Gabriel Picolo is a graphic design student in Brazil who has provided at least two people—me and himself—a most compelling reason for getting out of bed every morning in 2014. He calls it the 365 Days of Doodles Project, for which he creates, each day, one of his wildly imaginative pencil sketch and ink drawings (quite a bit more elevated than a “doodle”—more like a free-flowing meditation).
Gabriel’s “doodles” often situate child characters interacting with wild creatures, some mythic, like dragons, some merely ferocious, like lions. Sometimes the doodles have more of a cartoonish touch. Some are fan art. All are usually spectacularly chaotic, whimsical and alive—like a caffeinated morning wake-up call for the eyes. What a wonderful way for an artist to engage each and every day. And a lot of fun for a fan of the artist like me to look forward to each new day.
Gabriel’s project has made me re-think New Year’s resolutions. Rather than renounce some pleasure like chocolate or cigarettes, but also, rather than pledge to engage some hated task like hitting the gym—why not the “Doodle Option” instead? Imagine the benefit to each of us individually, psychologically and spiritually, that might be achieved if we chose some pleasurable and creative outlet for a daily reconnection to whimsical being. I know for a fact that spyed is rolling tight with pen and sketchbook these days, finding time to draw no matter how grueling the day's schedule might be.
Imagine 7 billion Earthlings reserving a brief bit of time each day to engage in some de-stressing cathartic creative ritual, like writing a poem, or doodling a doodle and then sharing it with the rest of us on deviantART. I see great things for this concept of the Personal Daily Deviation. Some say a ripple from a stone tossed by a child into the ocean might become a devastating tsunami across the vast sea. Maybe a simple hope for happiness expressed in a doodle might become a reality of world peace one day.
Please let depthRADIUS know if you are creating a small piece of creative work each and every day and sharing with everyone on deviantART. I would be glad to create a list for everyone!
?Frequently Asked Questions
Do you sketch first or do you draw entirely with pens?
I always make a pencil sketch first. Only then I add ink.
?Frequently Asked Questions
What are the sizes of your sketchbook?
I draw on a 9 x 14cm Moleskine, acid-free paper.
?Frequently Asked Questions
What tools do you draw with?
I draw with pencils for sketch and Staedtler ink pens. I often use a white paint as corrector for the lines inside black spaces.
?Frequently Asked Questions
How are your blacks so even?
Firstly, I ink everything traditionally. I've been doing the coloring part digitally. After everything is done I increase contrast levels at Photoshop CS3.
Questions for Gabriel Picolo
- What prompted you to impose the discipline of daily drawing into your schedule?
I started the project to fight procrastination and stop being such a lazy artist. Drawing something everyday was my new years' eve resolution.
- What has the first one hundred days of doodling taught you as an artist and as an art appreciator?
The 100 days of doodles so far taught me that inspiration can come from just about anywhere in my life. Everything I encounter may be a theme for that day's drawing. Also, this exercise has taught me that discipline brings good results.
- Is subject matter planned in advance or do you wake up each day and wait for inspiration to strike?
-I prefer to draw things related to how my day was (that's why I start the doodles in the evening). When that's not possible I do have some ideas written down as notes that I choose from.
- Has a meditative element presented itself within this daily commitment? Your own version of ink soaked Tai Chi?
I don't know if this counts as meditation but half an hour before I start the doodle I take a deep breath and start a pre-planning process of where I'm going to place everything on the paper. It helps a lot.
- What are your other artistic responsibilities? Work, etc.?
I'm currently graduating at Graphic Design, that requires me to draw for college projects now and then. I also take in drawing commissions when I'm not at my "main job", which is not related to art.
