Encouraging children to engage in arts and crafts activities, such as doodling, colouring and crafting, can foster their creativity and critical thinking skills, says Nor Azhar Ishak, a renowned storyteller and illustrator.

By nurturing their creativity and confidence, children can become more self-assured individuals who are better equipped to face the challenges of our ever-evolving world.

“Doodling is important, especially for children who are introverts. Some experts describe doodling as a safety net, a place they can turn to as a form of mindfulness or meditation. Doodling may benefit children’s mental well-being, especially during the post-pandemic period.

“Doodling provides a creative outlet for self-expression, allowing introverts to communicate their ideas, emotions and perspectives without relying solely on verbal communication. This can boost their confidence by giving them the means to share their thoughts in a comfortable way,” explains Nor Azhar.

Doodling allows you to focus your attention on the act of drawing, which can help you enter a state of mindfulness, says Syed Azhar.Affectionately known as Uncle Nai, Nor Azhar recently conducted a doodling workshop at Ilham Gallery in Kuala Lumpur and unveiled his latest children’s picture book, The Ocean Wanderer.

The workshop was part of the gallery’s children’s programmes held in conjunction with the ongoing Lift The Tikar exhibition, which showcases Bornean culture.

Doodling is a spontaneous and often subconscious form of drawing that involves creating small, repetitive and simple sketches or patterns. It can be done on paper, notebooks or even digitally. While doodles are often seen as idle scribbles or absentminded drawings, they allow people to explore their imaginations freely and develop their unique artistic styles.

During the workshop, the father of six guided the children in creating characters using simple doodling techniques.

He emphasised that doodling can be a valuable tool for calming the mind and promoting relaxation, offering a simple, accessible and enjoyable form of self-expression.

“Doodling allows you to focus your attention on the act of drawing, which can help you enter a state of mindfulness. By concentrating on the present moment and the patterns you create, you can experience a sense of relaxation and relief from stress.”

Recent research suggests that these hands-on activities are vital in building children’s confidence, nurturing their imagination, and enhancing their cognitive development.

'The Ocean Wanderer' tells the story of a whale shark's adventure in finding its way home in the tropical waters off the coast of Borneo.

The article Doodle Your Way To Better Mental Health in forbes.com states that doodling allows the doodler to find calm in a way that doesn’t require staying within the lines. By synchronising the hand and eye, doodling can become a calming and meditative experience, fostering a connection between the body and mind.

Encouraging problem-solving

The Ocean Wanderer is the eighth book released by the Gombak, Selangor-based illustrator. His previous books include Indahnya Pulau Sipadan (2014), Under The Sea (2015), Tuty the Turtle (2020) and Across The Stars (2022).

Published by OyezBooks, The Ocean Wanderer marks Nor Azhar’s debut book that focuses on doodling. His previous books emphasised his signature illustration style of batik painting or painting with acrylic, gouache, watercolour or mixed media materials.

The artwork in this new book showcases Nor Azhar’s latest “pen and ink on paper” doodling illustration technique.

“It is almost like freestyle doodling, yet designed and composed to work with the text. The detailed fine monochromatic drawings that require effort to complete also act to convey how much perseverance and spirit it takes to move forward. I hope children can connect with this idea,” says Nor Azhar, who learned doodling in 2017 from the late artist Mohd Yusof Ismail (Yusof Gajah), known for his elephant-themed paintings.

The artwork in this new book showcases Nor Azhar’s latest “pen and ink on paper” doodling illustration technique. Photo: Jean Wan Anderson

The Ocean Wanderer tells the story of a whale shark’s adventure in finding its way home in the tropical waters off the coast of Borneo. Through the book, Nor Azhar aims to raise awareness about the importance of marine conservation in Malaysian waters.

Regarding his interest in doodling, the friendly man shared: “Doodling is doable, and it is not expensive. You can doodle using writing instruments like pencils, pens and crayons. Plus, you can doodle on subjects that you like.”

The illustrations are rendered in monochromatic little circles and dots, designed to keep children glued to the picture book’s pages, making them feel almost like they were swimming along the journey with the whale shark. It took him four years to complete the illustrations in his latest book. Having spent over 20 years as an educator at the Petrosains Discovery Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Nor Azhar transitioned from an engineering career to focus on educating children and adults.

Doodling can be a valuable tool for calming the mind and promoting relaxation, offering a simple, accessible, and enjoyable form of self-expression.His passion for storytelling earned him the title Penglipur Lara (Storyteller) at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka’s national competition, and his book Tuty the Turtle was listed under the Honour List 2022 (Illustration) by the prestigious International Board on Books for Young People.

In January, he chalked another milestone when he received the Honorable Mention and fourth place at the 24th International Storytelling Festival in Yazd, Iran.

On his inspiration for his latest book, he explains: “I work a lot with children. They face many kinds of challenges in their growing up years. Some even may not have good support systems.

“Picture books can help children to keep calm and take refuge in a story. The stories within these books can instill the motivation to persevere and also subconsciously encourage them to problem solve.

“I hope that The Ocean Wanderer does this,” he concludes.