy & chaotic for my taste. A lot of it seemed repetitious, not much variety.

[LA Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book of techniques and inspirations from Traci Bautista. Beautifully written and illustrated with lush, colorful works that clearly illustrate the principles of Traci's unique and liberating approach to making art and making it fun.

[Sonya]

I really enjoyed the book and the artist's passion-most of the ideas and art techniques i already do instinctively but it was nice to know I am on the right path. I also tried the Collage Pauge materials mentioned and I do like that material.

[ANg · Rating 1 out of 5]

OK I read her first book years ago, "Collage Unleashed" it was ok. Just ok, i got this book through my local library it was the SAME information, i thought it was the same book. (shaking head) i was extremely disappointed.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it. Traci Bautista's art is so fun. She provides a lot of ideas and different jumpstarts. I recomend this book.

[Connie T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very busy-looking book; each page is nearly overwhelming with all that is splashed and marked on it. Many of the ideas are basic or uninspiring.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good guide to start art journaling.

[Angie crosby · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just didn't care for this book. The writing style bored me, the information wasn't new or helpful for me.

[Judie Hatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

So inspiring! Can't wait to try these techniques. I love the colors and shapes. Will be trying some of these techniques on fabric with my sewing machines.

[Chyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the type of book I like. It's more like a instruction for making craft book