The Doodle and The Painting

Self-Study Class Includes Lifetime Access, Online Community & More!

10 Lessons – $140.25 $165

Our simplest drawings contain everything we need to start (and finish!) big wonderful paintings. Diane Culhane will share her own painting  journey and will go step by step from tiny drawings and doodles to two completed works.

Now available as a self-study class.

TEACHER: Diane Culhane

Class Description

This class is about growing our doodles into large 30″x30″ paintings. We all have natural creative impulses, and our simplest drawings contain everything we need to to start (and finish!) big wonderful paintings.

The process I will teach comes from my own journey and we will go step by step from tiny drawings to completed works.

I am excited to share my discoveries about how to take what is already in you — your imagery, your marks, your voice (your DOODLE style!) — and give it direction and intent.

In this painting class we will work with line quality, color mixing, composition and design. I hope it will feed you, fill you up, and make you long for more exploration into your doodles and harvest the gold that is already inside of you.

If you’ve taken the first class, Doings of a Do-o-dle, you’ve already made a start… and this class will continue to take you deeper into your own self expression.

I hope you will join me!

Buckets of Joy,
Diane Culhane

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Class Itinerary

Lesson 1: Line Quality & Characteristics 
Explore various types of lines: thick, thin, dotted, dashed, curvy, sketchy and combinations.

Lesson 2: Size Matters: Tiny & Medium Papers
Start small by working with Post–it –Notes to free up the flow of ideas. Lead up to a medium composition on 8.5″x11″ paper.

Lesson 3: Size Matters: Extra Large 
Place large sheets of paper on a wall or a door. This will enable you to work using your whole body. Use a variety of sharpies to create a huge sized doodle.

Lesson 4: Revamping the Journal & Adding Color Fields
Take an old journal or an old used book and cover what is already there with a gesso or a combination of stains and ink.

Lesson 5: Choosing Themes: Building Volume by Adding Layers 
What images are reoccurring in your doodles? What images do you love? Choose a theme from the list or choose your own.

Lesson 6: Color Mixing & Harmony: Landscapes in Sketchbook
Work in your journal or sketchbook and create a landscape full of inventive shapes. Activating the surface with multiple layers.

Lesson 7: Surface Prep & The Beginnings
Gesso two wood panels, each 30″x30″ in size and add the first layer of paint on both paintings to get your imagery started. Panel #1: black & blue. Panel #2: red, blue, yellow harmonious colors

Lesson 8:  Adding Layers: First Wood Panel with Theme Patterns
Add painted doodles to the composition with the theme of your choice, paying particular attention to contrasts between lights and darks and working with multiple tints. Diane’s Theme Choice for Painting #1: Lines & Triangles.

Lesson 9: Adding Layers: Second Wood Panel with Color Harmony
Add themed doodles to your composition and keep working on adding contrasts with lights and darks, continuing with primarily red, blue and yellow. Diane’s Theme Choice for Painting #2: Botanical Plant Life.

Lesson: 10:  Completing Two Wood Panel Paintings
This week is a huge painting week! Go to your studios, shut the doors and paint. You will receive one two-part lesson on Tuesday, and will be set free to just paint the rest of the week. Diane will take her two paintings start to finish.


Diane Doodling LARGE!


Moving from Doodles to “Doodle Drawings”


Diane’s Demonstration Painting #1


Diane’s Demonstration Painting #2

  • Markers: assortment, any brand. I use mostly a KING size Sharpie, Ultra Fine Sharpie & Fine Sharpies, Gel pens, Pencils soft and hard lead
  • Colored pencils
  • Crayons
  • Scissors
  • Paper: Post-It-Notes; letter paper 8.5″x11″; roll of white craft paper or large sheets of paper 22”x30” for a wall size doodle
  • Old Journal or old book or sketch book
  • Small brown bag from the grocery store
  • Gesso: white & grey
  • India Ink in a spray bottle
  • Optional: Walnut ink
  • Brushes: variety of sizes, flats, rounds & linear brushes
  • Paper towels
  • Stains for the journal papers such as coffee grounds, used tea bags
  • Acrylic Paints:
  • Primary colors:  blue, yellow & red. I used Heavy Body Golden Paints: Manganese Blue Hue, Cadmium Yellow Hue, Quinacridone Crimson, Titanium White, Mars Black, Phathalo Blue (green shade). I added Fluid Golden Paints: Dioxazine Purple, Prussian Blue
  • Optional: I added some High Flow Golden paints: Titanium White
  • 2 large wood panels: 30″x30″
  • Brushes: flat, rounds, fan, & rigger (linear brush)
  • Gel Media- I used Matte Gel Media, you can also use gloss or satin
  • Optional: Card stock paper, any color
  • Optional for a Palette:

TIP:  There is a simple way to keep your paint fresh. I use a paper towel that has been water soaked then placed on a tray with tracing paper on top.  You can purchase a plastic pallet at an art supply store – that has a flat sponge which does the same thing as a paper towel to keep the paints moist. By using a tray, paper towels and tracing paper on top is an easy alternative solution to keeping your paints from drying out quickly. I think you will love this method.

Diane Culhane

Diane Culhane is a professional artist and art educator who lives in West Seattle in a 1910 home, and works out of her studio in Ballard, Building C.

She received her BFA from the University of Utah and Master’s Degree from Seattle University. Diane has taught for The Bellevue School District, Seattle Pacific University, Kirkland Arts Center, Bellevue Arts Museum and currently directs and owns Kelsey Creek Fine Art Camp, ‘Go Go with Van Gogh,’ for children in the summer.

When Diane is not in the studio painting you can find her on her bicycle or hiking. Learn more about her at http://www.dianeculhane.com.

Check out Diane’s first book, released by Quarry Books, If You Can Doodle, You Can Paint.

Nuts & Bolts

  • This class is now available as a self-study class.
  • Immediately upon class signup, you will receive access to the class videos and corresponding materials.
  • A private Facebook group will be available for you to (optionally) share your artwork and enjoy and learn from the artwork of others. You may also email your teacher directly with questions or feedback.
  • You will have indefinite access to this class.
“Diane, I loved your class and your intuitive, meditative approach to teaching.” — Karen E.
“Awesome teacher and a talented artist” — Ady A.
“I have enjoyed every single minute of this exceptional class.” — Phyllis F.