Doodling With Fountain Pens: Radiate Pattern

The next pattern in my Doodling With Fountain Pens series is a fun one that’s pretty easy. In fact, it’s fairly similar to the Starburst pattern. I always call this one Radiate since that’s what it looks like to me. If you’re ready, grab a pen and some paper and let’s get started!

If you’d prefer a video to a blog post, head to the bottom of this post for a link to a how-to video.

Thoughts On This Pattern

Looking back through my saved inspiration posts, I’m not exactly sure when I first saw a pattern like this. It’s pretty simple, so I’m sure I saw it a few different places before trying it out, but the only saved post I have that’s similar is from Stillonoir. My take on it is a little different, but it’s still the same basic idea.

How It’s Done

If you can draw reasonably straight lines, you can do this doodle. All it is is a series of straight lines that appear to radiate from a central point. I like to vary the line length to give each “burst” a bit of shape, but feel free to make your bursts round, square, or any other shape that appeals to you. I also like to have the bursts intersect with each other. This pattern works great with multiple ink colors.

Getting Started

Before you start this pattern, I highly recommend putting another piece of paper underneath the paper you’ll be doodling on. More than any other pattern, this one tends to bleed through to the next page.

I tend to prefer drawing lines from the outside of the pattern towards the center, so that’s how I’ll explain the pattern. You might feel more comfortable starting at the center of the pattern and drawing lines towards the edge. If so, adjust my instructions as necessary. One thing I will say is that you should keep your line drawing process consistent so that the shading doesn’t look strange.

To start with this pattern, draw a straight line. For your first few tries, I’d recommend making your lines shorter (around 1 inch or 2 cm long) so that you don’t have to draw so many long, straight lines while you’re getting a feel for how it works.

It all starts with a single line

Choose one side of this line to be your center point for the burst. Draw a second line that starts near the first line that you drew and connects the first line at the center.

Now draw another line

You might notice that the second line has a bit of curve to it. No worries, as it will just get “absorbed” by the next lines. Now you’ll just start drawing lines that move towards the center of the burst, each one a new spoke that radiates from the center of the pattern.

Here’s about 1/4 of the first pattern

If you want a round pattern, keep each line the same length. If you want some variance in your shape, start drawing lines that are shorter or longer than the previous. I like to make it a gradual change so the perimeter has a smoother look instead of random line lengths.

Here’s 1/2 the first pattern

Eventually you’ll work your way around the entire burst and end up where you started.

The first pattern is complete!

Now you can start drawing a second burst. If I’m going to have it intersect with another burst, I like to start at the intersection point.

Start the second pattern where it intersects the first

Continue with this new burst, just like you did with the last one, until it’s finished.

The second pattern is complete!

Add as many bursts as you want until you feel that the pattern looks good!

The third pattern starts where it intersects the first two.

Here’s the finished doodle, although you could keep going if you want.

I also want to show the bleedthrough on the back of this doodle. Like I mentioned at the beginning, don’t forget to put a piece of paper under your doodle so you don’t ruin whatever happens to be underneath!

You can see there is quite a bit of bleedthrough at the center of each pattern

Wrapping Up

The hardest thing about this pattern is drawing straight lines. If you can handle that, you should be able to do this pattern. While it doesn’t seem like it, there is still room for creativity. Different color combinations and burst shapes will greatly change the way your doodle looks. I hope you have fun with it!