Nah… I can’t be a bad girl. :p

This reminded be of a notebook I would like to have in the future. Walls Notebook by Forlee, Sherwood.

Walls Notebook

Walls Notebook features 80 pages of blank-slate urban walls from around NYC. You can draw your graffiti on these walls as a playful way of enjoying street art other than just being the spectator.

So I was inspired by this blank wall by our building’s toilet. I took a picture of it, printed on sketch paper, then me and my sister doodled on it. I scanned the finished doodles and here they are.

My walls

My sister's walls

Would you like to try your own paper graffiti art? You can download the photo I used (click photo below), print it, then do your own graffiti! :D

Happy graffiti!

So what does this tell me about my pocket-sized moleskine of doodles?

Abstract at its Best

I would like to go into the fun part of doodling, but that aim would be a futile attempt of creative advocacy if I don’t list the benefits of this exercise. Or at least, that is how I feel about it. I deem creativity, done consciously or otherwise, has reasons for its existence.

Hopefully, by the end of this post, I get to answer my own question above. :)

Also, a cool iPad app for artists can be found at the bottom of this post. Also doodle-related. It’s fun! :D

So, I will start of with a short academic approach on doodle.

First and foremost, we define doodle or doodling as an aimless scribble of any shape or figure. Usually done unconsciously and with no definite output in mind, doodle is considered a waste of time and commonly connected to artists’ way of spontaneous inspiration to create.

For corporate people, (and I’ve been there) boring meetings are unavoidable. A boring meeting can make anyone restless and sleepy, thus forgetting details. Whereas, doodling improves ability to pay attention such as what happened in a British study, which compared how well people, who doodled, retained more information of a dull monologue compared to those who didn’t and tried to sit down and listen.

Duke University and California State University have found that doodling enhances your information retention up to 29% more than if you were not doodling
~ artiqueryrose.blogspot.com

This result states how the simple task of doodling is sufficient enough to break monotony and lessen stress of a routine without affecting performance of a task. This is preferable than searching for another distraction altogether, which can be far different to what we want to achieve. It beats daydreaming or allowing a negative mood to take over.

I am thinking if this has anything to do how most people could remember easily with visual guide compared to a memory jog. Think of young children holding pictures to better remember the alphabet, or historical dates getting more recollection from video footages or ‘scandalous’ images. Visual impacts, for majority, gets sustained in memory longer than anything else.

Heart Fest

Some studies also indicate doodles’ medical benefits of opening minds to possibilities like what happened to Carol Edmonston, a two-time breast cancer survivor. She stated how doodling relaxed her while nervously sitting in the doctor’s office, awaiting her results. According to Carol, doodles had redesigned her in a profound way. It made her more at ease in life and ready to embrace life in all its twists and turns.

Now for the fun part. A doodle can define a person’s personality and subconscious matters based on a doodle’s location on the paper and what lines and shapes are used.

According in Doodle Psychology, doodles follow the same rules of graphology (hand-writing analysis), thus almost similar variables are used for interpretation.

Why don’t you try this doodle exercise and see if any of the description below fits you.

If you’re the type who craves how-to specifics, Edmonston suggests a three-step doodling technique:

So first, draw a doodle. If you are someone looking for how-to specifics, here are simple instructions:

1 Start with a simple outline. Without lifting pen from paper, spend 5 to 7 seconds drawing a line that begins and ends at the same point.

2. Fill in the outline with whatever you want: stripes, dots, geometric shapes, shading. Let your imagination guide you.

3 Focus on the process, not the result. Don’t worry about what you create. Just have fun creating it.

NOTE: Read the interpretations AFTER you’ve finished your doodle. So no peeking!

Hidden Value

If you are done with your doodle or have a previously made one kept in your drawer, you may take a look on common doodle interpretations below:

3D Shapes: Shows presence of ability to see the full picture of an issue.

Abstract Shapes: A person is a free thinker.

Arrows, ladders: Indicate how ambitious a person is.

Cars, Bus, Trains: Shows desire to travel or need for freedom or holiday.

Circles: Calm. Calmness. Or the need to get calm. Searching for meaning.

Chains: Indicate feelings of frustration. Can show feelings of being stressed.

Clouds: Fluffy clouds indicate a happy person. Stormy clouds can indicate depression, or difficulty in coping.

Eggs: Symbolizes new beginning. Or a new talent awaiting to be born. Can also show a need to settle down and build your own stable nest.

Elephants: Can show inner strength and overcome any obstacle. Those who draw elephants are likely to be cheerful and be a bit mischievous.

Eyes: Big eyes have outgoing personalities. Small eyes are more reserved. Closed eyes may indicate a refusal to look inside oneself. Sad or happy eyes can reflect how a person feels inside.

Faces: A problem solver.

Flowers: A person is imaginative.

Food: May indicate real or emotional hunger.

Funny Faces: Indicate a person has a sense of humor.

Geometric Shapes: A person assertive.

Happy Faces: A person has more willpower.

Hearts: A person is in love or in need of a relation.

Houses: May indicate a person missing his home, wanting a family or wanting to settle down.

Stars: Stars indicate optimism and hopefulness.

Underlined name: Underlining a name with one or two lines indicate how important that person is.

Weapons: Shows the presence of a warrior spirit.

Zigzags: A person’s life is about to change.

