Who’s Doodling My Doodles?
Hi! I’m Marliss, and I’m the one holding the pen. I’ve been making art all my adult life, playing with every medium I can get my hands on: acrylic paint, watercolours, alcohol ink, markers, resin, even yarn — and especially coloured pencils. But I was never the kid who filled my notebooks with doodles in school, because I had a dirty secret that artists aren’t supposed to admit: I couldn’t draw.
At least, I told myself I couldn’t draw. That’s why my art always focused on brilliant colour and fluid, abstract marks. It’s a good thing I like abstract art — in fact, I prefer abstract art. So not being able to draw didn’t feel like a major issue.
Until I suddenly wanted to be able to draw. Then my lack of skill became a significant impediment.
And that’s when I had the ridiculous epiphany that good artists aren’t just born with drawing ability, like I had always weirdly assumed. As with any craft, there’s a place for natural talent and a place to learn technical skills.
So, I learned how to draw and DoodlyDoo Doodles was born. And it became all my favourite things: colourful, abstract, organic, and free-flowing. But this time, with imaginary flowers and fantastical botanicals.
And it’s a true delight to combine my life-long love for art with fashion, textiles, and home decor. I’m a fabric and fibre nerd, love clothes with all my heart, and few things thrill me more than bringing home a new maximalist bobble for my very colourful house. So if you share my vibrant aesthetic, we’re going to be fast friends.
How I Doodle My Doodles
I draw all of my designs freehand in ink. Rarely (almost never) pencil first, because that’s the point of doodling. You learn to roll with mistakes, and fix as you go. I make a mark, and then another mark, and then another, until the page is filled. The process is very free-flowing, intuitive, and great for a busy brain.
When I colour, I choose my colour palette with at least one dark, medium, and light value of each shade. I’m picky about cool and warm tones, as colour theory says to mix cools with cools and warms with warms, and colour theory is always right.
I use a secret ingredient to blend my pencils. That secret ingredient is good, ol’ fashioned baby oil. Coloured Pencil Artists (capital letters intentional) typically use Odorless Mineral Spirits to blend their colours, but OMS is not odorless and will give you a headache, so I prefer a non-toxic option. It’s questionable whether the baby oil makes the pencils less lightfast, meaning the originals may fade in daylight over time (sadly, this is the nature of many coloured pencils themselves). But as I’m selling you products made from the art, and keeping the originals for myself, I’m not too concerned about that.
Usually, about half way through my colouring process, I utterly despair, and figure I’ve completely wrecked the piece. Then, after eating a piece of chocolate cake to cheer myself up, I pick at least three new colours, and then push through the ugly duckling stage. My motto is “Do it until you like it.” If you don’t like it, then it isn’t done yet. Then, once I like it, I stop.
My Doodles on Doodads
Once my designs are where I want them, I digitize them, and work with Canadian manufacturers to put them on all the things. The partners I’ve chosen have excellent labour practices, source sustainable fabrics, and create boutique-worthy pieces that stand the test of time. All of the products are made to order and ship from Montreal. They’re not sitting in a warehouse somewhere, so that’s why it takes a bit of time from your order to it arriving at your door (allow 1-3 weeks, plus shipping). But I promise it’s worth the wait. After all, you can’t rush art. And once you get your pieces, I know you’ll love using them as much as I loved making them.
Acknowledgement
My work is created on Treaty 6 territory, the traditional lands of the Cree, Métis, Saulteaux, Dene, Blackfoot, and Nakota Sioux, as well as on the lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka, Anishinaabe, and Huron-Wendat Peoples of the unceded territory of Montréal. I’m grateful to create on these lands, and I’m continually learning from Indigenous friends, neighbours, and knowledge keepers about what it means to be in a respectful relationship with the land and all who call it home.
As a settler, I’m inspired by the idea of Two-Eyed Seeing: bringing together the wisdom of Indigenous ways of knowing with the strengths of Western perspectives. It’s a lifelong practice of listening, learning, and showing up with curiosity, humility, and respect. Like tending a garden, it’s work that’s never really finished, but always worth doing.
FAQ
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My work ships from Montreal, Canada, or Champlain, NY. This gives me the flexibility to affordably and efficiently ship across North America.
I am working on finding international shipping solutions, so if you’re outside of North America, please stay tuned!
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As my work is all created by hand when you place your order, the production timeline is usually 1-3 weeks, depending on the size of your order and time of year — please allow extra time during the busy Christmas season.
Depending on the shipping option you choose, once it ships, it usually gets to you between 1-7 business days in Canada, 3-6 business days in the US, and 10-30 business days internationally (or 1-6 business days, if you choose the speedy, though expensive, DHL Express). All international customs and duty costs are your responsibility.
If you’re local to the Edmonton area, I do have limited inventory on hand. You’re welcome to reach out to me to check what I’ve got, or come visit me at a local market!
