Journal Play: May 2026 Doodlewash RoundUP

Doodlewash RoundUP 
May 2026

Welcome back to A Time to Play, or, if you're new here, this is the place where we talk about how we spend time playing, with art supplies, music, sketching, dreaming, and anything that floats your boat that makes you feel like a happy kid again! Yep! So join me as I share with you a look back on my continuing journey of doing a daily prompt based drawing (been going strong since October 0f 2025!) 

I'm still having fun, I'm still being challenged and I'm still loving the time spent doing what I love. I been drawing/illustrating since I was a kid and my inner child still loves it! So here we are! 

So, as I'm writing this, it is July 2026, My goal was to share my month's worth of drawings the next month after the fact, but LIFE. Busy. But I'm here sharing even if it didn't meet my time parameters. But it's fun to recall what the experience was like. Many of these drawings are so memorable that I wouldn't forget!  

May 2026 Doodlewash Prompts: Mother Goose, truffle, coffee pot, rug, chipotle, serow, Horned Lark, Yapok, Rosy Maple moth.

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I've been referencing the Doodlewash Art Challenge each month, so I am working with prompts I didn't come up with myself, and a lot of the subject matter is totally new to me. Like with animals I've never heard of and food I would not recognize, etc. But that's what makes it interesting and challenging and fun all at the same time. 

These challenges continue to stretch me as a artist and show me what I'm capable of, especially in a short time frame of less than an hour, after I have completed my evening journaling session. I do look forward to this drawing time as I sit in my living room recliner, lap desk and art supplies in place, watching a movie or show with hubby. I find it very relaxing. 

May 2026 Doodlewash Prompt: Mom, cat, fudge, flying frog, soursop, woodpecker, sea monkeys, walnut, dishes.

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So, I will share the drawings I like the most from this month of May 2026: fudge (absolutely love the texure!), strawberry, my wonky penny (no it's not perfectly round but I loved the process using the colors that really give it that glowey patina look), the towel (loved creating that fluffy look!), grapes (although I usually prefer pen alone, I really like the way the color and pen work together on this one), and my most favorite of all, the solitaire. I chose a diamond instead of the game. I love how the shapes come together to represent such a lovely piece of jewelry! 

I would say the ones that were the most challenging: truffle (so much dark detail-must admit, it was a chore to do!), yapok (although I'm pleased with the way it turned out. the anatomy was a challenge), the cat (getting its position just right in the hunting vibe!), sea monkey (gosh, the parts were a lot of work and using the negative space to make them pop-such a challenge!), escargot (very intensive pen work to make this dimensional). 

May 2026 Doodlewash Prompts: dragonfly, fossa, strawberry, bugloss, penny, escargot, towel, paper airplane, grapes. 

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I love being able to see what I can accomplish with just pen. I usually only choose color when I know it's the best way to represent the subject matter. Sometime I use stippling (pen dots) to create a lighter fluffier consistency, sometime repeating lines and crosshatching are required with heavy pen work, and sometimes light lines to accent shapes and shadow. 

Which images were the most popular when shared online: The cat was at the top! The Barbie rug was also a hit. I got remarks on how adorable Mother Goose was! And the towel got a lot of likes. 

May 2026 Doodlewash Prompts: Jaffa cakes, paperclip, mint julep, solitaire. 

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So, there you have it! Another month of drawings from my nightly sketchbook I reserve just for art challenge prompts! I absolutely love sharing these with you. I want to thank all the readers, commenters, and likes from so many of you as I share daily on social! It's so much fun being a part of the artist community and cheering each other on. 

Thanks for being a part of my artist journey! You're welcome to share below which drawings are your favorites! Your feedback is always welcome. 

And remember, if you want to challenge yourself creatively, do something you look forward to. I don't find this daily drawing to be a chore. It's a fun challenge. Plus it gives me the opportunity to create a body of work I'm proud of! 

Remember that I'm cheering you on! And if you would like to work with me privately with discovering your own creative framework of cross pollination and expression, contact me direct at [email protected] or send me a message on social! I look forward to connecting! 

​In the meanwhile, Remember to Play! 

Dawn Herring, Creativity Consultant, Artist, Illustrator