Life Snippets

As for my moleskine doodles, except for the last one titled “Alone”, I guess it pertains I’m a free thinker? I guess so, on some levels. LOL. I do love to doodle and I’ll continue to do so as time would let me.

Pertaining to the iPad app I said earlier, I absolutely love the “Moleskine” interface provided by this app. Bring yourself a stylus (if you prefer), to sketch or jot down ideas on the blue. No need to bring art materials. A touch here and there for pen “pressure” and color and you have all the essentials for bringing an idea to life.

If you ask me, I’d still retain the traditional pen and paper materials for creativity. Even in this digital age or essentially deleting paper usage from our society to hopefully save our trees, nothing beats the feel, smell and beauty of traditional art media.

I would love to hear inputs on doodles. Hey, if you have doodles to share, don’t hesitate. I would love to see your work! :D

The news my have come out late on my end, but I was honestly amused upon viewing Polaroid Z340 Instant Camera. As the name indicates, its a cross of a polaroid and digital camera. Fun part, it stores 14 megapixel of images and prints them out instantly! Now isn’t that idea fun? Take a look of this product below:

Buy the Polaroid Z340 Instant Camera at the Photojojo Store!

I found the idea very unique and appealing. This is a perfect example of instant gratification. Take a picture, and you can immediately give mementos for keeps.

As I continued reading about this camera, I concluded some pros and cons.

The good.
* Integrated Zink printer is fast, if not exactly “instant.” It takes about 49 seconds for a picture to print.
* Images are also saved as JPEGs which can be downloaded and used later.
* Handing prints to people shortly after taking a picture is fun!
* Camera has a slot to insert SD cards to save more pictures to.
* Said product can shoot video too.
* Printing paper is of good quality. It dries easily and does not tear off.

The bad.
* 14MP camera is cheap and has below-average image quality.
* Camera UI can be frustrating and has bugs.
* From pictures seen above, we can see it looks a bit bulky to carry around.
* Retro design completely ignores ergonomics.
* Shooting for video is quite “low” compared to our current standards.
* The paper to print the paper on is quite pricey. $20 for three individual packs of 3×4″ sheets.

The ugly.
* Short battery life. Some reviews say after printing 20 pictures, you may need to charge again.
* Huge and annoying AC adapter for charging in camera only. They look outdated.
* USB port appears non-standard.

Do you think this gadget is worth it for its $299.00 to $349.00 price range?

What most of us don’t realize is that usual conceived accessories, can add spice to our ensemble, if not sometimes become a whole new wardrobe with just a few tricks.

These are what I found in Youtube. Very useful tips on how to wear scarfs, shawls and a large piece of cloth with holes. With these, you can up your look and not spend too much. Try it!

Valentine’s Gift Guide

St. Valentine’s Infographic. Which is the right origin?

Social Networking Americans’ Valentine’s Day Plans

What your Valentine’s gift REALLY says about your relationship

Economics of Valentine’s Day

Chinese calligraphy has been a mystifying concept to me. First noticing its “ethereal” and “meditative” value for life in Zhang Ziyi’s movie, Hero.

Calligraphy has also led to the development of many forms of art in East Asia, including seal carving, ornate paperweights, and inkstones.

For a few years, after taking on a few Kanji lessons moreso did I learn how important each brush stroke is to each character, each stroke following a strict sequence. Not following the order will result to lack of education and dedication to learn the craft of communication.

According to Stanley-Baker,

“Calligraphy is sheer life experienced through energy in motion that is registered as traces on silk or paper, with time and rhythm in shifting space its main ingredients.”

This artform has taken its place in modern art and I give great regards to those who dedicate themselves to it. The craft looks so simple yet exquisite. Each delicate brushstroke sets of a variable of “reflective” atmosphere. No wonder, I found the videos from RaggedyBird’s Youtube channel so enchanting and relaxing. The music used are very meditative, sometimes yoga-like accompanying the smooth brushstrokes.

RaggedyBird also provides Chinese Art Materials and Supplies if you are interested to start a journey into the Chinese Arts. Ink stones, ink sticks, brushes, xuan paper, seal stones and seal ink, brush rests, water bowls, brush hangers and alot more besides. Amazing Chinese art products are also available from the online store.

I am no painting afficionado. I tried. I guess my skill lies more on the digital rather than on traditional artworks.

From just a few hours, Riusuke Fukahori has garnered a lot of links from Google from his newest creation of amazing 3D fishes. This creation is astounding as each 3D painting consists of multiple transparent layers. Liquid resin is poured into wooden container and then painted when it becomes solid. By repeating this process, the artist is able to create realistic fish with lifelike vitality.

Here is a video of how the artist did this beautiful piece of art. A note, due to copyright issues, the video poster required to take down this video clip. The video will be kept running for 72 hours before permanently disabling video at midnight 14/01/2012.

I bow down to his majestic skills. *bows*

The ones I like are of moleskine brands so they can be pretty expensive. Yet, the paper used are very conducive for creative artwork, which artists really love.

To my utter delight, I stumbled upon a Fashionary giveaway from Quietgirl blog.

Fashionary is a great item for fashion and clothing enthusiasts, professional fashion designers and hobbyists. I am no fashion designer afficionado but I do like clothes and anything that has to do with a bit of sketching and doodling. Also, based on screencaps I find the insides quite amazing. Who knows, I might get the inkling to design my own stuff. <3

I hope I get to win!

If you want to join, learn of the contest mechanics by clicking here!