This is a more delicate doodle. I felt calmer on this day.
Part of me wants to color this, but the other part wants to keep it black and white.

Pray for Ukraine.
Happy Day
Caroline
This site is about my life in the art studio. It includes drawings, paintings, knitting and cross stitch and fun art techniques. I will also include recipes and yoga and book reviews. This is a lifestyle blog with intentional and simple living ideas.
This is a more delicate doodle. I felt calmer on this day.
Part of me wants to color this, but the other part wants to keep it black and white.
Pray for Ukraine.
Happy Day
Caroline
I am challenging myself to draw/doodle a mandala. Mandalas help to decrease anxiety and stress. I want to try to draw 30 mandalas. I know I will not do them daily and that’s not the point.
This is done with a black pen. Sometimes I like to keep more open spaces in my doodles.
I have been stressed with deciding if I leave my job. I decided to stay as I really want to work remotely. I don’t think at this time with the world events I should work from home. I feel more people will want office visits to keep human contact.
I also was stressed about life. I realized that I’m trying to be happy through a job, but it’s a job I’m no longer feeling fulfilled at.
Peace. Let’s pray for Ukraine.
Happy Day
Caroline
This challenge is to doodle 30 mandalas. Why, you ask? Just for fun, and to get myself focused on art and creativity again.
I am working out of a hardback sketch book, 8″ x 11″ using a black pen and crayons, color pencils or gel pens. This is something I can do before I go to sleep. Resting my legs under my weighted blanket after a long day. With my work schedule, taking care of my pets and resting my body, I won’t be able to finish these in 30 days. The outcome will be having 30 doodle mandalas.
I started drawing this evening. Here is my rheumatoid arthritis hand. Swollen, puffy and joints are in pain from all the drawing.
The completed drawing will be posted later…
Happy Day
Caroline
These are my black and white doodle drawings. I want to get back into designing these again.
Happy Day
Caroline
As I sit under many blankets plus the weighted blanket, coloring is calling me.
I grabbed some of my bookmarks and gel pens and headed to relax my legs.
It’s another night of my legs feeling swollen and achy. That’s what happens with rheumatoid arthritis and edema.
I must confess, I have been eating too much sugar and not enough fruits. Tomorrow back to my strict eating. (Gluten free dairy free and soy free, eliminate sugar.) And I need to buy melon as it helps to release fluid in my body.
Happy Day
Caroline
This past week I was unable to find time and energy to read The Creative Cure by Jacob Nordby. I didn’t even attempt it one little bit.
It was an emotional week knowing someone I respected and absolutely adored died from a long battle of cancer. My heart will break forever.
Sleeping was barely there, basically the death of this person brought me back to being 24 years old when my mom died. Her son is in his 20’s and what he has to do made my memories vivid.
After I saw two clients this morning, I went to the craft store. I tossed in many bottles of acrylic paint, canvases and paint brushes. I am set for awhile. I also bought a stand for all my painting supplies.
My studio is now organized, a little better. Not exactly what I want but definitely able to sit at the table without feeling I’m in a tight space.
Watercolor paint was calling me. But I knew I couldn’t do anything with detail. My brain is emotional my heart is emotional and I’m so exhausted my eyes hurt.
Doodle painting! That’s mindless but mindful for what I need.
Here’s the result:
First use the watercolor paints and paint any shape with multiple colors on the paper.
Then take the gel pens and doodle on top of your doodle painting. Use multiple colors of gel pens if you desire. (I used only a black gel pen for my doodle)
I feel relaxed. Maybe I’ll do another one before I go to bed. I’m going to try to cross stitch for the rest of the day. It’s a Hulu or Netflix night with my legs up on the ottoman.
Even my cats and dogs want to take a nap now.
I’ll be back to blog more about the book I’m reading.
Happy day
Caroline
Thank goodness it is Friday. Even though I work for a few hours tomorrow. I’m glad to have most of the day off. I really needed the break from the past few days.
It is raining with a nice breeze. I smell food from outside. It kinda smells like fried potatoes.
I spent the day watching movies and tv shows. And cross stitching. It’s been too long since I picked up my needle for stitching Derby.
Here is where I am at now…
What’s next?
At least one less column! I had to return to the fabric store to get more DMC colors. And I bought a new color of yarn…I want to knit an oversized wrap to use at my office. It gets cold in my office.
That will be another post in the future.
I did yoga and finished my doodle flower drawing. It done on a 9″x 6″ paper.
I will be concentrating on finishing my next painting.
And the rest of the month will be starting and completing a large flower painting. You will have to stay turned to more posts to see it. Sneak peak is coming soon.
(maybe I’ll add in some small flower paintings)
Etsy shop is open: 4pawsartstudio
Happy day
Caroline
This is a floral drawing using gel pens.
I used a meditative approach to draw the floral drawing. I thought about the shapes flowers have and added in my own creative ideas to it.
The added details are done by chance. Meaning, I randomly pick a color and place a shape amount the other shapes.
Happy day
Caroline
The other day I was digging through some of my sketches and come along these drawings I started a few years ago.
Let me explain myself: I work as a mental health counselor and art therapist. Life gets extremely busy for me. Especially with the pandemic, the need is greater than ever. I work at a small private practice, so I get paid only if clients come in for their session. I have really great clients who respect my time and their session.
So with that said, my free time to draw and actually finish my ideas, which I have probably have too much for one lifetime, is minimal.
So here I was trying to figure out where to go with my art. I have not opened my store, that that’s on my list. Right now I just want to finish projects and drawings that have been sitting in a file for too long.
Here is two of the drawings I completed.
I’ll be back with more drawings soon.
Caroline
Art journaling is a great way to let your create thoughts flow out into a page using art materials. During this pandemic an art journal can help to express your feelings, uncertainties and hope. Art skill and talent is not needed, simple supplies and trusting the process is all you need.
Supplies needed:
Start by brushing watercolors onto the paper. Any shape and line. Put a variety of colors and shaped into this first step.
Let it dry. Then take color pencils and start coloring in areas to give it a “pop.” Add acrylic markers to it for extra detail and depth. Layer the details. Just let yourself flow with it and not expect a specific painting at the end. Just have fun.
Happy journalling
Caroline
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