Loose sketch vs. tight outline - which gives you better doodles?

Had a crazy day where every quick sketch I made looked stiff and awful using a tight pencil outline first. Then I tried just freehanding shapes with a pen and somehow the messy results felt way more alive. What’s your go-to for daily doodling?

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grantmartinez3mo ago

Honestly, I used to be all about that tight outline, thought it was the only way to keep things from looking like a mess. But you just described my exact experience when I grabbed a ballpoint pen and went straight in, no pencil stage. Those loose lines had way more energy and character, now I can't go back to the rigid stuff for quick doodles.

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riley_miller253mo ago

Saw this in a drawing book once, loose lines always look way more alive.

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grantp283mo ago

My 9th grade art teacher drilled tight lines into my head and honestly I still prefer them for most things. Loose sketches can look messy to me.

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