Peculiar Doodles Transform Sketchbooks Into Sprawling Handheld Galleries

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

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Doodle art is typically associated with small drawings scribbled onto the margins of notebooks while chasing a daydream. For Swedish artist Mattias Adolfsson, however, doodling is the key to creating fantastical sketchbooks, brimming with observations of the ordinary, extraordinary, and everything in between.

Browsing one of Adolfsson's many Moleskine sketchbooks is like visiting a handheld art gallery that always has new work on view. His offbeat ideas appear to be unending, and each spread blossoms with its own personality. From a lineup of imaginary pens and pencils to an otherworldly city overrun by dragons to patterns of sea creatures—the list goes on and on.

The dynamism of Adolfsson's drawings begins in his charmingly imperfect linework, which vibrates with energy in every nook and cranny. Sometimes he leaves his spreads in black and white, and in others, he adds delicate washes of pastel color to enhance certain shapes or details. Additionally, the intentional areas of blank space allow room for each drawing to breathe and time for the viewer to immerse themselves in the design.

You can purchase prints and originals of Adolfsson's work via his Etsy shop, and keep up to date with his latest creations by following him on Instagram.

Swedish artist Mattias Adolfsson transforms the act of doodling into works of fine art.

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias AdolfssonSketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

He fills his Moleskine sketchbooks with pages of sprawling fantastical drawings.

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias AdolfssonSketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson Sketchbook Art by Mattias Adolfsson

Adolfsson flips through his impressive sketchbook…

… and offers a glimpse into his illustration process here:

Mattias Adolfsson: Website | Etsy | Behance | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Mattias Adolfsson.

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Margherita Cole

Margherita Cole is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and illustrator based in Southern California. She holds a BA in Art History with a minor in Studio Art from Wofford College, and an MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice from Falmouth University in the UK. She wrote and illustrated an instructional art book about how to draw cartoons titled 'Cartooning Made Easy: Circle, Triangle, Square' that was published by Walter Foster in 2022.
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