From Copying to Creating: How to Discover Your Doodle Style

When creating art, we express what words often can’t. Doodling is deeply personal—and because every person is unique, every doodle style has the potential to be just as distinct.

So why is finding that personal style so difficult?

The answer often has nothing to do with tools, talent, or time. The real blocks are quieter—things like self-doubt, perfectionism, or comparison. And the good news? They can all be worked through.

Here are five common things that can block your doodle style—and what can help unlock it.

Start Here: Copying Is Okay—At First…

If you’re just beginning, copying is not only allowed—it’s useful. Recreating patterns, motifs, or full doodles (with credit, of course) can help build hand control, confidence, and familiarity with the flow of ink.

This stage is like learning a new language—you repeat what others say until you’re ready to form your own sentences.

The key is to stay curious. After some practice, start noticing:

• Which patterns feel fun or satisfying to draw?
• What types of lines come naturally?
• What do you reach for when no one’s watching?

Those small clues begin to shape your unique voice.

*Photo by Jonathan Borba 

1. Inspiration Overload

Endless scrolling can feel productive—but too much input often drowns out original ideas. Seeing highly polished work from others can lead to second-guessing, hesitation, and the belief that everything worth drawing has already been done.

📚 Research shows that overexposure to curated creative content can cause “inspiration fatigue,” which lowers originality and creative confidence (Pereira et al., 2020).

What Helps: Take short “inspiration fasts” from social media and art platforms. Try 3–5 days of drawing from memory or imagination without consuming other people’s work. Even rough, imperfect doodles from this time often carry the first signs of personal style.

2. Perfection Pressure

When every page feels like it must be “share-worthy,” the fear of making mistakes can stop the process before it even begins. Perfectionism often wears a mask of “high standards,” but in reality, it limits exploration and creative play.

What Helps: Set aside a sketchbook for messy, imperfect, or unfinished art. Let this be a place to experiment freely, without judgment. Some of the most original stylistic choices often come from spontaneous lines, unplanned shapes, or so-called “mistakes.”

3. Fear of Inconsistency

Many artists worry their work looks “all over the place.” One day it’s geometric patterns, the next it’s florals. This fear can lead to sticking with one safe style and avoiding new ideas entirely.

What Helps: View inconsistency as part of growth. Style is not built by repeating one thing—it’s shaped by exploring many. Try organizing your doodles by theme or “creative seasons” rather than forcing everything to look the same. Over time, patterns will naturally emerge.

4. The Myth of “Too Late”

Many people believe it’s too late to start—or too late to still be searching for a style. This belief can create guilt, frustration, and a sense of falling behind.

What Helps: Remember, art has no deadline. Style doesn’t follow a timeline—it evolves with life experience. Artists like Carmen Herrera didn’t sell their first work until their 80s, and Monet painted his iconic water lilies well into his 70s. Every page you fill contributes to the voice you’re building.

Finding Your Style: A Gentle Practice

Personal style doesn’t appear overnight. It reveals itself slowly—through repetition, curiosity, and the willingness to keep going.

Try this:

• Doodle for 7 days without posting or editing
• Use only your memory or imagination
• Track which shapes or themes you return to naturally
• Let go of perfection and enjoy the process

The artists most admired for their distinctive voices didn’t find their style by searching for it. They drew their way into it.

So trust the line. Follow what feels fun. Your doodle style is already within reach—it’s just waiting for you to show up.

With ink-stained fingers and creative courage,
Doodle Art Club Team 🖤

P.S. If you’re on this journey and want support, come join us in the Doodle Art Club. We celebrate every stage—copying, experimenting, and growing your one-of-a-kind voice.

*Photo by Kamila Maciejewska