Watercolour Doodle Circles
Lauren Halberstadt 
The first doodle and journalling layout of my latest monthly publication, designed to help you slow down and live a more peaceful life.
A deliberate shift from "doing" to "being".
That's my mantra for 2026.
Slow down!
In a world that seems to be spinning faster and faster, there is no better time than now, to slow down and return to the calm and peaceful way of the maker/crafter.
A shift from a state of constant "doing"—which often involves future planning, task management, and focusing on outcomes—to a state of simply "being" allows us to fully engage with the present moment.
This change in perspective often heightens our sensory awareness, leading us to notice the subtle details and richness of our immediate environment that our busy minds typically filter out.
That 'richness' around us is what inspires.
And inspiration is what leads us to greatness!
Fresh ideas, emotional resilience and a more calm and peaceful way of being - 3 big things a happy life consists of.
But how can you simply just 'be' when the world around you demands the 'do', do, do!?
Well in my book, the best way to 'be' is to make stuff.
Any stuff.
But especially art stuff.
Engaging in a creative activity requires concentration on the present moment and the task at hand, which acts as a form of mindfulness. This dedicated focus distracts the mind from daily stressors, worries, or anxieties, leading to a state of calm often described as "flow".
Whether it is painting, woodworking, gardening, or sewing, the act of making provides a therapeutic escape that nurtures both the mind and the body.
A state of flow allows things to happen with greater ease. Hence the DOING, which the world requires of us, is done with greater ease. And you're feeding 2 birds with the one seed! Haha.
It's with this in mind that I am building a new (and FREE) creative adventure for my Greenhouse for 2026 and beyond. I will be adding a watercolour doodle (see example below) every month, starting with this circles one. They will feature on my Instagram, but will collect all in one place here in my blog.
See the creative process of this first watercolour CIRCLES doodle, in my Instagram here. (Plus a handy, EASY colour mixing how-to to go along with it)
AND if you are a journaler/art journaler or are thinking of being one, I will also include an art journal layout idea (see below), where you can use your watercolour doodle to layer over or under other elements on your journal pages, or perhaps it inspires you to use it in some other creative way of your own.
These activities are where you can tap into meditative power of the humble doodle, extend your watercolour and art skills, and build your confidence in making art.
Then keep these benefits going using your doodle in your journaling.
Every time you complete one of my free monthly watercolour doodles &/or journal layout ideas, it is my hope that you too will be reminded to slow down.
Enjoy
x Lauren
P.S. The daisy artwork in the layout above was created with my online and local (Gold Coast, Australia) students in 2025. Now that it's 2026, I will be showing my students exactly how to journal with the work we create together as an added feature of my classes.
If you'd like to know more about my online art classes go here.
And if you live on the Gold Coast, Australia, and would like to know more about my in-person classes at the Old Mudgeeraba Post Office, go here. (You'll be able to share in all my journalling resources in these classes, from cute & colourful scrapbooking paper to stencils and much more)
Follow me on my Instagram here for more watercolour doodle and art journaling inspiration.