Watercolors (I used Sakura ® Koi ® Water Colors™ in tubes.).

Paintbrush(es) (I used a Zen #12 round water media brush and a soft wide brush from Royal & Langnickel ®.).

Wax-based crayons (I used Triangular Crayons by Melissa and Doug ®.).

Watercolor paper, 140-lb., several sheets.

I framed my piece with a doodled and painted watercolor paper. Scratch Art paper is a black-coated paper that, when scratched with a stylus or other tool, reveals white or a contrasting color in the marks.

I chose Scratch Art paper for this project because I thought it would be fun to show the potential of this simple material that invites spontaneity and fun. Whatever shapes you choose, contain them, repeat them, give them a context, and you’ll make some fantastic art. My shapes of choice tend to be hatch marks, teardrops, and interlaced wavy lines set close together. It’s about how that repetition feels versus how it looks. In my artwork, a doodle involves a soothing repetition. Making this project gave me a chance to think about doodling versus drawing. Happy doodling! Artwork by Dena Ann Adams (Photos by Sharon White Photography) Scratch-Art Doodles: A Whimsical Animal Doodle by Dena Ann Adams She also has a great way to make a quick-and-easy background with watercolor and crayons. Have you ever tried your hand at doodling on scratch-art paper? In this fun tutorial from our fall 2016 issue of Zen Doodle Workshop magazine, artist and illustrator Dena Ann Adams shows you how to use scratch-art paper to create whimsical animal doodles.

Easy animal doodles