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As my work is all made to order, I have limited access to returns.
However, I want you to be completely happy with your purchase, and so I am happy to accept and facilitate exchanges. Please just reach out and we’ll figure it out!
Please note that any return shipping charges are the responsibility of the customer.
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In general, the clothing fits true to North American sizing.
XS - 0-2
S - 4-6
M - 8-10
L - 12-14
XL - 16-18
XXL - 20-22
See the footer for links to the sizing charts for individual garment types.
Other dimensions of note include:
Vegan Leather Handbag: 12” tall, 18” wide, 5” deep. Strap is 22” to fit comfortably over your shoulder.
Crossbody Purse: 8.5” wide, 7” tall, 2” deep. Strap adjusts from 26”-46”.
Urban Tote: 16” tall (not including strap), 13” wide. Strap fits comfortably over your shoulder.
Small Notebook: 5”x8.25”
Large Notebook: 7.25”x10”
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Most of the fabrics are machine washable, and make use of permanent inks.
For vegan leather items, just wipe clean with a damp cloth. Do not machine wash or dry.
I’d recommend handwashing the silk scarves, just because they’re delicate. Though if you’re one of those people who doesn’t hand wash, they can go in the machine in a laundry bag on a delicate setting. Hang to dry, and iron on a low setting.
For all the other fabrics, upon first washing, it’s recommended to wash separately, to use a mild detergent, and to add a cup of vinegar and 2 tsp of salt to fully set the colours. That said, I confess I haven’t done this myself, and have not had any fading issues!
Otherwise, machine wash in cold water, with a phosphate-free detergent and a mild fabric softener. Machine dry on low heat, or hang to dry.
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Ask me about it, and I’ll see what I can do!
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Possibly! I work with two manufacturers in Montreal, Canada, but can also source other products internationally. If you have a dream product idea, let me know, and I can see what options I can find!
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100% Silk Habotai: lightweight, with moderate sheen on both sides, classic silky texture with lovely drape. High print through visibility, so both sides appear printed.
100% Silk Charmeuse: lightweight, with a high shine surface. Highly drapable, breathable, and feels luxe and liquid against the skin. Moderate print-through visibility.
Cotton Silk: 75% cotton, 25% silk. Smooth, matte surface, lightweight, and very drapable. Moderate print-through visibility.
Poly Chiffon: 100% polyester. Smooth, crepe-like texture, highly drapable, semi-transparent fabric. High print-through visibility.
Peachskin Jersey: 95% polyester, 5% spandex. Brushed jersey fabric that is extra soft, with durable stretch and low pilling.
Performance Poly Spandex Knit: highly durable, smooth, and matte ecopolyester that naturally wicks moisture away. Excellent stretch and recovery.
Performance Glitter: 88% polyester, 12% spandex with a shiny glitter surface that reflects light. Highly durable, and naturally moisture wicking.
Minky: 100% polyester, with a short pile and luxurious texture for warm and cozy creations.
Velveteen: 100% polyester, featuring a durable, fuzzy surface with velvet-like texture.
Cotton/Hemp: 74% cotton, 24% hemp. Tightly woven and lightweight structured fabric, strong and durable.
Cotton/Linen Canvas: 68% Cotton, 32% Linen: low structure fabric with a loose weave and lovely drape. Easy care.
Vegan Leather: either pebble-textured or smooth, they are made from polyester, polyurethane, and PVC. They wipe clean with a damp cloth, and are printed with UV inks that are permanent and highly scratch resistant. Do not machine wash or dry.
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Absolutely! I can sell fabric by the metre, in all of the fabrics listed above, as well as some additional fibre types. Just ask!
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Yes! Please send me a note to discuss. Most of my work is relatively small in scale, ranging in size from 5x7 to 18x24. My prices start around $300.
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Sort of. My work is not representational, so please don’t ask me to draw your portrait, or a picture of your cat (though I could be talked into incorporating a random cat into my doodle!). As the nature of doodling is free-flowing and intuitive, I go with the flow, and draw what works for me in any given composition. However, I am quite happy to customize a colour palette for you, or to try to find a supplier to meet your product needs. If you have a project in mind, let’s chat about it.
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Yes! Let’s talk.
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I’m always open to trying new things, and doing cool projects with cool people. Let’s connect!
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If you’re in the Edmonton area, I love to do private in-home parties. Invite a few of your friends, serve some wine, and I’ll take you through doodling and colouring basics! The great thing about this art style is you really only need paper, a few good pens, and some coloured pencils, so the art supplies are affordable and readily available.
I’m also happy to work as an artist-in-residence for schools or community groups. This art style is very doable for people aged 10 and up!
I’m also open to teaching workshops elsewhere, so if you have an idea, I’d love an invitation!