If you’ve been following my blog for long you’re probably already familiar with several repeat pattern art drawing methods such as the Zentangle method of drawing, Pattern Stacks, ZenDangling, etc. Well here’s a new one for you. This one was developed by my friend Ellen Wolters, who is an art therapist in the Netherlands. Where she assists her clients of all ages using various artistic methods.
As she worked her way through her own Inspire, Inspire art-journal last week using the prompt “Outside My Comfort Zone” she developed a drawing method she calls “Dottling.” To Dotle (as it applies to Ellen’s drawing method) means to use dots as the starting point in a repetitive pattern art project – leaving each dot as a stand-alone object on the page.
In the video below I offer you a demonstration of how the Dotle drawing process goes. One of the things I’m sure you’ll notice is that the process is simplistic enough that even the youngest of artists can Dotle. And Dottling could easily be accomplished using a wide variety of mediums. When I first saw this method my thoughts immediately took me back to the days when I taught pre-school. I think even tiny tots could dottle using finger paints or maybe clay dots with clay worms woven around the dots. Oh what fun!
Dotle Video Demonstration
About Ellen’s Website
For more information about how Ellen developed this method and the wonderful things she’s doing over in the Netherlands, be sure to visit her web blog at: http://www.tekenpraktijkdeinnerlijkewereld.blogspot.com/ . Because it’s primarily written in Dutch you may want to use the Google Translator or some other web tool to read it in English. However, Ellen does include an English version of many of her blog postings too. Her Dotle method can be found on her Journal Journey page. While you’re there be sure to check out her patterns page and pick up some mandala templates as well.
Enjoy!
~ Cindy
Hi Cindy,
I’m revisiting some of the posts I linked to in my weekly roundups…
I am a director in a new non-profit organization called Artistically Speaking Out Against Bullying (http://asoab.org/) and looking for interesting stuff I can use in classes with kids. I will definitely add Dotle to my arsenal!
Most excellent! I bet the kids will love it! I just recently posted in our gallery and on my Flickr account a set of Dotled ATC’s I did this week. Feel free to use those as examples for your group. Have fun with it!….. and I look forward to visiting the site you linked to as well. ~Cindy
Thank You for sharing your amazing Designs I am a self taught. I am an art quilter and I have done some zentangle on fabric use variegated thread I use quilt templates to help follow along looking @ other artist work inspires me and gives me ideas. I just enjoy learning new things new ways I have Rheumatoid arthritis,when having a bad day I sit with my sketch book and just play and have a good time and forget about the pain.I have dover clip art that is giving me great ideas.
Thanks again
Jessie
Thank you so much for sharing this blog post and I find it very interesting. I might have a go with this but might use different shapes. Brilliant inspiration!
The picture above that you did, is that done with dotting all the colors or what? It is just awesome!!! Please do tell.
Amazing what great video you made of this ‘out of the blue’ discovered drawing method. Kind of weird to hear my name in English 🙂 BIG FUN though! I feel honoured with so much attention Cindy. THANK YOU VERY MUCH !!! I hope everybody who read your blog, views the video, and work with this drawing method will have BIG FUN with it! love ‘n greetz, Ellen